CHANGE OF FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26748, 17 April 1948, Page 6

CHANGE OF FRONT

CHARGE AGAINST MR SEMPLE ATTACKS ON COMMUNISTS EARLIER VIEWS RECALLED “Mr Semple’s question as to why he fights Communism can be answered in one sentence,” says a statement issued by the executive of the Dunedin branch of the Communist Party. “The answer is: To cover up his own betrayal of the principles of Socialism and the interests of the working class. “Mr Semple has assumed the role of watchdog of capitalism, and thinks that the louder he barks the more he will please his masters and earn his keep. It is significant that his periodic outbursts against Communism always occur when a body of workers is taking action in its own Interests. This is no mere coincidence; but is an admission that the time has passed when the Government is prepared to hand out benefits to the workers; an admission that henceforth the workers will need to struggle for every improvement in their conditions; and in this struggle will come up against increasing resistance from the Government. Mr Semple attacks Communism because he himself has long since parted company with the Socialist cause. “Is this,” the statement asks,- “the same Mr Semple who, in a speech in Wellington on November 26, 1916, said: ‘lf we are going to wither up under the lash of reaction we are not worthy sons of worthy sires. The hour has arrived in this country when we have got to break the chains of despotism, . . . The reckoning day is coming, and when these monsters who have grown rich as the outcome of a tremendous war like this, who have become fat and wealthy as the result of starving women,-the wails of the child, and the groans of the dying soldier, when they rattle their sovereigns in their pockets, may it re-echo the squeals of the fatherless child, the sobs of the widow, and the cries of the aged mother who gave her last boy in defending the country she loved. . . . The forces of manhood have got to be mobilised, and things have got to be done in order that the sun of liberty may shine upon the people of this country. This political system has its roots in hell.’ “Is this the same Mr Semple who, as organiser of the old Red 1 Federation of Labour, carried round in his pocket a constitution with a preamble which stated: ‘ The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. . . . Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organise as a class, take possession of the earth and the machinery of production, and abolish the wage system. ... It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with capitalism.’ “Is the Mr Semple who fulminates against strike action, the same Mr Semple who, at the Unity Congress in July, 1913, seconded the strike resolution as part of the constitution, and of whom the official conference report says: ‘ Mr Semple seconded the motion, and referred in detail to the various restrictions proposed by the Employers’ Federation to be put on the strike, and vigorously defended the strike as a weapon which the workers should use with the utmost care, but should never be induced to throw away from their armoury.’ “ Yes,” the statement concludes. “This is the same Mr Semple—only different. * Fighting Bob ’ is still * Fighting Bob ’ —with a difference. Instead of fighting the capitalists he is now fighting the workers. "But, what a fight! This gallant crusader against Communism has not even enough courage to face one member of the Communist Party on a public platform. Mr Semple makes a lot noise—but so does an empty vessel.”