The annual conference of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants
opened at Carlisle on Monday. Mr. Bellamy, in his presidential address, alluded sympathetically, though guardedly, to the growth of the idea of the sympathetic strike and to the welcome extension of the solidarity of the labour forces of the country. But the doctrine was so far- reaching that he appealed to the congress to consider the matter and make some declaration of policy which would help to clear the air and define the future action of the A.S.R.S. in similar disputes should they arise. He maintained, how- ever, that no strike of any kind ought to take place until the executive committee of the organization affected had been con- sulted and its sanction obtained. As regards the Government, he was of opinion that their action in calling out the troops even before a strike was declared, and their avowed intention to prevent the strike at all costs, was " a grave departure from that attitude of neutrality which we had a right to expectrand was responsible for some of the loss of life which took place."
He also condemned the use of the military in Ireland to work the railways as an unwarrantable interference with the conduct of trade disputes. The trade unions, if they only knew it, are under a deep debt of obligation to the troops. Mr. Bellamy's doctrine of neutrality means that the Govern- ment are not to intervene to prevent violence, intimidation, and gross breaches of the law, and heads straight for anarchy.
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