We are - greatly disappointed to see that Mr. Smillie had
nothing to say in reply to the very definite charges made &Vine% him by the Duke of Northumberland in a public speech, whioh is reprinted in this month's National Review. He only referred to the Duke's statement that " behind all this agitation there are Bolshevik agents who are trying to exploit the miners for their own ends," and asked the Duke to prove it or withdraw it. " He (Mr. Smillie) could not be an honourable man if behind the Federation, knowingly, there was any Bolshevik gold or idle- ewe." Mr. Smillie knows as well as we do that is no answer. The Duke of Northumberland made very specific -and' detailed allegations as to Mr. Smillie's revolutionary activities. If those allegations are baseless; Mr. Smillie ought to bring an actilme against his defamer and clear Me own character. He °tight at the very least to give a efpeeifie denial of the cbhrge& Mr. Smillie has not done so. We cannot think that the great majority of the miners, who are as patriotic and law-abiding as the rest of us, will be satisfied with Mr. Smillie's silence.
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