THE L.W.W PRISONERS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1920, Page 4

THE L.W.W PRISONERS

THREAT BY EXTREMIST UNIONS. SYDNEY, June 8. -Any person, living outside of Australia and trying to take an intelligent interest in Australian affairs, must lie greatly puwzled by the I.WAV. agitation. On the one hand there is reported a fierce Labour agitation in favour of the I.W.W. prisoners ■ on the other, ,a. decision by the New South Wales Government (Labour) for a further enquiry into the claims for a re consideration of the cases of the I.W. X. men.

The twelve I.W.W. men were cop vieted in 1916 of being involved in a big and elaborate plot to burn down important buildings in Sydney. They had no particular object beyond that cl calling attention to.their personal discontent with existing social and economic conditions. They got sentences varying from ten to fifteen years. And every sane and decent man in the country approved of the sentences. Ever since that time I.W.W. sympathisers, with .an industry and > ten • acity of purpose worthy of a better cause, have been agitating for the release of the twelve men. Their agitation carried some weight because -6 ue very ugly incidents, suggesting Doli?e corruption and the suborning of witnesses, attended the trial. They succeeded in getting a re-trial, but ice men were again found 'guilty and the sentences re-imposed. Then certain charges against the police were made. 'Phese wei-j inquired into by a Royil Commissioner in circumstances amounting practically to another re-trial, but the outcome was the clearing of ilie police and the confirmation of the .sentences.

But the I.W.W.’s carried on their agitation, and, their pernicious and vicious influence is so great that, when the 'Labour Government jeame into power recently it was obliged to agree to a further enquiry, and has engaged Mr Justice Ewing—the Tasmanian Judge who formulated the recent sea oiling report into Northern Territory administration—to conduct it. But .the I.W. are not satisfied. They are howl ing louder than ever. They are- holding passionate open-air meetings about the city, and their stickers, “Set the twelve men free,” may be seen every whore. They do not want a further trial; they want unconditional release---' and they think that now, with a ji hour Government in power, is the time to secure it. They have managed to “work” two big union.s. Th© Seamen’s Union has resolved that if the I.W.’ - .’. men are not released within a month, they will go on strike; and the Waterside Workers’ Federation has decided Ir support the .seamen. It is not expected that either union will get the support of a majority of its members in taxing such drastic action on behalf of a gang of criminals, but if such a strike should occur, it would mean a sham struggle between the unions, as representing the extremists, and the Labo ir Government, which represents moderate Labour. It is a struggle that some L lieve is bound to come sooner or later