LABOUR AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 170, 8 April 1918, Page 9

LABOUR AND THE WAR

A SOLDIER-POLITICIAN'S VIEWS. Captain Carmichael, an Australian Labour politician, who hns not, followed Lis party in itu attitude towards the war and tho raising of men for the Australian Army, has been saying some straight and hard words to tho people of .'.his- "country.- In a recent patriotic speech to the Political Labour : League in his own defence, tho soldier-politician is reported to have 'said:— , r , '■' "The world is in arras to-flav. Iwiry civilised country is engaged in tho bitter struggle .of .the greatest war in history, and for more than two years past 1-have'been' taking a very small but active' part in that great struggle. J have had my head down, in the R'ofurri; and when'l have, had time to look up my interest has been absorbed in trying to see how. the game.is go"In cohsemience T am out of touch and out of'focus'with the political doings in New South Wales during that period. .. .My interests are still over there, and if the medical board allows- and the authorities agrco I" propose to go out aid recruit another thousand- men, train them, and tnko them back to France with the least possible delay.- In. the meanwhile you aak for information so thai'you may define my present: position in politics. As I understand, the Labour movement, decided on the great issue of compulsory service, that all its members ' should oppose that proposal or go out. I. have always been in favour of it, and if I had been here should have.dono my utmost to obtain lrcedom'of speech for. every'member according to his sincere convictions on this' the greatest issue that has ever been before Australia. • "As we sank- the. fiscal issue for years when it threatened' to disrupt our movement, so should we havo sunk the conscription issue : and allowed every man freedom of thought and action according to his convictions. "As we succeeded ''in the ■ one I believe wo should havo succeeded in the other. Tho dissensions that havo torn our ranks asunder, and the cvon greater evil of internecine strife and'bitterness, that even now rages, to the despair of true patriots,'would havo been avoided. That, however, is a thina of the past. Not knowing- the decision you arrived at, I cabled from London urging the people to vote for what I believe to be the only effective' method of sustaining our divisions iu France. Had I known your decision it would have made no difference, for in my long record amongst you there- is no instance where I have failed to give .voice .to my convictions—popular or otherwise.". .

. Speaking on' the increasing stringency of discipline in the Labour movement, that has' been increasing m severity for the past few years. _ Captain Carmichael :-aid: "Discipline is essential to every movement, but there is always danger of discipline degenerating into dragooning of thought and utterance. I am afraid that is tho great danger immediately in front of this movement of ours that was founded in protest. against economic tyranny. You cannot dragoon men of intelligence and conviction. From, those who so submit you will never produce real loaders of the movement capablo of governing tho country." Proceeding to the matter of conscription,- Captain Carmichael continued: . „ "I understand you have practically decided to expel me from the movement in which and for which I havo fought .in tho forefront during the whole of my political lifo. In other circumstances it would be a matter of deep regret and pain. As it is tho greater issue absorbs my interest to the exclusion of all personal feelings. "flioy I as an old and n. once valued friend give you a word of counsel and advice? "You have the chance of a lifetime to show yourselves great men—worthy of a great movement. Tho fight on conscription is over, it is finished forover if you will only grasp tho opportunity that is to your hand. "Come forward as big and generous men offering tho olive branch to your late onponontß. Say to them: 'In view oil the common danger from outside we and our allies in the late fight will join with you heart and soul in a great sustained recruiting campaign that will sustain our diminishing divisions, in France, that will renew the fading prostige of Australia, and establish the name of Australia for all years to come.' "Now is tho chance to show that the Labour movement of which you are the head is a great and patriotic move- [ ment, and to establish -it in the hearts of tho people for all time to eoine."