MR SHAW ATTACKS "THE RED FLAG."

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12519, 22 April 1909, Page 1

MR SHAW ATTACKS "THE RED FLAG."

In a characteristic attack on the Labour Party Conference at Portsmouth, Mr Bernard Shaw, writing in the "Clarion" says tho Singing of "The Red Flag," "that ignoble air, Will b 0 tllO deatli of Socialism in Enfilaud if it is not sternly suppressed. TllC Composer, whoever he may be (and I don't care if he is my best friend), can publish it as 'Tho Funeral March of a Fried Eel' if ho likes ; but let him take it out of our already sufficiently obstructed path. I declare that if, with all the slogans of Scotland to right of me, and all" the harps of Ireland to left of me, I were charging bravely to victory in the last fight with Capitalism —if, I sa\\ in that heroic moment one single snivel of 'The Red Flag' reached me I should crawl whimpering under tho nearest bed, and cry for my mammy until she came to protect me and dry my tears. It would kill any movement, that L tune; and whilst the danger of it lasts I shall'protest with all my forces against minstrelsy of any sort at <-.ur meetings " , .