The mighty Atom.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 19, 14 July 1911, Page 7

The mighty Atom.

"Is Joe going to be tbe president, dad?" ''What president?—ye young devil ye," (says father over the paper snappily). Johnny: "I thought he was —" Dad: "Here, Mary t Wash that kid's face and take him to bed." * * * A man may let on he's a friend to the worker, but as soon as he takes a title, it's all up with the burlesque —you can see right through him without the X rays. •* * * Walter Thomas Mills will be lecturing in Wellington this week-end and we hope his meetings will be crowded ones. Should he be engaged for

another three months in Maoriland he will have the valuable aid of his wife, Mrs. Hilda F. Mills, in the work. * * * Mr. Justice Higgins, who is hearing the A.W.U- arbitration case, decided to visit a shearing shed, and see the conditions of life and labour for himself. _ - * * # * ** -Every inch a King." His Majesty the Fifth George stands just sft. 2*in. in his boots, without the heel-insets which give him an increased altitude of a shaving or so under sft. 4m., says

"Q. Worker." * * * "The hand that fakes the fools the world" neatly prints feyd. Worker." _ ..* * * ■ - * w Three "wires" : Greymouth, 3rd July. A deputation from the Greymouth branch "of the New Zealand Labour Party obtained from Mr. A. I;. Russell, Mayor of the town, his consent to stand for the Grey electorate in tho interests of Labour. "Westport, 3rd Julj The Westport district council of the Federation of Labour decided rot to run a Labour candidate for the Buller seat at the general election, the time not being opportune. Balmerston North, L»th July At the request of the .Aanavi atu Flax Workers' Union. Mr. J. Ktteitson, of Palmerston, secretary of the Taranaki Dairy Workers' ITn-on, has decided to contest the Otaki *>Lecso>Ete in the Labour interests. * . * * MMiadero," the new president of Mexico, said W. T. Mills to this paper •'beat Diaz in New York. No, Icon t expect things to be bettor Mexico now. I haven't the remotest belief that

Madero will extend rfihe democratic idea of government." dfc * * At Guinness' Westport meeting Mr. M. Fagan, miners' secretary, was in evidence and challenged Sir Arthurs statement in regard to the action of the delegates on the half-holiday ques tion. * * * Fred R. Cooke has proved hiri-self an agitator of weight. We congratulate him, admire him. He is wanted in Parliament. He went to prison rather than pay a fine for street speaking. Some time ago Mr. Cooke was summoned . before a Magistrate for having broken the City Council's by-law by speaking to a crowd in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, on February 26. He was convicted for the breach, and ordered to pay <xsts 7s and solicitor's fee £1 Is. On prin-

ciplevbe refused to pay the fine and en principle suffered torture for 7 days. He may have to undergo it again, even though since his conviction the obnoxious by-law has been repealed. Such men are the pioneers of people's liberties and are priceless to an agitational movement. The lo<?al papers sneered at "comrade" Cooke, and brought this ringing letter from A. H. Shrubshall: Sir, —The imprisonment of Mr. F. Tt. Oooke is a disgrace to Christchurch; your editorial upon the matter is an insult added to injury. As a citizen of Christchurch and one of "the intelligent crowd at the back" I protest agrainst both.

I have taken the trouble to find out the circumstances of the matter, and

am satisfied that there is absolutely noj thing of the vainglorious about Cooke's I action; hut that it is the outcome of i a deliberate jand determined purpose to (uphold the right of public meeting and freedom of speech in Cathedral Square. The man stands to 'lose a good deal 1 financially by his action, and it would have been cheaper by a long way for I him to have paid the fine. Whatever 111 ay be his faults, cowardice, insincerity \ and hypocrisy are not among them, and compared with this standard your editorial is contemptible. You know sia well as anyone that the by-law through, which Cooke is suffering imprisonmenti is an unnecessary on© and that the police regulations were and are quit© sufficient to guarantee _us against the abuse of the right of publio meeting in Cathedral Square, and that it is' only possible to conclude that the by-law waa designedly ainied at this right of public meeting in a public place. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Let us remember that the freedom of the Press was not wool aaid _ia not maintained by compromising with a would-be tyranny. The imprisonment of Mr. F. R. Cooke is a disgrace to thia city and your editorial is a reflection! upon its origin.