ROAD TO RUIN

Evening Star, Issue 19002, 25 July 1925, Page 2

ROAD TO RUIN

am SENATOR'S WARNING .« 1 stand first for the maintenance of law and order, and tor the protection of our existing n.stituti°us, beliovi,„, that the salvation ol Labor is to %o mit along the linos of peaceful evolution, rather than by rcvolnt.onarv and sudden change. ( This was Senator Ogdens uqily to thc O.reat of his expulMon iron, tho Labor movement wansc ho auppmted the Commonwealth Governments do- * M» or intotion to do anything which vonld m wo ;,,io.-fcre with trade unions or any way niteiloio iuui u. their management, and I * not ima-inc that tho power sought in tho , umeiatior, Kill now before the House would he used to .destroy unionism, or to deport industrial loaders. ‘‘ If I thought so I would , not supTinrt it But lam of opinion that m o such power as tint .sought should exist. 1-Ivory self-governing dominion possesses authority to deport anv person who seriously threatens to disturb our existing institutions, and who urges the exercise of force to overthrow our social and economic am forced (o the conclusion that certain propaganda which is now being spread in Australia emanates directly from Moscow. . “1 am voting to give these powers so that Australia may be spared the horrors that have taken place in Russia. and not to interfere with the sane and sensible conduct of Industrial

unions. , , , “I want rather to protect the great body of unionists who are being led to their own doom by men who have no other motive than to bring about a revolution. “ T would like unionists to get back to the position when they managed their own affairs, and refused to be influenced by designing self-seekers. “ I am not at all afraid that the powers sought will be exercised, unless under extreme conditions, which would justify such a drastic stop; and I do hot think there is any reason for unionists to fear that they will no used in any way except to rescue them from destruction.

“There is a danger under existing conditions, if they continue to follow wild leaders and- accept the domination of Continental revolutionaries, that unionism may he threatened. “ I break no plank of the Labor Platform, nor do I offend against any Labor principle, by giving my support to the powers sought, but rather I am actuated by a desire to do a real service to unionism, my fellow-workers, and my country.” •