RAND REBELLION

Evening Star, Issue 17926, 23 March 1922, Page 3

RAND REBELLION

INCITEMENTS TO REVOLUTION. THE COMMANDO SYSTEM. 4 RED FLAGGERS TO THE FORE. South African papers now to ‘hand give foil particulars of the early beginnings of • the revolutionary movement on the Rand in the first week of February, when the strike had been a month in progress. The commando system hud then been inaugurated, nominally with the object of keeping free labor out of * the mines and proriding healthy exercise for the strikers, In the form of drill, when otherwise they " might have suffered from a too sedentary life. The commandos at that time, however, were being formed against many difficulties, CALL FOB A REPUBLIC. • Mr Bob Wat-erston was the central figure In,the audience which, yesterday filled to overflowing the Town Hall (save the Johannesburg ‘ Star 1 of February 6). In dramatic fashion hia entrance towards the close of the- mooting was heralded by a bugler in the gallery, and the sensation was increased when, having made his way up through the thronged arena, ho mounted the platform, and to an astonished audience proposed a resolution to the effect:

That,-this mass meeting of citizens is of opinion that the time has arrived when the domination of the of Minos and other financiers in tenth Africa should ceaeo; and to mat end we ask the members of Parliament assembled in Pretoria to-morow to proclaim o South African Republic, and immediately to form a Provisional Government for this country.

The speaker went bn to eay that ha bad been sent to lay that resolution before the meeting by the delegates of the East- Band, but ho did not want these to vote for it who were not prepared to give it further support. "We are prepared,” he continued, " rather than go down in this struggle, to have a revolution as a last weapon. Wo realised that the revolution was the last step and not the first; but, comrades, the position is this ; that when tins Provisional Government is formed in Pretoria —as to-mororw we hope it will be—it will be a constitutional stop, and it will be with the other side to attack this Provisional Government and put it out by force.

"Wo want no abortive resolutions. We want a job made of it if it does come. I want everyone to vote for this _resolution who is actually in favor of it, and let those who are against it at least have tbo moral courage to vote against it.” Out of the big throng two dissentients had the courage of their convictions, and two hands were put up when the chairman asked those against the resolution to declare their objection. Otherwise those assembled were vociferously and enthusiastically in its favor. It was repeated_ in Dutch-by Mr Erasmus, and a deputation, consisting of Messrs Percy Fisher (found killed by his own baud when the revolt collapsed at Fordsburg), E. Shaw, M. Kentridge, and Erasmus, was appointed to proceed to Pretoria to-day to convey the resolution to the meeting of M.L. A.s. A REBUFF FROM THE NATIONALISTS. The Provisional Government was not formed in. Pretoria, The members of the Dutch Nationalist Party assembled there refused to have anything to do with plana for a revolution. Their leader, Tielman Boos,

made it plain that labile the party was working for a republic it was determined to do so only by constitutional means. They would delay the arrival of the republic if they did anything, unconstitutional or revolutionary. Such action would only place their people at the mercy of the other side, to do shot down like dogs. Well-equipped forces would always go forth to shoot unarmed or half-armed. Mr Eoos denied that the Nationalist Party was in any way concerned with the strike either at Witbank or on the Rand. Mr Waterston assured those present that the people who passed the resolution at Johannesburg fully realised what they were doing. They had tried every constitutional means. He had opposed the revolutionary wing of the Labor Party, but now, as far as ho was concerned, ho was prepared that day to take up a rifle. The movement on the Reef was very strong, and 20 per cent, were prepared to take any step rather than go down. He asked the party to look at Ireland or any country where a republic had been established, and they would we that no republic was ever established by constitutional means. A DUTCHMAN’S WARNING.

Mr Heyus (Nationalist ■ member for Middelburg) said he wished to say a warning word to his friends on the Labor side. The Nationalists had sympathy with all the workers, but “they come here today and want a republic. lam surprised to hear such a thing. (Laughter.) It rather makes onr hair stand on end. (Laughter.) We have had enough of it.” (Renewed laughter.) If, proceeded Mr Heyus, the strikers wished to weaken their case, let them.come forward with a republic. He (the speaker) had not been a rebel, but lie sympathised with the rebels. Fortunately, •or unfortunately, he had not had the opportunity of going into rebellion, but he warned them against a revolution. They must not go to Gene-

