The unions of railwaymen, including the craft unions, have accepted
the reduction of 2i per cent. in their wages. We have expressed admiration of the way in which Mr. J. H. Thomas, supported by Mr. Cramp, has negotiated with the directors and led the unions. They are men of wide and long experience, and one has been a Cabinet Minister. We expect great things of such men, but now we would impress upon any who have not con- sidered this point, that the acceptance by the whole body of men is the most conspicuous and resounding proof yet offered that the weekly wage-earner of to-day has reached a stage of education at which it is impossible to say that "of course " such people can see only one side of a shield, that in calculating their own interests they can see no further than "the end of their noses." National educa- tion has not been wasted : minds have been broadened, not least, maybe, by the mingling of all kinds on the battlefields and in the trenches. Not everyone has realized a corollary to this. The weekly wage-earner is now conscious that he deserves some consideration in the matter of management and direction in his industry. It , will be neither right nor sensible to deny him his chance • of proving that he is as capable as he believes._
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