TOO MUCH MYSTERY.

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 19, 22 November 1913, Page 1

TOO MUCH MYSTERY.

In the case of a Central Strike Committee being* entrusted with the necessary administrative powers of a big strike, too much mystery and secrecy is not good. A strike cannot be run successfully by a dozen or a score of men bottling themselves up in a room and keeping the “ Rank and File ” in the dark.

It is anything but satisfactory to thousands of strikers to be called to meetings of their respective unions to be told, with an air of great mystery on the part of their single delegate, that the Central Strike Committee has something which the delegate knows, but cannot divulge. These are the methods of 25 years ago. It is preposterous to assume that the collective intelligence of twenty men is superior to the collective intelligence of ten thousand. And as for it being necessary to keep things secret —that is almost impossible, especially when alleged friendly members of the employing class are seen hovering round. What is there to keep secret, anyway ? If a basis of settlement has been arrived at it must be placed before the Rank and File. They know best, or at least an intelligent minority of them know best, what they want settled. Moreover, there is the continual suspicion of trickery or incompetency on the part of the Strike Committee.

To say the Rank and File elected the delegates is no satisfaction to those who raised no objection to this or that delegate being apr pointed ; most of them appointed in a hurry and many not opposed to save friction. They are usually appointed, too, on the understanding that they are to be a connecting link between the different bodies on strike —not as a separating factor.

The Rank and File must have the fullest possible control to ensure a successful strike. Certainly Tom, Dick, and Harry cannot be butting in on business deliberations, and orderly business methods should be observed; but to promote and maintain the spirit of Solidarity, to ensure the welding of local forces, and to keep the Rank and File in touch and in pulse with the strike, a reasonable amount of decentralisation of control is necessary —otherwise the Central Strike Committee is a farce, if not worse.