The Times last Saturday published from a correspondent a full
account of the Trade-Union terrorism in South Wales to which we referred in our last issue. It is clear from this account that for the space of a week mob-law prevailed in certain districts. The Federation leaders are inclined to minimise these occurrences, and describe them as " frolics " ; but from the facts stated they would appear to have a peculiar idea of humour. Many acts of personal violence took place, and in addition there was the menace of constant crowds of demonstrators. "It is not peaceful persuasion for some thousands of people to assemble outside a non-unionist's house." The South Wales Miners' Federation has for the past five years followed the policy of attempting to compel all the miners in the coalfields to join it. Hitherto its weapons have been strikes, which are, of course, well within its legal rights ; but now it is anticipating the Government Bill, and acting as if it had a license to use force in persuasion. The sinister feature, as we pointed out last week, is that none of the Labour leaders have dared to interfere a.ud censure its action. Such apathy is the worst course they could have followed, for the events in South Wales are opening the eyes of the British people to the meaning which a Trade-Union may attach to "peaceful persuasion," and the folly of endowing them with legal sacrosanctity.
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