BRITISH BOLSHEVISM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 221, 12 June 1919, Page 5

BRITISH BOLSHEVISM

OBJECT OF IHE TRIPLE ALLIANCE

GOVERNMENT "BROUGHT TO HEEL."

(By a Labour Correspondent of the "Morning Post. , ') . The general strike threatened by tho Triple .Alliance having been averted, we may now examine tho aims of the extremists mid see how they interpret Hie large and generous concussions of Iho ' Government. It is as well that the aims and methods of the malcontents i>nd ie'voliitionnriis should he fully known to the public, so that all may understand tho end towards which they are tending. Wo shall he very foolish indeed if wa nssuane that industrial peace will noir prevail. The more extreme leaders of the workers claim (hat organised Lnboar must obtain complete industrial anil political control. Governments must be compelled to grant any and every demand of the persons who drive (he Labour machine. This section decided that now was the limo and the.opportunity to test the'strength of tho Triple Alliance. \fr. Tom Williams, of tho Yorkshire Miners' Association, writing in tlio "Call" of February 20, with reference to (he threatened strike of miners, said: .

"The industrial kings will reel on their thrones ere tlm struggle ends. Mr. Jinnar. Law will find that long before March 31, when his committee is due to report, the miners and their colleagues of the Triple Alliance have shaken the Government • to its- foundations. . . • One thing is certain. With the concerted action of miners, rallwaymen. anil transport workers justice can be wrung.from our oppressors and a clear lead given not only to tho workers of Great fln. tain but to the workers of the world." ...This statement indicates the extremists' estimate of the dictatorial power of tho Triple Alliance.' An organisation of not more than 1,500,000 members threatens ;to 'bring down both the Government and society if all its demands are not conceded. And theM) are the peoplo who protest against the "threats" of Mr, Bimar Law and shout for democratic .contrql. The New Socialism, The new Socialism is opposed to Slate ownership, and nroposes to abolish the Slate along with"Capitalism. "JNatipnalisation: cannot solve the problem lor the miners or tho raihvaymoiU', says Hip "Socialist" of March 27. "It never has solved it wherever it has been adopted. On the contrary, nationalisation in Iho hands of a capitalist Government is a source of strength to capitalism, sinco it not- only has the foregoing advantages, but offers an oxciise for brinjing the'whole physical'resources ot the Crown intoplay whenever a dispute takes place, on the plea that the community is "being attacked." For these and oilier reasons many Socialists now .retaliate Stateownership, and advocate, either Syndieal- . ism or Guild Socialism. On" the' Clyde and in South Wales .the advanced section favours Syndicnlism or control of industry by Soviets. Mr. W. Paul, one .of the leaders of the Clyde movement, in an address at -JforthvV on March 16, advised the houth Wales minete to .form Workers' or Pit Committees to control the mines, these committees-to be the basis of .a Soviet system for. the whole of Soulh Wales ("MertJiyr Pioneer," March 22). And in the "Socialist" for- March °7 wo are told that I- "The working, class must take over the entire possession of the mines and railroads, as well as oilier means of. wealth' production, in the interests of the com- , nninity. That is tho only way to rid society,of its capitalist conspirators asrainst the social peace: in other words, why not, confiscation?" . Supplanting the Government, With this, ultimate aim in view let us now see how the concessions of the Government are interpreted. The "Call" (ofiicial organ of the Briti;fi Socialist Tarty) states that "at every stage of this contest between the Triple Alliance and the Government organised Labour has vanquished its ■■opponent."- The Government has been , brought to heel and ' gives in with a snarl." We are told that the "Triple Alliance is taking' the place of the Government," and ."the nrt of government is become the dodging of the Triple Alliance." The Government concedes more to-day than hitherto "because Labour is stronger, demands more, wants .more; will take more." The "Call" concludes by congratulating the miners and the railiraymen on (lie "excellent lead" that they have given the workers, and'advises the-Triple Alliance not to "halt for fear of public opinion." Public opinion is fickle, but "If the fickle thing turns, let the Triple Alliance remember that public opinion has never voluntarily done a service' for tho wording class. Of public opinion in the true sense there is none, and there is none to fear. The Triple Alliauce-is compelling Parliament t;> use its- Authority for an industrial imrnose. That way lies the emancipation of Labour. To-day the miners, railwavmen, transport workers are leagued together; to-morrow their allianco will spread until' it is n 'eague of all tho working class. Then wa shall not Knock atthp door-; of Parliament. We shall command it." - ■.•'. Ministers on Thair Kn:os. It may here bo objected that these are but the opinions of a few extremists outside the Trade. Union movement, and that they would nut be endorsed by any of the leaders and officials of the Triple Alliance. Let us see. One of the leaders of tiie ..Triple Alliance is Mr. Robert Williams, secretary of the Transport Workers' Federation. In this week's "Htrald'' Mr. Williams writes on tile Triple Alliance.and the conference at 10 Downing. .Street. He tells us that the Government were in a panic,, and that Mr. Ijonar Law was in such' a state of' fear tliat ■ "ont could almost hear his teeth chattering in his head." . He goes on to tell us. that "whenever the spokesmen of the Government have come before (he representatives' of Labour appearing in an industrial—that is, wealth-making and lifegiving capacity—these self-same- spokes-■ men have verily gone on their knees." After giving • this edifying description of ..the Government before the Triple Alliance, Mr. Williams expresses satisfaction witli "what we have done through the Triple Alliance." The foundations have been laid "of the new system destined to supersede capitalism." Both the Government and the present system nro now doomed. They can resist the Triple. Alliance if they dare, but there will be consequences if they do. The Cat Out of the Bag. Mr. Williams, in a burst of admiration for tho dictatorship of the Triple Alliance, concludes: < "ily advice, to Ihe organised workers, and especially to the soldiers and sailors, is this: Be prepared, (jet on with the work of constructive ami suggestive propaganda, if the Alliance can make the. knew of authority tremble, what could the working class in its entirety do. ... The yeast is working in the entire mass of working-class thought and intelligent aspiration. . . . Before many moons have passed the present position will have become intolerable. Then Militant Labour must bo ready. The ono man who can above, all others inspire us with confidence, and therefore direct the storm, is Smillie. The man with the, proletarian instinct. . . . Speaking, I believe, with knowledge, 1 repeat tho sands of the Government are fast run.ning out, and the hour of capitalist domination has struck. We are on the eve ot the Proletarian Involution."

I fear that Mr. Robert Williams line prematurely let the cat out of the bag of tho Triple Alliance. We now know what the leaders of'the Alliance desire—a Proletarian Revolution and a Bolshevik system, as in Russia.

Miss Hilda I , '. Simpson, 8.A., of Liverpool, has had her articles registered as the first probationary lady member of Ihe English Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors. Four teachers were elected at Wallliaiustow as members of ' tho Essex Countv Council. Local teachers have had a' dispute with the council, and ran their own candidates. Jim Driscoll beat Pedlar Palmer in the fourth round of a ten-round contest at tue Hoxton Bathe. Palmer's legs failed him completely after he had been knocked down several times in the previous round, and he was helpless when Ihe referee, Mr. Eugene Corri, etopped the contest.