VIE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY. [To THE EDITOR or
THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Relying on your well-known practice of putting all sides of a case before your readers, we ask some of your space to plead the cause of the National Democratic and Labour Party, which was formed largely by Trade Unionists to combat the German and pacifist attitude of the Independent Labour Party bosses of the official Labour caucus during the war. After wiping out the most notorious enemies of this country at the polls in November, 1918, the National Democratic Party has remained to combat class hatred and Communism, and to bring about the internal resettlement of this country on just lines. There seems to be no limit to the funds at the disposal of the forces of disorder. The Daily Herald spends its hundreds of thousands, and the Labour caucus can pour out money like water at by-elections. Vast sums are also spent by numerous organizations which appeal on " Anti-Bolshevik " grounds, and preach in 99 per cent, of the cases only to the converted. The National Democratic Party alone has its great folllowing within the ranks of Labour; it is in every Trade Union and in the Trade Councils. It is a spontaneous uprising of Trade Unionists against tyranny and oppression. Our members are persecuted, and it is almost an impossibility to-day for a prominent member of the party to remain an official of a Trade Union, not because his fellow workers object to his politics, but because the extremists have captured the machinery of the
Trade Unions. • We have made our own programme, which is one of common sense, and is eagerly adopted by the man in the street wherever preached. We are tied to no man's political chariot wheel, and have kept, and intend to keep, our political and financial independence. We were the first party to lay down the rule
that our trustees (Colonel George Crosileld and Mr. Christopher Turner) would take no money for which a receipt was not accepted in return that the donation was given without any condition whatever. We have refused thousands of pounds offered with conditions attached. To-day we could obtain all the money we require if we would consent to• sacrifice our freedom. Our strength could be raised 1,000 per cent. if we had the means to put our case more widely to the working men of this country; but if those in a position to help us do not do so, we may yet be unable to continue our advance in the face of the constant persecution of our members and the overwhelm- ing finaneial forces arrayed against us. We claim that the National Democratic movement is the most honest and spontaneous political uprising of recent years. With scanty means, and without a press, it proved triumphant at the polls and has made good in the House of Commons. It is fighting insanity in the. Labour ranks, but has not hesitated to vote, and has even moved the adjournment of the House (success- fully) against the most powerful Government of modern times, when it proved necessary to do so. Will the public help us to carry on our work and protect.our people?—We are, Sir, &c., J. A. SEDDON, M.P., Chairman, Parliamentary Group; CLEMENT EDWARDS, M.P., Vice-Chairman; J. F. GREEN, M.P., Chairman, Executive Committee; C. E. LOSEBY, M.P., Secretary, Parliamentary Group; Meer SThEM, M.P., Parliamentary Whip (formerly I.L.P. Organiser for North of England); C. Swum M.P. (Organiser, Amalgamated Musician? Union); C. B. STANTON, M.P., late Miners' Agent, Aberdare); JAMES WALTON, M.P., late Yorkshire Miners' Association; JOHN TAYLOR, M.P. (Dumbarton Burghs); J. MOORE, Member of Executive; P. J. NICHOLAS, Member of Executive; 3'. A. SHAW, M.A., Member of Executive; GEORGE R. CROSFIELD; CHRISTOPHER TURNOR; R. MACLEOD, Treasurer; G. W. S. JARRETT, Political Secretary; DAVm Gnmotet, O.B.E., General Secretary N.D.P., and late Secretary of Lanarkshire Miners' Union.
Sicilian House, Southampton Row, London, W.C.
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