MR A. J. COOK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 18

MR A. J. COOK.

‘ SELLING THE MINERS.” (Fbom Odb Own Cobbespondent.) LONDON, November 27. Speaking in his constituency at Derby this week, the Right Hon. J. H. Thomas (the railwaymen’s leader) made his promised reply to the criticisms of Mr A. J. Cook (the miners’ secretary), who had accused him of “selling the miners.” s Commenting on Mr Cook's description of his speech in the House on the eve of the strike as despicable and grovelling, “that was true,” said Mr Thomas. “It was a grovelling speech, because I knew war was near, and I wanted peace, knowing what war meant. I make no apology for adapting myself to circumstances and for trying to create an atmosphere that would avert the crisis.” He was compelled to inswer personal charges, because while he had refused to express his views, while he had refused to defend himself, it had not prevented other people deliberately going about the country and saying he had “sold the miners.” Speaking of the events leading up to 7 the coal dispute, Mr Thomas gave a graphic description of the introduction of the slogan, “Not a penny off, not a minute on.”’ “The four miners’ leaders,” said Mr Thomas, “met us> with the request that the General Council should agree to the slogan. That was the day before the miners’ delegate . conference. The General Council . Unanimously decided it could- not endorse the slogan, -and that decision was conveyed to Mr Cook in a letter. The

next day, in spite of its refusal, the miners’ executive endorsed the slogan, and said that was to be their policy.” THE GENERAL STRIKE. Referring to events leading up to the general strike, Mr Thomas made a dramatic statement on the final breaking off of negotiations. Speaking of the conferences at No. 10 Downing street, he said that about 12 o’clock on the Sunday the Prime Minister sent for them, and said that since they met an hour before an incident had happened at the Daily Mail, where certain sections of the men had refused. to put in type a leading article, and the instructions of the Cabinet were that they were immediately to break off negotiations. “It is hardly necessary for me to say it was a bombshell,” declared Mr Thomas. He pointed out that the General Council by resolution repudiated the action of the men at the Daily Mail offices, but that when they went into the Prime Minister’s room again it was in darkness, and they were told that the whole. of the Cabinet had left, including the Prime Minister. 1 Emphasising his views on a general strike, Mr Thomas said he had not only opposed it. but had said that a general strike must fail, for the reason that the more effective the strike the more they would starve their own people and cripple them from going cn. He contended it was better for the men and women to use their commonsense at the ballot box.—(Cheers.) If a vote were taken in this country for anyrevolutionary methods, in his view less than 4 per cent, of the people would vote for it. AN UNWORTHY LEADER. ■■ Mr Thomas said he had opposed a levy and an embargo on coal because he be-

lived both were impossible. If Mr Winston Churchill’s original proposals had not been thrown over, he thought the dispute would have been settled long ago. Having reiterated that he himself had kept quiet during the dispute, Mr Thomas said :■ “That hag not prevented abuse and misrepresentation from one who is unworthy to have had the sacrifices of such a noble body of men.—(Cheers.) After all, the great mass of the working classes of this country will not judge by words. They will judge by deeds. They will say: ’Have you delivered the goods ’ When that question is asked ther e is only one answer: ‘No, 1 have failed boause I was incapable of understanding the psychology of the British people.’ ’’—(Cheers.) MR COOK UNREPENTANT. Mr Thomas also said he had 45 refer ences of an offensive character to himself made by Mr Cook, and intimated that he would deal with them on a future occasion. “I am as unrepentant to-day as 1 was on May. 1 last. We know the forces we are fighting, and 1. am more optimistic now than then,” said Mr Cook, speaking in London to a crowded meeting. “We have learned some of the weaknesses of our own movement, . and it has been a valuable lesson. It is not given us to' despair. y We shall renew our energies, in rebuilding our movement cn the. experience gained. A lesson bought is one well taught.”