ral Smuts and threaten him with a re-

public, because if they did they would loco the support of the countryside. “Wo have gone through those things Wo have been shot down. Over there are perhaps some of those who chased us during the ■rebellion, and now they come and say they want a republic. (Laughter.) Let them wait until the next election, if they all remain faithful until then. (Laughter.) And then they could see about the republic. Mr Madelcy, a member of the Transvaal Provincial Council, said he was one o£ those who saw nothing virtuous in a republic ns such; a republic per so was nothing' to him if it did not have an entire change of system. They had virtually a republic to-day. The GovernorGeneral could not open Parliament without tho advice of his Ministers, To-diay they had a republic, and the dictator was Jan Smuts. What they required to-day —the Government of the country having definitely allied itself to the money—howeveri was a strong man as GovernorGeneral who would 1 kick over the traces even if he blasted the Constitution in doing so in the interests of the people of South Africa. Still another speaker stated that until ho could) see that South Africa was prepared to back their movement, he was not going to be a party to leading the workers to the shambles to bo shot down and murdered in the streets of Johannesburg. RETURN- OF THE DELEGATES. The Johannesburg Town Hall was crowded! to the doors at a meeting with strikers and their womenfolk, held to receive tho report of tho delegates to Pretoria. . Just on 11 o’clock commandos from Fordsburg and the Village Deep marched into the hail with a big banner in the van, which called upon tho workers of the world to fight and' unite for a white South Africa. Bugles proclaimed the meeting open, and the vast audience rose and 1 sang tho ‘ Red Flag.’ Just before Mr " Jimmy ” Green assumed his duties as chairman voices cried outi “Are we going to win?" And! the answer camei “Yes!”

Mr Percy Fisher said that anybody who imagined that, they were coming back from Pretoria having created a revolution in one day must be out of his mind. Their .efforts were bearing fruit. They wore creating the atmosphere, end the flame might ultimately burn aa the revolution which they were out for. The rest of Mr Fisher’s speech was composed of attacks on leaders who wished to refer tire dispute to Parliament or had no mind for on extreme policy. Friction occurred*' between the chairman and Mr Fisher when the chairman mentioned quietly that there were other speakers to follow, and* the Town Hall was booked for an. organ re-

cital. Mr Fisher said that in that case they would commandeer the Town Hall and keep it until whatever time they desired. This met with some enthusiastic response from the audience, *nd Mr Fisher went on. But when it was explained later that the municipal concerts were for the ratepayers’ benefit, and that they paid to get them held, the audience appeared to be generally content that the meeting should not interfere with it. TO EMULATE IRELAND, INDIA, AND ■ EGYPT. Mr Kentridge thought that the Augmented Executive would now have to consider those means which had succeeded in Ireland 1 and were succeeding in India and Egypt. That was the policy of boycott, a passive resistance. The workers must say “Give us work, and then.only will we pay our taxes,’’ and they must not pay rent, even if thrown out into the street. The Government might be able to throw a few hundreds on to the street, but not 22.000 individuals! Commandant Erasmus, of the Forclsburg commando, also spoke of the formation of secret societies and the impossibility of waiting three or four years for constitutional redress. He amused the women in the hall by saying that he would laugh the last breath out of himself'if the Fordsburg Women’s Command (a meeting to form which was to be held on the following night) should capture General Smuts and Mr Buckle and handcuff them. The meeting closed with the singing of the ‘ Red Flag.’ Then the commandos formed up and marched away, with the drums and bugles in the van. . THE COMMANDO SYSTEM. 9 . UNPOPULAR DRILLING. I A special reproeentative of the Johannes I hnrg 'Star,’ who toured the East Eiisd a ’ for as Springs, on February 6 wrote i,

As was anticipated by everyone in close touch with the militant side of the strikers’ activities, the morning passed quietly. The orders for the day mainly laid down squad drill and short marches. Not one of the commandos that went on parade was near full strength. Everywhere a largo number of absentees was reported. The main contributing cause to this was the resolution in favor of a republic that was taken at yesterday’s meeting at the Town Hall at the instigation of " Major-general ” Waterston, whoso volatile temperament seems to sway his resolves between the extremes of revolutionary doctrine and meaningless political generalities. Not every striker is a rebel or Bolshevik. Most Englishment were absentees from the commandos to-day. Some of them are “ carrying” on with a mental reservation that if the. movement is not limited to the strike they will have no more of it. They refuse to be made the tools for Nationalist conspirators. At the same time they feel that-it would bo unmanly to leave their comrades in the lurch, and recognise that without solidarity they can never achieve anything. The Republican gas shell has burst prematurely. The’wilder the talk of the orators the greater the shrinkage in the ranks of the fighting men. They know Jhat revolution will never be attained by resolutions, though the tub-thumping element seems to think so. The striker is a man with one idea. His supposed grievance is that an attempt-is being made to remove the color bar. However foolish he may be thought, he is not going to bo diverted to political issues, The strike’s the thing. MERELY A PASTIME. Not every Dutch-speaking member of the commandos is a Republican. The Town Hall resolution has scared many of them. There is no pleasanter way of passing the time, to their mind, than galloping about the country with their elected commandant at their head. But they, .would;

bo very much averse from attempting to overthrow the Government.

