THE RED FLAG OF SOCIALISM.

NZ Truth, Issue 123, 26 October 1907, Page 6

THE RED FLAG OF SOCIALISM.

Jim Thome Let Loose. fTKe so-called Labor leaders In " Christchurch, men of brilliancy, possessing great mental qualifications, and incidentally the cheek of the devil, have been going it hot and strong lately. Open air meetings m that convenient spot, Cathedral Square, have been the order of the day— and night. The flag of red-hot Socialism is displayed, and politics of another order are introduced, and the Government is slated right and left, although it is supposed to be <a work-ing-man's Government, wearing moleskin pants and smoking a cheap pipe, governing the country, between beers, m the interests of Liberalism and the 'orny-handed sons of toil. The Christchurch Socialists number among them some of the most torrid speakers m the Dominion. Jim Thome, who delivered a tirade from a trestle, the other Sunday, gave 'Joeward and Dunedin Millar gip— whatever that may be. Neither /was a friend of the toilers, and the amended Arbitration Act was given particular sheol. Thome is a small, thick-set bloke with a boyish face, and can TALK LIKE . A' HURRICANE. He makes some good points, and speaks m a most emphatic manner, that impresses his hearers. He stood for Parliament last election, and made a fair race of it ; and now he is gassing himself with favor, or disfavor, m view of the next political dogfight. He is a great Unionist, as a matter of course, and let light into a 'ew things that the country farmers have been doing. It isn't surprising, of course, but the Farm Laborers'Union has 'been spreading m Canterbury, and the farmers abhor it as an unclean thing, and a van-load of ghosts that intend to confiscate all their prosperity and ruin them financially, besides disturbing their lawful sleep and killing the country generally. So, whenever they notice a ; farm, laborer working on the executive of the Union, they tell him plump and plain to getf off it or lose his job. Thorne read letters to that effect to the crowd, and ' said that one beauty, alleged to be. a member of Parliament, not only threatene<\ to dismiss .an employee of (ten

years' standing, but also his father, who had been there a great deal longer. Those are the tactics being employed by the farmers and squatters of Canterbury just now— the low wage mob— 'but Thorn should mention names.