SOCIALIST PLANS IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 16 February 1935, Page 14

SOCIALIST PLANS IN BRITAIN

LEAGUE OF YOUTH MOVEMENT THOROUGH ORGANISATION (fKMM OCR OWK CORRESPONDED.! LONDON, January 19. Plans for attempting to enrol 3,000,000 more Socialists in Great Britain, and for celebrating a Socialist Youth Day on February 24 or 25 each year, were among the matters considered at the annual conference of the League of Youth which met al Transport House, Westminster, on Saturday and Sunday of last week-end. Labour expects, and is preparing for. a General Election this year. This was made clear by leading Labour speakers at a dinner. Mr W. M. Citrine, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said hu was convinced that with a littie push Labour could have 300 members and a majority in the next Parliament. Mr J. S. M'ddleton, the new secretary of the Labour Party, said he believed the character of the next Parliament would decide very largely whether civilisation was to triumph or we were to "rattle back into barbarism " The most prominent contributor to the "Daily Herald" said, a day or two ago: "With a short four-point summary of toe most important proposals in its long programme, which the majority of electors will not read, and with a dramatic, forceful appeal, Labour could sweep the country. "George Lansbury, much more than people in London understand, is the idol of millions of people throughout the land. He has followers in all the denominations, who admire the practical religion of his life. They would trust him. He is clear and direct. "The electorate do not understand economics. They are not interested in them. But they are concerned with the problems of life. They see great abundance around them —and great poverty. They see greed, and they see starvation. "All publicity for the existing wrongs will, in the end, call attention to the fact that Socialism is the only remedy for them all." Educating the Nation Inside Transport House one finds courteous and friendly officials. The young Socialists who met on Saturday and Sunday were 300 chosen delegates from the various branches of the League of Youth. Mr C. G. Lacey, the chairman, led the conference through a full and varied agenda. "It becomes increasingly obvious." said the chairman, "that the people are no longer deluded by this sham* 'National' Government, and are awaiting a clear lead from some other source. "That lead must emanate from the Labour party, and must be a lead for constructive socialism. It is in this task of educating the nation in the fundamentals of socialism that the League of Youth must play such an active part."

After reviewing prevailing conditions in other large countries, Mr Lacey continued: "In a world which now has several Fascist dictatorships, the British Labour movement, with Soviet Russia, has the greatest responsibility for the future of international socialism. "In building up our youth movement, we must ever be conscious of this reesponsibility. I urge all branches to obtain the maximum affiliation to thp Socialist Youth International." Dr. Hugh Dalton's exposition of party policy on peace and war initiated a vigorous debate, during which several delegates called for opposition to th Leppue of Nations and denounced the party policy as supporting "capitalist wars." Attracting the Youtb Here one learned something about the Labour Party League of Youth. Five or six years ago it was organised on the principle that the surest way of avoiding the dangers inherent in an unstable and unenlightened electorate was to establish socialist convictions in their minds at the outset of their citizenship. It was realised that the general appeal of the party through its local organisations was not enough to command the attention of youth. Two things were essential to success: the fostering of an atmosphere of good fellowship, and the arrangement of regular and varied activity of a colourful and interesting character. Thus the recreational and social side of the League of Youth is built up somewhat on the lines of the Young Men's Christian Association. Business and routine work is kept at a> minimum. Every branch has study groups research groups to enquire into local social conditions, and speakers' classes to train members in the art and practice of public speaking. Then there are lectures by experts, and a library of socialist literature. The league also has a journal of its own "The New Nation," which is published monthly at ljd, and members are encouraged to sell this to the mass of the people outside the movement. Rambling, cycling, camping, swimming, physical culture, football, cricket, netball, tennis, and rowing are among the recreational pursuits of the league, and dances, concerts, whist drives, and social evenings are held during the winter months. Thus, the young people are nurtured in a pleasant social atmosphere, and in due course they absorb the teachings of socialism, or such of it as will ensure their vote at the elections. Even those who are below the voting age are given duties to perform in all the electoral campaigns in which the party is engaged. In addition, the League of Youth is part of the Socialist Youth International, which coordinates the work of similar organisations throughout the world.