In the closing session of the Congress on Saturday it
was found that the election of the new General Council had been vitiated by a mistake on the part of the scrutineers. " Labour " is assured that it " can govern," but it does not show a high degree of competence in the management of its own business. The proceedings of the Congress tend year by year to become more unreal. Most of the resolutions are passed without dis- cussion and mean nothing at all. Critical questions, such as the dispute between the National Union of Railwaymen and the Amalgamated Engineering Union over the men employed in railway workshops, are evaded by the ancient Parliamentary device of " moving the previous question." No one is deceived by such tactics, though the Congress loses authority. The blunder through which the Congress failed even to elect its own executive committee was really typical of the inefficiency and inexperience of Labour politicians.
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