LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
MINERS AND THE LABOUR PARTY.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Since reading the report of the National Unionist Association Conference held in the Queen's Hall, London, particularly the views of Mr. Rowlands of Rhondda and Mr. Bardsley of Oldham, I have wondered whether our Unionist friends who are out of the reach and hearing of the extreme, imperiously arrogant, intolerant, tyrannical, intimidatory, pedantic and didactic individuals, realize what the Unionist working man has got to put up with to keep the flag of the Constitutional Unionist policy flying. Unionist working men can scarcely get to work and back without some Labour-politician-on-the-make forcing his conception of economic development down their throat. Week after week, year in and year out, we have also to sit in committee with these intelligentsia.
Mr. Rowland is quite right when he says " we are marked men." They spring at every statement we make with the instinct of a parasite, and put the worst construction upon it, of course for electioneering purposes. I have been combating their subversive predatory doctrine for fourteen years in council and committee for ten years. And I have often felt like throwing up the sponge and saying, " Go ahead, do your worst." I am continually urging workmen to attend the union branch meetings, but the answer is invariably the same in every case, " There is no satisfaction." Now, what is the Unionist Government going to do for the " democratic con- stitutionally working man " with the majority and oppor- tunity afforded them ? First and foremost we want some
modification of the Trades Union Act. The " politica levy," equally with the system of balloting for or against a strike, is a sheer farce on the face of it.
We likewise want " Proportional Representation and the Referendum" as the only method by which the Socialist- Labour tyranny can be averted. The minority vote successes of the L.P. were just a little tantalizing. It would be a great help to Unionist working men if we could have the Spectator in every village reading-room. Make no mistake about it, the " abolishers of private ownership " have got their " good news " installed. Four years ago I proposed, and succeeded in getting, the Spectator into the institute of which I am a member. Are there no terms or special con- ditions on which this boon could be accomplished ? Wishing
the Spectator a huge success.—I am, Sir, &c., A MINER.
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