Workingclass Leaders and Compulsory military Training.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 27, 8 September 1911, Page 5

Workingclass Leaders and Compulsory military Training.

Under t!ho a-bovo title a 30-page pamphlet has been, issued by the Inteo:xiiatibnal Arbitration League. Says it:

At a time when the workers in other countries are crying out against the evils of conscription, a persistant attempt is being made to introduce it into this country in tho form of Compulsory Military Training. It is because tliis agitation •is backed by a large array of influential men and wo-

men of the rich classes and lavishly supplied with money that we think it desirable to warn the working-classes, of this well-organised conspiracy against their liberties. They are threatened by a military clique, aided by a reactionary press, and it behoves every friend of democracy to be on the alert.

We regard compulsion in any form as bad. Home deifence does not need if. The extra cost involved would amount to many millions a year, thus adding a still heavier weight to the already crushing burden of armaments, and it would be a serious menace to democratic progress.

Trade uniomists, co-op2rator's, and other organised workmen have been untouched by this mischievous propaganda of militarism. They stand resolutely

A Notable Pronouncement.

retaries

by tli© voluntary system as the only one Avhioh the workers will tolerate. The Government which, tried to abolish it would have short shrift at their hands, a,nd this cannot be made too plain at this juncture.

Holding these views strongly, we venture to urge upon-all classes the importance- of a strenuous resistance to the demands which are made for Compulsory Military Training by Lord Ilobeirts and the National Service League, of which he-is the head.

We are convinced that we speak for the vast majority of wage-earners in thus offering to these demands our determined opposition.

The foregoing is signed by 42 members of the Ho-use of Commons, including W. Abraham, G. N. Barnes, J. R. Clynes, Will Crooks, A. Henderson, F. W. Jowett, G. Lansbury, J. R. Mac Donald, P. Snowdeai, J. O'Grady.; by 13 members of the Council of the Federation of Trades Unions; by ovel 500 secretaries of trades unions; hj about 200 trades council secretaries; and by officials of co-operative societies and secretaries of friendly societies. In all, 968 representative work-ing-class leaders signed the manifesto, only those holding leading official positions being approached—thus the signatories do not include any branch sec-