The Conference of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants—the Railwaymen's
Parliament—has held a stormy session at Cardiff. After deciding on amalgamation with the Labour Party—i.e., the group of twenty-nine Members chosen by the Labour Representation Committee—it was proposed, logically enough, that the general secretary of the Society, Mr. Bell, who site as Labour Member for Derby, should join the Labour Party, and sign the constitution of that body: Against this proposal Mr. Bell protested in a long and fiery speech. He not only refused to give the pledge, but denounced the motion as a coercive measure, as Socialistic persecution of a man who refused to swallow Socialist doctrines, and as an attempt to proscribe genuine Labour. He also asserted that the hands of the Trade-Unionists of the country were being forced in order that their funds should go to the maintenance of those who belonged to a political party. If he was to be turned out of Parliament, it would be, not by the Congress, but by the electors of Derby. Mr. Bell's speech was constantly interrupted, and led to an acrimonious discussion; but in the end the resolution was defeated by 43 votes to 5. The result is that Mr. Bell is exempted from the necessity of signing the Labour Representation Committee's pledge until the next General Election. He has himself stated that no coercion of any kind by the Socialist section will force him into associating himself with any particular political organisation. We may add that at Wednesday's meeting a resolution urging withdrawal from the Labour Party, and demanding a ballot on the subject, was defeated by 36 votes to 17.
Previous page
