Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

Majority of Seven to One.-

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

Majority of Seven to One. ACAINST SEPARATE PARTY IN POLITICS. l)]EP)iY, Friday. When Mr. H aveloek Wilson's motion, went. to the vote to-day it was defeated by just about seven to one majority that was expected— the figures being 3.M5.000 against, 567,000 for. And although much may he made of the use of the hlock vote, it is not to bo forgotten that it. is operating both ways here—for there is a minority of Wilson's own union against him just as there may be an insignificant minority amongst the railwaytnen and miners with him. The vote is a true reflex of Congress as ex- pressing itself all the week. It was obvious from his speech this morning t hat Mr. Wilson himself knew that the conversion of Congress was a hcrculean effort far beyond the powers of him- self and his followers, though he had shown good strategy*in reserving himself for HIe final stag's of the debate instead of leading it. off by moving the resolution. Indeed, right at the outset he iniimat-ed thar in view of what had happened on the previous day the unions identified in the re- solution were prepared to withdraw it if Con- gress would allow them to substitute a protest, which .lie proceeded to read. Jn ii the unions protested against what they considered to be unconstitutional action on the part of the La- bour Party in so widening the f?cope of its membership as to admit non-unionists and others who have no "genuine claim to represent Labour in Parliament or on local boards: they 'maintained that this innovation had been de- cided upon without any mandate from the mem- bers of the trade unions [a. sentence which pro- voked much derisive laughter i and they fur- ther asked for :1, ballot to bo taken without de- lay of the trade unions identified with the Con- gress as to whether the rank and file of „.the trade nniolls were prepared to accept as mem- bers of the Labour Party men who are not trade unionists, and who could not be classed as work- ing men. Two months ago, Mr. Wilson pro- ceeded, a colonel entere^Jiis office a.nd said he wanted to get into Parliament, that he was dis- gusted with having been kept waiting for four months by the new National party, although lie claimed to 1w. a. good speaker and organiser, and that he had determined now to join the Labour Partv. J DID N'T REMEMBER. At this poliit, there were loud cries for the iiadic, of the officer. Mr. Wilson said he did not remember it at the moment, but. would give it later to the secretary of the Labour Party whereupon Mr. John McGurk (Bolton, Miners' Federation), as chairman of jhe Labour Party, Executive asked that it should he given to him also. Continuing;, Mr. Wilson asserted that his short campaign in the last fortnight had conclusively proved that those with him had the solid sup- port of the fighting forces of the bulk of trade unionists up and down the country. He re- minded those who "for ever prat-ed" about democracy that democracy included all classes. .Now that his hand had been put to the pdough he should not turn back. This Congress was merely an incident of a campaign which, for the credit of the country, and the sake of its own existence, patriotic Labour was bound to fight to a finish and win. They were out for victory and for the final overt hrow of the military and commercial domination of Prussia. He attacked the practice and methods of the autocratic cau- cus. which controlled this Congress, though he was not. so sanguine as to expect that they would abandon the power they had voluntarily assumed. Those who controlled the block vote had it in their power on Thursday to defeat the Sailors' resolution, but after speaking against it they ran away. They had not the courage of their convictions, nor loyalty to the "alleged" instructions from their constituents to vote against the boycott. If any were needed, that was pronf of the artificial hollowness of this Congress—(interruptions),—but 'there was a wIder constituency outside to which he intended to appeal, maimed and crippled as be was. It was the under-dog he was fight.ing ior. (Deri- sive Laughter and voices: "Hughes.") It has been stated that: he had been adopted as Liberal candidate for South Shields. Well, he would set some of them a good example. He should refuse to be adopted as the Liberal candidate, and lie would stand as a patriotic candidate for South Shields. And he would give them a d- good run for their money every time. (Laugh- ter. ) A Delegate: 1 should like to ask Mr. Wilson if he Vants to confine the trade union Labour Party to trade unions? Mi-. Wilson: Yes. The Delegate: Then how can we support Sir Edward Xiclioll? (Laughter.) ) Mr. Wilson: Tie is running not at a trade unionist, hut as a Merchant/Seamen's League candidate. An attempt to close the discussion was: made by Mr. Herbert Smith (Yorkshire Miners) mov- ing the previous question, but failed hy a large majority. IN PRAISE OF I.L.P. Mr. lorn Shaw (Colne Weavers) said no one in t,tvk, was more disappointed and dis- gusted than he was with the action of a certain whig of the Labour Party which, in season and out of season, had worked against the decision of the party itself, and no one felt