THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 8, 4 October 1918, Page 6

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Sir, —During the last four years international Socialism has suffered air inevitable decline. The cleavage between the leaders of British and American workers and the internationals who liavo attempted to capture the Labour movement has widened. The contest in Wellington Central is only an expression of the variance of ideas and ideals between the two. The battle had to come, unless the workers of this Dominion were prepared to forbid any right of speech and action except to internationals. Internationalism ought to denote broad-mindedness and a desire for the brotherhood of man. Vet instc-ad of welcoming a man who has fought, continuously for the full privileges of citizenship for railwaymeu, internationals try to slam the door in Mr. Mack's face. There is something, tragic in the approval of this one-sided tyranny by so many railwaymeu. They reward the man who worked to secure them political liberty by denying him that right. , Internationalism has to he discarded, and is being discarded because it is anti-national. In the fight to the death for international justice, truth, and righteousness, it is not even neutral, but is a positive hindrance to those who hazard their lives that right may triumph. Men like Havelock Wilson give battle to the international defeatists in Great Britain. In the States Gompers does not hesitate to say that international pacifists are traitors to their country. Men like Spargo and Russell declare that the'only way tc save Socialism is to form a league oi pro-war Socialists. Eight months ago tho Socialists won nearly every political office in East New York. Most of the folk in that congested section wore the red button of the International Socialists. They don't to-day.. The glpss poured over German atrocities would not cover the Brest Litovsk treaty. Half a million of the East-siders vera born in the countries affected by that treaty. They realised as they had never done before tho foul methods and malignant purposes of Germany. So the East-enders are supporting the cause of America and the Allies on a scale, which puts wealthy New Zealand in the shade. Their per capita contribution to the first loan was 2s. For the third loan it was £3. For* the fourth loan the local leaders anticipate raising £25 for every man, woman, and clnld in the district. There pan be no true peace till wrong is acknowledged, so the paper peacemongers who refuse to recognise the magnitude of Germany's crime, and are ready to hold out the hand of reconciliation to murderers, cannot be allowed to capture anv national movement.—l am, etc., H. R. FRENCH. Waipukurau, September 30. t