The writer declares that the employes, many of whom are
trained speakers, are so well able to present their own case lucidly and eloquently that they would lose rather than gain by being represented by a general secretary who is not himself an employe. If this be so, we cannot see that the companies are called upon to early their generous policy of saving the Amalgamated Society from an act injurious to it to the point of dis- locating the traffic of the whole country. If a Trade-Union be once accepted in principle, we cannot see the objection to recognising a paid secretary, who does stand for a certain continuity of policy. The same point was fought out mis. takenly to the bitter end by the late Lord Penrhyn. On the other hand, there is much more to be said for the companies argument that the Amalgamated Society does not really represent the men. The Society knows its weakness, and is trying hard to swell its numbers. One thing is certain,—the public would not forgive either aide for causing even a tem- porary stoppage of traffic on any pretext which was not thought wholly sufficient.
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