The Trades Union Congress opened at Bournemouth on Monday. It
had long been anticipated by trade unionists with excitement or dread, because it was expected that the whole policy of the General Strike would be debated and that the General Council of the Congress would be put upon its trial with Mr. Cook and others as the accusers. Quite wisely, however, a self-denying ordinance was generally accepted, and though there were many allusions to the General Strike there was no set debate. It was felt that openly- declared divisions would prejudice a settlement in the coal-fields. Mr. Pugh in his presidential address dealt with the strike in a philosophical argument. His theme, that the progress of Labour must be con- ditioned by democracy was admirable in itself. A regrettable thing in the address was the declaration that the General Strike must be retained as a recognized Weapon of industrial struggles.
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