The Dominion WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1914. LABOUR AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2615, 10 November 1915, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1914. LABOUR AND THE WAR

There have been many plain indications that even the appalling nature of" the struggle in which the British people are engaged has had little effect in checking the mischievous activities of a certain unscrupulous class of Labour agitator. Indeed, the embarrassments of the war have in some instances been seized On as affording an excellent opportunity for practising various forms of blackmail and extortion, which it is difficult to find adequate language to fittingly describe. It is _ well-nigh inconceivable that British citizens could seek to creafc internal 'discord and encourage methods which directly or indirectly must hamper our efforts in a struggle on the issue of which so much depends to every man, • woman, and child in the Empire; yet such unhappily has been the" case. In some cases no doubt German influences have been at work, and the British workmen have been made the tools of our enemies, but too frequently the practices indulged in have been the outcome of unscrupulous or "irresponsible efforts on the part of men who have gained an ascendancy in labour circles which in this time of war makes them not only a danger to the industrial peace of the nation, but a- mcnaoe to the safety of their country. That-these views are not in any way exaggerated may be judged from recent utterances of responsible Labour leaders in the Mother Country Indeed, one of the most cheering and inspiring things in connection with the war has been the splendid- patriotism of the foremost of the moderate section of the Labour leaders there and the great bulk of the Labour unionists under their guidance.

London newspapers to hand by this week's mail contain reports of utterances by champipns of Labour interests, such as Mr' John Hodge, M.P., Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party; Me. G. N. Barnes, another prominent Labour M.P., and others, whose views on the attitude of Labour unionists during the war deserve the fullest publicity. They are the opinions of men who have rendered the greatest service to Labour; men who command the fullest confidence of the great mass of the working classcs they represent; men who in times of peaos have fought the stoutest fights for the cause of Labour unionism, and all that it means to tho people who earn their living by manual labour. And what do these Labour leaders say regarding the obligations of Labour in these grave days of national peril? Speaking at Browning Hall, Walworth, on September 12, Mr. G. N. Barnes denounced tho "slacker" in tho workshops in the plainest terms:

"What wo want," lie said, "is that the men wo have sent to fight our battles should bo supported by men in the workshops better, than they are at the present moment. (Applause.) As a trade, unionist I liave said before that I believe in normaT times and under normal conditions our form of organisation in tho workshops is tlie best one on Ijhe whole, and that tho admission of men into trade unions and tho payment of a standard rato of wages on something like equality has, on the whole, worked well. At tho same time I added that under conditions caused by the war wo ought to regard it as our solemn duty to turn out as much as it is possible in every workshop in the country. I am sorry to say f do not believe that has been done. 1 speak as a member o£ tlic Amalgamated Society of Engineers. I liave some knowledge of tho conditions in engineering shops throughout the country, and I believe that at (.lit? moment titers are a liir-tr number of machines,

simple machines that could be operated by other than highly skilled mechanics, and the society, instead ol' standing in the way of that being done, ought to encourage it by' every means within their power. (Applause.) . . . Mr. O'Grady | tlie Labour leader who iiad paid a visit to the fighting lines in France] lias it from Sir .John French that this war has resolved itself into a battle between the workmen and mechanics of this country and tho workmen and mechanics of Germany. In these circumstances I sny that every mnu wflio is not doing all he can to get tho utmost productivity out of the workshops is false to his mates who have gono to fight for him at the front, false to his country, and false to the ideals underlying us in this war."

That is plain, honest, straightforward talk' from a Labour leader to the class he represents. The "slacker," he says, in effect, in these terrible days is false to his mates who are fighting for him, false to hi 3 country, l and false to the ideals of the true Britisher. Me. John Hodge, Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, was even stronger in his denunciation. His language leaves no room lor doubt as to his views of the responsibility which rests on Labour unionists in connection with the war:

"Up till now," lie -writes in "The People," "I have demanded particulars of 'slacking.' Now I have them I am ashamed to I'hiink that any Briton would, in these dark days, make, only three shells when he could make four. The men who wilfully refuse to make the four shells 'are just as guilty of murder as if t'lwy had kilted a man. It is wilful, coldblooded murder, and the Parliamentary Committee must get a move on to remedy this grave condition of affairs. The Amalgamated Society of Engineers were arraigned at the judgment bar of their class and found guilty. It is now up to the Executive Committee of that body to purge their ranks of men who. are bringing disgrace upon their name and fame, as well as endangering the lives o£ thoso of their own class who are fighting for the protection of tlieir liberties."

These men at _ the heart of things realise the gravity of the situation, and they appreciate the fact that now is not the time for pressing for restrictions and conditions of work which, however necessary from the Labour point of view in times of peace, now restrict and impede the. national effort in a struggle which threatens the liberties arid privileges of every Labour unionist under the British flag. They are representative of the sane and responsible section, which means the great majority, of the labouring classes of the Mother Country. Their opinions _ and' their appeals should carry weight with labour unionists throughout the whole Empire. A case came under our notice recently of the firemen on a h ispital ship on activc service going on strike at sea and forcing the captain to return to port to pick up one of their number who had not put in an appearance when the vessel sailed. What can ba thought of such callous disregard for the welfare of the wounded men who suffered through this enforced delay of the vessel 1 The great bulk of the Labour unionists of Britain and the Overseas Dominions have their full share of the sacrifices called for by the war. Their efforts compare well with those of any other section of the people. It is to the responsible, leaders of this great majority that the public must look in these days to discourage the "slackers" and to prevent any possibility of that internal discord which may cripple our resources and hamper our efforts against ■ the enemy abroad, who is striving to accomplish our ruin.