THE OPERATIVES AND THE EASTERN QUESTION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPEOTA.TOR.1
see from your report of the deputation to Lord Derby what I had not noticed in the daily newspapers, that Mr. Maltman, Barry claimed to speak on behalf of the workmen of England, and attributed to them a sympathy with his own anti-Russian policy.. Now, when any one puts himself forward as a representative of a body of men, we have surely a right to ask who gave him his authority to speak on their behalf. I am aware that Mr. Barry tried at the last election for Marylebone to represent the work men, but I am also aware that he was obliged to retire, because the workmen refused to have him. I say advisedly, "the work- men," for I was at that time canvassing one or two of the leaders: of the workmen in Marylebone, with my friend Mr. Odger, onr behalf of Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Odger's impression and theirs was• that the workmen did not desire to have Mr. Maltman Barry.
I am aware, too, that Mr. Maltman Barry hastened to spread his pro-Turkish sympathies most industriously. But I was pre- sent at the meeting on which, I believe, Mr. Barry first publicly put them forward, and though certainly nearly all the meeting were with him, there were only about twenty persons present, and hardly one of them looked like a workman.
On the other hand, Mr. Howell, who was chosen a member of the Parliamentary Committee of Trades' Unionists, and therefore has a certain representative position, and Mr. Broadhurst, who• has been put forward by several of his follow-workmen on several occasions, have always taken the anti-Turkish side. I do not mean• to maintain from this that all the representative workmen are on that side—I believe the contrary to be the case—but I do depre- cate such sweeping statements as those of Mr. Barry, and I do• dispute altogether his right to speak as a representative of the• working-men.—I am, Sir, &e., Eland House, Hampstead, December 1. C. E. MAURICE.
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