The Congress leaders by adroit " secret diplomacy " saved
Mr. Smillie and his mad policy of " direct action " from open defeat, and thus preserved-a semblance of unity in- the Labour
ranks. But the real feeling of the trade union delegates was displayed when they came to vote by ballot for the new Parlia- mentary Committee. It is highly significant that the miners, who had two representatives on the old committee, failed this year to secure a single place. The old committee, which infuri- ated Mr. Smillie by declining to approve of " direct action," was re-elected, with the exception of the two miners, a colliery enginenran and Mr. Havelock Wilson. The president of the Congress, Mr. Stuart Bunning, whose address was a powerful protest against anarchical tactics, was among the members again returned. The delegates to the Congress voted -wildly on many sweeping resolutions of the usual kind, but they were clearly determined not to let Mr. Smillie have any control over the trade union executive.
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