THE "RED FEDERATION"

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14822, 13 November 1913, Page 10

THE "RED FEDERATION"

Mil BARR REPLIES TO MR RIGG

A CRITICISM.

(SPECIAX TO "THE PRESS.") WT_LLIN'GTO.N, November 12. The fact that tho leading representatives of organised labour differ widely on the question of the "Red Federation's" management of the present strike is a fair indication that the samo divergence of opinion will exist among tho rank and file. During the past few days several representative men have entered tho arena, with the result that the public is gaining an opportunity of recognising the necessity for caution before adopting a definite line of action.

Yesterday the Hon. J. Rigg gavo,it as his opinion that all unionists who endeavour at the present time to break up tho solidarity of the workers are traitors ix> tho cause. Well, this opinion has amused the Hon. J. Barr, who stands solidly for arbitration and believes that tho Arbitration Act has been the ladder by which Labour climbed to prosperity. Speaking to a reporter last night Mr Barr remarked that Mr Rigg has taken no active part in trades unionism during the past ton years and has at the present moment absolutely no responsibilities. Then he went on to discuss Mr Rigg's views, which have appeared in your columns. OLAPTRAP TO GULL DUPES. "No one knows better than Mr Rigg," ho said, "the value of tho blessed word Mesopotamia, and both of them knew that such claptrap was only to further gull tho misguided and unfortunate men who have been coerced into taking part in a bad cause. Who was . breaking up the solidarity of Labour, forsooth? Was it the preac_er of syndicalism and sabotage, or the advocate of conciliation and arbitration? Was it a traitorous act to prevent the destruction of unions like the hotel employees' and the generral labourers? If to warn those who were to suffer from the actions of such wreckers as the man from Milwaukee and his shifty followers or tools was to play a traitor's part, then ho (Mr Barr) desired to be aubbed a traitor."

"I have not become so spineless," he continued, "as to be scared at the words that may emanate from the minds of men like Mr Rigg's syndicalist friends, many of whom can turn a somersault as well as the littlo Japs that recently toured the Dominion." He admitted that he did not take Mr Rigg seriously.

Mr Barrsaid he agreed with Mr Rigg as to the necessity for something being dono to prevent strikes, and would support him in any proposal in tliat direction, whether it was some method of eliminating the professional strike creator or amending the Conciliation and Arbitration Act in the way he suggests. - _