Mr. Hartshorn sent to the Observer of last Sunday an
interest- ing but astonishing letter on the subject of what is called Indus- trial Action. He presented a plea on behalf of such an industrial organization as the "Triple Alliance" of miners, railwaymen, and transport workers for overriding Constitutional means and imposing a particular policy on the country by means of a general strike. His argument was in effect that he is a great believer In the principle of the mandate. At a General Election a Government receives a mandate to carry out a published political programme, but if the Government departs from its mandate or exceeds it, then by the very act of the Government itself the principle of the mandate has broken down, and correction can come only from those who are sufficiently stout-hearted to set theft country on the right course again.
Previous page
