Mr. Wardle, the Labour and Socialist Member for Stockport and
editor of the Railway Review, made a sensible speech at the Hatcham Liberal Club on Sunday night. After sum- marizing the findings of the Railway Commission, Mr. Wardle declared that, so far as he knew, no undertaking bad been given by the men to abide by their findings ; but the statement of the Board of Trade had not been contradicted at the time ; the men did agree to the appointment of the Commission, and they would be bound to consider its recommendations fully. Though they did not give full recognition they certainly went some way on the road. Recognition was only a means to an end to improve the conditions of the railway men, and the recent increases of wages given by the companies were an improvement. A new spirit had come over the railway officials. Dealing with the refusal of the companies to discuss the situation created by the Report, Mr. Wardle observed that the companies had expressed their readiness to carry out the agreement they made in August; to put into force the recommendations of the Royal Commission; and, in fine, to stand to their bond, and he asked, " Can we force them to do more than this ? Ought we to try to force them to go beyond the bond they entered into?" In conclusion, be begged them not to strike for the sake of striking, but rather to make sure of the fruits of the victory they had already won.
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