12 SEPTEMBER 1925, Page 2

We are sorry, though not altogether surprised, to see that

the Trades Union Congress at Scarborough was opened on Monday with a presidential address empha- sizing the false and barren doctrine of inevitable conflict between employers and employed. Mr. A. B. Swales, the president, who is connected with the engineering trades, envisages the future of trade unionism as one of strife and " revolt," rather than of co-operation in the interests of the trade by which we all live. He invited the " workers " to follow the example of Russia and Mexico—both of them distracted countries which are imploring foreign capital to come to their aid. He found pleasure in the disorders in the Far East, as signs, so he thought, of " a world movement rising in revolt and determined to shake off the shackles of world slavery." He declared, quite untruly, that employers were " still plotting and planning to undermine trade union standards." All this is nonsense, and pernicious nonsense, because it diverts the average trade unionist's attention from the real question of the day, which is, how to increase production and to enlarge our exports. Better trade will bring higher wages and prosperity to all. Mr. Swales's panacea would make us all poorer and more miserable, as the Russian people have found.