The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1913. THE REAL COAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 71, 24 November 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1913. THE REAL COAL.

At this time it may be well to recall to the minds of our readers sonit* ol the happenings at the .Labor Unity Congress which was held in Wellington in .July last. When the Constitution was adopted by the # Congress, Mr David .McLaren felt compelled to tender liis resignation in the following terms: ''As f shall not be able to support the Constitution adopted by the Congress it would be mere pretence for me to slate that 1 can take part in the proceedings." At a meeting ol the United Labor Party held just before this a motion was carried affirming the advisableness of the United Labor Party not being absorbed in the federation of Labor, amongst the speakers in favor of this motion being Messrs George I'Wlds and I). McLaren, both of whom for conscientious reasons seceded from the United Congress. Mr Kowlds, in forwarding his resignation to the President of the Congress slated: "The Labor Unity Congress having adopted for the United Federation of Labor a constitution and a platform which i cannot but regard as revolutionary in character- and bound to bring disaster to the cause of labor, it is absolutely impossible for me to take part in any political or-

ganisation that is in association with it. . . 1 can only hope [hat ere long labor may be more wisely guided than seems to be the case to-day." When ii is remembered lhal a day or two previously the Unity of Labor Con. gross had struck out the motion pro- \ idmg for a secret ballot before any Istrike action is taken, and that the ! proposed preamble to the constitution (which it must be admitted even the majority of the advanced labor leaders present at the Congress thought too strong to bo openly subscribed to) declared that "wage-earners and em-i plovers had nothing in common audi that the wage system should lie abolished," it can hardly be wondered at thai the present position has arisen | without the slightest justification and) on the flimsiest pretence. I L would be well also to remember thai at the opening of the Congress the Chairman ~; i id thai they could agree on one thing, and that was thai the time had; mirved When the workers should. rfovern themselves. Too long, liad they sat at the feet of nther parties and taken as favors what] jhev should now take as rights. But the principal objeel of all appears to have been, and to still be the principle em-

bodied in clause six., which reads: "T< organise systematically and scientifically upon an industrial union basis ir. order to assist in the overthrow oi th< capitalist system, and tints hrinj; about a co-operative euininonwealtl based upon industrial democracy." Hon utterly uuthinkaMu such a state o tilings would be in practice ought to bt patent to the meanest intelligence That in theory it sounds well enougl to gull some people is evident. Bu the Red Federation leaders know thei object well enough and th.e country i awakening sufficiently to be sure i must, not bo attained. '