STATE UNIFORMS

Evening Star, Issue 18668, 24 June 1924, Page 5

STATE UNIFORMS

A LABOR NEWSPAPER’S TIRADE.

Some amusement has been caused by the photographs of tho Labor Ministers in their State uniforms. Tho Yorkshire 1 Post ’ calk attention to the protest made by tho Clyde Socialist paper ‘ Forward,’ especially directed against “Mr James Brown, Labor member for tho South Ayrshire division, because, having accepted tho official representation of tho State at the opening of tho General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, in whoso councils ho haa long boon a ruling elder, to that end ho has accepted also tho traditional ceremonial accompanying his office. ” The ‘ Forward ’ foams as follows :

“‘ If James Brown had gone > in his Sunday clothes, and waved' aside the £2,000 for useless flummery and the disguising of himself for what ho is not. ho would have struck a blow for his class and tho dignity of his class, ayo, and for the honor and dignity of the kirk that is sadly wanting In his participation in and acceptance of medieval aristocrat follies.’ These ‘mummeries,’ according to tho Clyde paper, aro a sign of ‘ inward and spiritual dr} 7 rot,’ A party (says the ‘ Forward *) which tamely accepts tho medieval circus, and participates in, and takes a delight in participating in, useloss, costly, and stupid mummeries, is a party that is not in the way of serious business.’ In order that the sans-cuioUism of tho Clyde may bo manifested in an even stricter interpretation of tint revolutionary term, the 1 Forward ’ :u-o waxes wroth over the State uniforms of His Majesty’s .Ministers, ‘ The Labor Government can junket with the best (or worst) of them, and barely a day passes but some proletarian chief must needs dance upon the stage with his face painted or hie clothes decorated, as if he were at a fete or a folly. ... I will_ not

harrow the feelings of my readers with a list of pacifists who go to levees in knickerbockers and with swords.’ As •for Mr James Brown, 4 lie is now to dress himself up in knee breeches, silk stockings, paste buckles on his shoes, and a cocked hat with feathers. And, heaven save us! he is to cany a sword, and be called your Grace, and ride in a State coach with outriders, and postillions, and trumpeters, and who knows what other useless trash.’ Breathless from its long list of outrages upon _ tho 1 proletariat, the ‘ Forward ’ adds with a gasp ; —' Iho tragedy of the business is that apparently he docs not want to stop the downing.’ ■‘The truth is,” says the Yorkshire ‘ Post,’ “ that the views of the 1 forward ’ arc as the poles asunder from (hose of tho qniet, commonly-dignified, and, as the countrv gladly recognises, even-tem-pered Premier anil his immediate associates in the Government. The respect for tradition, tho magnificent tradition which is incorporated in 'State ceremonial, is not the sole prerogative of one class in the. countrv."