LABOUR IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 22452, 24 September 1936, Page 11

LABOUR IN BRITAIN

THE TRADES UNION CONGRESS MR E. BEVIN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 10 a.m.) Mr Ernest Bevin has been elected chairman of the Trades Union Congress. " DICTATOR WITH A ROAR " One of the leading figures in the Labour movement in England is Mr Ernest Bevin, described by one of the London newspapers as “ the dictator with a roar.” Mr Bevin was bora at Bristol just over 40 years ago, and started to earn his living by driving a horse and cart. When little more than a youth he began to take an interest in trade unionism, and soon became a minor, official in the local branch of the Carters and Dockers’ Union. His work attracted the attention of the late Mr Ben Tillett, who encouraged him to devote all his time and energy to trade union organisation. With Mr Tillctt’s backing, Mr Bevin became the chief official of the Bristol bra neb of the Carters and Dockers’ Union, but it was not until after the war that he began to gain prominence. He went to London to assist in the amalgamation of the Transport Workers’ Union and the Transport . Workers’ Federation, and there worked in conjunction with Mr Tillett. During the past few years Mr Bevin has succeeded to the command of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, which has gradually squeezed out all other similar: organisations, and now his one union is the formidable combination of which Mr Bevin has dreamed. In appearance he is a stout, squarely-built man. with broad shoulders and long arms. His eyes are dark and his complexion sallow When roused he roars at his opponents. and ho has almost as many critics inside the trade union movement as outside. It is probable that he is not so capable as several other equally- prominent trade. union leaders, but hk methods are more njtreetin^