INDUSTRIAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16978, 14 April 1917, Page 12

INDUSTRIAL WORLD.

NEWS AND NOTES. Br tot Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C. WORKERS AND EDUCATION. The local branch of the Workers' Educational Association has issued an interesting leaflet addressed, among others to local trade uniona It contains particulars of tho course of 24 lectures on " Some Modern Problems: Social, Economic, Industrial, and Political," to bo given at tho University by tho Ven. Archdeacon Woodthorpe, tutor in economics. Tho course is a very complete one, and the feo of 2s 6d which is charged for "admission is nominal. The first lecture has been delivered. 3 Particulars. are easily obtainable, and it is hoped that full use will be made of the ldcilities provided by the association for instruction. To enable us to govern wisely after the war it is necessary to be correctly informed. The association is doing its utmost in this direction, and it is pleasing to know that it now consists of do fewer' than 2150 working-class and educational bodies, including 737 trade unions, '»nd 581 00-operative committees. After tho war, more than ever before in tho history of nations, knowledge will 'spell power. And unless the knowledge is in tho possession of the democracy then power is very likely to provo a curso instead of a blessing. . THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION. A well-known Australian writer (Mr 11. 13. Boote) discusses the revolution in a recent issue' of tho Australian Worker. Inter alia. Mr Boote says: "Russia has long been a land of revolutionaries. _ Brave men and noble women' havo gloriously mingled dream and deed m that mighty, miserable nation. " They did not succeed. ' How could they? A victory for tho cause they espoused would havo meant _ that tho people had grown wise. And it would be foolish to claim wisdom for tho people. They are not so ignorant to-day as 50 ycare ago. That is the most we dare assort- ° "Occasionally they havo risen in wrath, only to prenra their weakness by their violence.

Revolutions are not made by flingin fr bombs, bat. by disseminating ideas. Pr£ clamaticns and edicts, backed ur> b-, bayonets, may «b.ange a dynasty and alter tho pattern of a fin;,*. But it takes a thought to destroy, tradition and crumble a system to dust.

Put an ideal into the people's hearts., put an idea into tie people's heads. ana thrones will eomo toppling dcwii ' with scarco_ a pusfa* the tontrlcs of fslsc r 'ocl a will disse-lre Hive mists on" a sunny moraine, the ooarts of injustice will collapse of rhr>ir own iniquity, aod bury beneath their dobns. the spiders that weave foul webs, witliic. That revolution has not taken place iu Russia. Not ia nay part of ifcm w.rj.-'i has ft taken place. Some day it will. Asfc mo not when. In spite of nry ignorance of Russian affairs, for instance, I am historically qualified to declare that this revolution docs not mean tho triumph of fixe people. "It does not_ mean fihat *hc great land owners of Russia will give trp their stolen acres, for lade of which the people star-re.* ' It does not moan that the aristocracy will surrender their unjust privileges and their hereditary loot, and go looking for' honest means of livelihood.

"It docs not mean that the moneylenders will fling away the murderous knife of usury, wherewith they carvo the shrinking flesn of the poor. "It does not mean that the greedy capitalists will leave off sweating the toiling millions, or that tho criminals who gamble in the people's food will repent of their crimes and make what restitution is in their power In other words, the alleged revolution is NOT a revolution. It is not the upbuilding of a now freedom upon tho ruins of an old tyranny, but merely n fresh coat of paint to hide the too obtrusive rottenness of tho ( social structure."

AMERICAN TiATiOTTR AND THE WAR,. America has entered tho maelstrom of warj'.'and nono knoweth tho outcome. That thcre_ will bo serioui? internal differences of Opinion, probably of greater magnitude fhaii:-thoso experienced in asy other country directly interested in tho war, ia certain. At a largo section of orgnnisod labour is so.uncompromisingly opposed to militarism in ahy form that it will creato trouble if anything approaching compulsion is attempted. Indocd, as I write, articles by prominent Ainorican. Labour men are

before, me, and these oponly advise the workers of America to have nothing to do with fighting. That spirit will bo largely overborne by Teoent developments since the mail left. Nevertheless, the situation ia of marked interest. President Wilson has called several Labour leaders to adviso and assist him in the national emergency. The |>qst known is Mr Samuel Gompers (president of the American Federation of Labour—an organisation numbering over 3,000,000 members). Mr Gompers is a man of marked ability, but somewhat out of sympathy with the developemnts of trade unionism. He is a man of great influence because of his force of character. At the present time a long letter from Mr Gompers to Mr H. Hunter, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, on tho subject of Labour's attitude to the war is being circulated amongst local unionists. This letter gives us an illuminating view of tho American worker's attitude to tho wax. Mr Gompers says:— "America's workers are the most cosmopolitan group of wage-eaxners to be found m any country. They or their fathers or forefathers camo from some other country, mostly European; there is some tie either direct or remote, that attaches them to the land of their fathers."Although tho great masses of our wageearners have become American in spirit and in habit, yet the tio of sentiment is still strong. \Vo therefore have a particular interest hi tho world war that is being waged and yet wo feel that, since we are not participating in the struggle and tho bloodshed wo have no right to interfere with tho conduct of the war or with any effort to force peace upon the warring nations, but wo are vcajning for and shall welcome peace when the belligerent "nations deeido that the time :s fitting for iS accomplishment " Thrqughout the letter there is an eloquent plea for peace and faith in democracy. Ihere has been much that was inspiring in the splendid spirit with which nations have rallied in defence of their ideals, ' says Mr Gompers. "But the mission of war must yield to opportunity for peace, -the peaco, that shall follow this war of mconceivablo destruction and loss of life must not be a peaco dictated by force alone —it must be a peaco negotiated by all thoso concerned in the reorganisation effected. In order that the peace may further democracy and; justice, it must be democratically negotiated." 'flic proposal of the American Federation thflifc 1-jfl.bour shall be directly represented in tho conferences which will discuss peace terms. In the American Federationist for March to hand this week, Mr Gompers speaks very plainly on the effect of the war on organised Labour. Opening an article entitled "Freedom Gives National Virility " [ he writes:— ' '

"Accompanying this world cataclysm is a world-wide effort to take from t.lie workers protection and advantages secured through centuries of struggle and sacrifice. War necessity has been made th'e pretext for stripping Labour. In some 'countries guarantees have been given that protective provision sha^ 1 be restored after the war. but the protection of such guarantees wili depend upon tho activitv of organised labour after th« war. Years of strugsle have taught tho workers how difficult it"is to secure the redemption of such pledges." All things considered, it will be intoresting to follow Mr Gompers in his new role. JOTTINGS. The annual o-nfcrence of the Agricultural and Pastoral Workers' Union will be held in Wellington this month. Acknowledged with thanks: Raiiway. Review, Carpenters' Monthly Journal, Engineers' Monthly Journal and Report.