MINERS’ LEADER

Southland Times, Issue 20665, 22 April 1929, Page 7

MINERS’ LEADER

FRANK DECLARATION

REPUBLICANISM DESTROYED BY PRINCE

RESULT OF COALFIELDS TOUR

(United Press Assn. —By Telegraph—Copyright). (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, April 20. The Prince of Wales has converted Mr A. J. Cook, the British miners’ leader.

“I am still in theory a Republican, but the Prince of Wales has been • the chief factor in destroying my Republicanism,” was Mr Cook’s striking declaration in an interview with the Daily Sketch. Mr Cook added: “I’ve departed from my own revolutionary opinions because the Prince departed from the orthodox conduct of Royalty. If he were not the Prince of Wales he would still be a great social worker, reformer and probably of the same party as myself. A year ago this statement would have been received with hooting and indignation at any Labour meeting; to-day it is received with cheers.”

Mr Cook declared that throughout the Prince of Wales’s wonderful work on behalf of the miners the question of the Monarchy had ceased to be the Issue in the working class movement. “It has made the British Throne the safest in the world, and himself the safest man in Britain,” said Mr Cook, who thus handsomely recanted the oft-expressed opinion that “ a revolution in England is inevitable.” —United Service.