Most Nationalists ridicule the resolution. Those who know something of war realise that the proposition is too absurd for a moment's serious consideration. They have neither arms nor money to wage war on the Government. Even the military genius of “ Major-general ” Waterston, who left the regular army many years ago as a full-blown private, might fail to bring) them any tangible success. He once referred to the old British Army as having boon composed ol the “ scum of tiro earth.” The Nationalists who onco fought bravely for a republic, and, lost, suspect that his military ideas are_ rather topsyturvy, and that however creditable a display his “army” makes after a fortnight’s training, yet the task of subjugating South Africa—not to mention the rest of the Empire—is rather beyond their .powers. ATTITUDE OF MODERATES.

The blow that has been struck at the strike commandos is regretted by all moderate, peaceable men amongst them. Manjr of them deserted when the “ pulling out ” of mine officials was included in their tactics. These moderate men at first rejoiced in tire commando system, for they saw in it an excellent way of filling in their too ample leisure, while it made for the building up of esprit do corps amongst the striker's and the retention of their solidarity in the great fight in which they are engaged. It also served to keep the wilder spirits in check. Now such a blow has been struck the commando system that it will probably perish utterly. “ Waterston’a army,” which took the field on Friday 1,200 strong, this morning numbered between three and four hundred. Half of them stayed at home. The balance were critical onlooker’s of the squads who engaged in drill, some of them under very capable instructors. Will these men ever join up again? .It is unlikely

THE MEN WHO TALK. Curiously enough the hot-heads who talk most about lighting have seen little or no service. Quo c[ the worst agitators was a conscientious objector in the war. They do not seem to understand that there is something of the spirit of the small boy about most men. They like to play at soldiers with their chums, but before they fight they must know clearly what they are fighting for. Instead the plans of the militant leaders seem to change from day to day, even between morning and evening. “ Major-general ” Watcrston, whose spirit inspires the armies on the East Rand, seems, according to those who are in constant touch with him, to bo losing his head. It is a big thing for a man unused to command to find that his word is law, and that a body of men larger than a battalion will move to his command. The jump from “private” to “major-general” is too big; it is dangerous. He should have graduated less hurriedly in his military career. He is experiencing all the thrills of a newly-ap-pointed unpaid “lance-jack,” while ho has the responsibilities of a “major-gen-eral.” Hence he is making himself the laughing stock of tho Reef. It is a sorry business, for personally Mr Waterston is tho most amiable of men.

A warning, issued by the Government on February 6 against the danger of inciting to violence, was not without its effort in further diminishing the strength of the strike commandos. The ‘ Star’s ’ touring reporter was able to report: The commandos were smaller even than yesterday. Instead of over ICO mounted men at Benoni, one saw only a score. Water - ston’s army could not muster 200 men all told, mounted, cyclists, and ambulance included. The blow dealt them by the republican resolution was more staggering than at first was revised.

On February 8 Fisher and H. Spendiff .were arrested, jvith three others, on

charges of inciting to public violence. Spendiff blew his brains out, along with Fisher, when the strike proved a failure. “GET RACK QUICK.”

On February 9 “Ex-Soldier” wrote to tho ‘ Star ’ : The strike has lasted twentyfive days, and it looks like lasting twentyfive more. Our jobs are going fast. There are less to go back to. Tomorrow and tho next day the number will bo fewer. The conference sat thirteen days and accomplished nothing. On Monday the S.A.I.P. executive threw tho men over to the local strike committees —a sorry confession of utter failure. They hope the strike committees will decide that the men go back to work, and so save their face. Tile low-grade mines are a bad advertisement for South Africa and a. worse one for the gold mining industry. The chamber wants fresh capital for new ventures, and it is almost, impossible to get it while so many non-dividend paying mines hang round its neck. The chamber is not likely to weep if the lowgrade mines are hopelessly flooded out, Tho strikers will do the weeping. They should pet back to their jobs. Let each mine take a ballot, to work or not to work. See to it that it is a secret ballot. Most of them were diddled info voting for a strike on the assurance that it was to be used as a bluff only. I would ■say to the men; “Cut adrift from the federation; it has never helped yon, never will. Control and manage your own union and your own funds. Get rid of your so-called leaders. Above all, get back to work and—get back quick.” Unhappily the advice was not taken.