PLEDGE TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2563, 10 September 1915, Page 5

PLEDGE TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT

FROM THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS MR. TILLETT CREATES'AN UPROAR THE MUNITIONS SUPPLY By Telegraph-Press ASsociation-ObpyrizM London, September 8. xhe Trade Union Congress, by, 600 votes to 7, took a pledgo to assist tba Government to the utmost ill the prosecution of the war. Mr. Sexton, in- moving the pledge resolution, instanced, amid cheers, tlie' fact that two anti-militarists—Mr. ran ' now a, colonel, and Mr. U Conuor,' of Keswick, now a > lieuten-ant-colonel—were fighting Prussia's diabolical plot for world domination. If only a tithe of the report on. atrocities was true they were justified' in their loathing against Germany. "This war is one of defence, not aggression," he said. "Do you lvant an Aerschot at .Bristol or a Louvain at Oxford? : We are up against the most brutal system, led by ouc of the most blasphemous and most hypocritical leaders that ever disgraced civilisation." V,

Mr. Havelock Wilson seconded the motion. : Mr. Ben Tillett" created an uproar by denouncing some of the extremists as Germany's friends. He concluded by appealing for; a unanimous vote , with tlie view of heartening the workers in the trenches. A dolegate dramatically interrupted proceedings by drawing .attention to the rumour that the Crewe-Selborne. Cabinet Committee favoured the quota system. • The presidentwould not allow discussion, on' the - subject, S inasmuch as congress had already 'debated' conscription. '■ v ' .

_• It was reported on August 29 that a | Cabinet Committee, consisting of Lord i Selbome. tlie Marquis of Crewe, Mr. Churchill, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, ! ?jdvpurMn,'::MdyMr.. Arthur Henderson/ was inquiring "as to the expediency or introducing the quota system similar to that in South Africa, under which each locality is asked to furnish a certain number of recruiis . voluntarily, and. unless; they ~ are; .forthcoming, the Government is empowered 'to take the men required. The South African Gov. ernmont did not find it necessary to use its power.

HELP THE WAR FACTORIES,

A SPIRITED SPEECH.

Mr. Hodfee, M.P., made a spirited speech at the Congress oil the need for supporting the Army in factories. We must not make peace with the Kaiser, he said, but insist on a general election in Germany, at which the terms could be ratified by the people; The Congress. invited Mr. Lloyd George (Minister for Munitions), who "is at Bristol, -to'explain his yesterday's telegram. - • Mr. Lloyd George has accepted an ■invitation to amend or explain his telegram; [Mr. Lloyd George telegraphed, in re. sponso to the presidential address, that already ho controlled 714 munitions firms,, the majority in important towns of the kingdom. Profit-mongering was impossible under the Munitions Act, which limits profits. The benefit of any suspension of. trade union regulations accrues to 'tho State, and not to the employers.]