The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1912. THE FOES OF THE WORKMAN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1464, 12 June 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1912. THE FOES OF THE WORKMAN.

The hardships endured by the corumunity of Wajhi must be hardening up public opinion everywhere against the fluent demagogues who are responsible for the continuance of the strike. AVhat will surprise most people is that the strikers cannot perceive that they are not fighting in defence of- their own interests, or in defence even of some good principle, but only in defence of the leaders of the Labour Federation. In view of the anxiety of the now desperate Federation to make a final bid for Australian support by issuing a foolish and misleading circular, it is pertinent'to glance briefly at the dilemma of the Federation and at the plain facts, which the, strikers (or those, of them who stand firm, for many of them are strikers against, their will) appear unable to sec. The main fact is that if the strike could end successfully for the Federation, it could so end only by the voluntary surrender of the Winders and Drivers' Union. The company simply cannot coerce the new union : it cannot dismiss the members of it without becoming liable to heavy legal penalties. As a fact, of course, the company has shown no desire to coerce anybody, but has wisely declared that as the dispute is between the Federation and the new union— is an internal labour war, that is to say—the combatants must fight it out between themselves. The leaders of the Federation are well aware of this, and would be very glad if somebody could find a way out for them. In the meantime they are using every means to preserve their fast-fading nana, since they realise that for them what is most importantly at stake is their exciting and profitable trade of strife-making. These gentleman do not work at all, and they do not fight for love: they do not share the dry bread ot the striker's child. Nor will they while workingmen can be misled by vivid and violent rhetoric, the hotter that it comes from cold and calculating hearts. The business of the Federntion bring to bamboozle the workingnmti for the greater profit and glory of the Fiideralion orators (although there has been little glory for them, indeed, in this Wailii affair) one would naturally look for disingenuousness in the circular issued for Australian consumption. In this foolish production the AVaihi and Itcefton deadlocks are Fused together as a "bitter warfare.' , ".Briefly,'' the circular says, "the. men are. fighting for the right lo refuse to work with a scab union, and also iigainst. the. compulsory use of Ihr 'popper' I by one miner instead of tVo." Xb.e

Reefton ' ! popp:e..r" dispute is ono ui)on which .{litre, is rcioin for argument on :boi.h sides-, but it hits n.O- 1 tiling whaTtiwr ty. do., : i : fi any- respect.: with the iVt &« : ftvm there is a- jjrivafe disp.iite bntweoit employers-aiftt employees pn ii,. pointof actual warding :ci!iid ; itio|is-. At Waibi, tlii; Fed'eratiim is siijtyly nsv ing the strikiv weapo.ii, with ivll' its lmuislimunf of. wcijjini.n and. ctsilcl-rflii-,. in onler to-coerce a iurion into subservience .tjj. L'ljft .selfish deiiiagpgiies who live by rxpjoitilig. tho woi'iuflg--111.111. Thetv USe. of the Keefton pute to shelter i'tlieir a.c.tjoji at \Vaiiij- : is evidencav as-.inu.clj pf .'(hii nervousness of the- ■Fttclerati.o.ii: Ifiiuic.r.s as- pi their want :p'f. Siu'idOUr. While all this is going; on. ihe \Lfrmy. Labpu-r party is dpiiig .nothing, to Ivetp or to-j hinder, altliojjigliy. ;is. -we ;!myc seyerCl times pointC;d. ,, init, /ail actke chaiiipionship oT-thci Wiriders' ¥.n> ion is due' l-i-om.-'tlfe "Snity , ' , taction if there is ; any.'.|incority ■ln/tliei* professions, tliroVigh'... , ohs.cyre journals, of : ;bitte>;:hpstility fe the : i Federatioir;p£>:LalKi.M>i ■ '

But is there.,'.' ?at bo'fto.ni. liny Is.iii:--cerity, a'ii}(tbihg : b;ut ,p;pj)pi:.t.ui).i'sm; i iu the pronpunceniionts of; : '''Uiv: ity" leaders:-:aWdv?thcir- -p.regsf Tlffipublic will.;vlbubt;it,V at.ikjbegin'rnnr to appearAthab. the: liknjy,'. whoso :fpr; -tfechance of ; figh'tihg Js!dp;:by.: : :feid : (i' wi'th-. the during tlieV\tramw^.;stnke;';':a;ndwhich sonti;a'ri^cmba3sy:'the : ,Sthe'r:day; to make ov^-tures ; ;tpHha;Fe"aeVatipn :: are hpping;to;Ja|isorly.th'c: ; Eede'ra:ti6ri '■ and its lea'de;r^;andy:'its^ ; aritivspcial : orators. Tlie Fpjijpctiyoiqf/; thfr : '' ity : in>." ; 'nny materially differieafciijpiiii^hat-p'f'thc' i edcrationS7^heii5 'pjatiiSnrii ifaye:# common bas'is; Bf^Sfejmiitioa , ?:tliaf the the poor : his little his httlo business tha(vshise.i3Va;in^' ; ana:' skill' keep going ■■t6!;th'e^aa.^intagc'' : pf:'K's:j employees, i §eeirig : 4he:;ascepliKility.J ot large rhetorical ap P ealsfof:ythi>'::Eederati6;n:; ceniagogues;'i:thc;^nit^' ,: disposed to-?\veh^dmc-^&se ,; nten;-as: : asi' sets in the fullbrxjexplPitation;' M Wfr general average niahualijriwbvker.- -^iis^ocl , cause to curse;tho:ifact-t&it?;li#fel-lows will_so ;: foplisWy !; ;coptinvie.\tp: ; eu- 1 triist their caui&ifoyocUiifairistsjnfr. se f-seeking "adventurer£:?;lK,:.%Very.'labour leader-Jn :: ..theS:-cpuntry':-weny away for ever,; the.iaiise:bf;.thc?nmiis uat worker pions so mained in himians : beirig3;.ri-iA : nd' ;: 'dffi such an terests more truly servedjtha:ii ; :they;:a:r.e,seM£ cd at present; nothing to PVeyentihcsriinginieipf'all: honest and liumne'TOenia!gains¥tHat : ' small minorityj;which;wilL:alw ; Ist, of employers s ;whpSvdll : tairly with workingmeh^.:As^matters ; stand_ some of;the ;: bestVfj ; jorids ; 6f workingman's truefinterestsvjire pelled to appear,ibjit;;brily'^;to ; : pear, as his sity ot proteeting; s terests, which:: are; everyone's -iiitei- 1 ests, againstnhe,;jSoeiaHte;an:ds:tße' : J Robins at jealP ed the Labour^movement*'^^-^-'-'^^