more keenly the unfairness of the rule suggested by the Executive of the Labour Party which, in the se- lection of candidates, weighed the scales so badly against the trade union organisations as to give 10 individuals four times the voting strength that was given to 20,000 organised trade, union- ists. (Hear, hear.) At the same time it was sheer, unqualified humbug for delegates to talk about the block vote. (Hear, Hear.) If there was anything wrong in it they had the power to alter it themselves without making a confession of impotence and incapacity by attempting to l set up a separate party every time they dis- agreed. (Cheers.) It was time they recognised that in the Labour Party there was a section every member of which was a worker. That was the whole secret of the business. If the major- ity of trade unionists who held different views would not take the trouble to work they de- served all they got. (Hear, hear.) He would remind them., too, that however disappointed some of them were with the action of the Inde- pendent Labour Party in tins war, in the past the I.L.P. had been the guiding spirit of the Labour movement. But for it and the old Social Democratic Federation there would have been no Labour Party to-day. ("Hear, hear.) Mr. G. Milligan (Liverpool Dockers) sup- ported the resolution for the fundamental rea- son that. lie and the, great majority of those he represented were not Socialists, and yet were now affiliated with what had become a Socialist organisation. He wanted Socialists themselves to ask whether this war right. There was room for a trade union Labour Party which could work side by side with the Socialists on all ques- tions upon which they agreed. He and those with him did not want to leave the party, but he did not see what else they could do unless the clause dealing with production, distribution, and exchange were deleted. The amendment of the London Society of Com- positors was then put to the vote and carried by 3.815,000 votes to 567,000. The Congress turned to discuss an amendment put forward by the Operative Printers and As- sistants' Society. This condemned any attempt to form a. separate trade union party, but pro- posed to safeguard bona-fide trade union politi- cal action that the unions affiliated to the Labour Party should constitute themselves a political federation within the party a.nd meet annually ill i-o d*l'- e l in conference to discuss political questions in the same manner as the I.L.P. and the B.S.P. In moving the amendment, Mr. G. A. Isaacs (London) said there was now an organised minority within the Labour Party. What lie wished to see was an organised majority. There was no intention of disrupting the party: his society would still.remain affiliated, but it could not be disguised that among tWe rank and file of the movement there was much grumbling at the influence the non-trade union elements exer- cised. Mr. J. Stokes (London, Olassblowors Society) said that while he had no objection to "intel- lectuals coming into the movement, they should c.ome in through^f]lf> organisations which had built up and were maintaining the Labour Party. But that was not so.eand elements of danger were created which might bring .disrup- tion. The trade unionists affMiated to the party should be on an equality with the B.S.P. and the I.L.P. in their opportunity of safeguarding their particular interests. Mr. J. B. Williams (Amalgamated Musicians) pointed out that at Aecrington in the selection of :1 Labour Party. Mr. McGurk of the Miners' Federation, had been passed over by a. two to one vote in favour of a non-unionist. Mr. C. Roden Buxton. WORKTNC-CLASS DUKES." [ Miss Bond fie Id (TVomen Workers' Federation), opposing the amendment, said it was time the movement dropped its humbug about the work- ing class. If they collid work with a body of artists like the members of Mr. Williams' union, why should they not work with poets, and painters, and scientific men. (Cheers.) If it suited Mr. Haveloek Wilson to work with work- ing-class dukes—(laughter and cheers),—why were they not to have the same privilege of working with Labour Party dukes if they were to be found? (Laughter.) She appealed for a decisive vote 10 end the halting policy which the Parliamentary Committee had been compelled to take since the Labour Party adopted its new constitution. Congress should declare it's inten- tion of loyal co-operation in carrying oUt La- hour's war aims. The hip; enemy was not the Socialist or the I.L.P., but the reactionary forces which had entrenched themselves during tho war and gained control of the administra- tive machinery of the country. Mr. W. J. Davies (Birmingham, Brass- workers), the mover of the original resolution. said the Congress had made a great mistake in rejecting his proposal, and prophesied that in the next twelve months a reaction would set which would justify his policy. The votes cast for the second amendment numbered 1,060,000, and there were 3,107.000 against. It was therefore rejected, and the amendment, of the London Society of Com- positor was adopted as the substantive motion.

«EAVY DEFEAT FOR HAVELOCK…

Clearing-Up Day.

A.U.C.E. SECRETARY A LABOUR…

■j I.L.P. MEETING.j --.-

I In Your Name and Behoof.

I A Glasgow Protest. !

Parents' Petition,