New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-20
WHAT THE U. D. g. is
A Clear Sighted and Heroic Group
Looking After England's Soul.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Will you allow me to comment on an
article by London correspondent which ap-
peared in your columns on August a? Inc
article purported to give an account of the
activities of the Union of Democratic Control
and the attitude of the English public toward
that organization. 1t gives so distorted an
impression of the real situation that it abso-
utely demands reply. have come very
recently from England and speak with full
and accurate knowledge of the facts.
Two statements in the article are true. 1t
is true that recent meeting Of the Union Of
Democratic Control at Kingston Thames,
at which Mr. Arthur Ponsonby, NJ. P, was to
speak, was broken up by an organized gang
of hoolgans and several persons received
slight injuries, though no one was seriously
hurt. 1t is also true that "The Daily EX-
press" 1.-THE Morning Post" and one or two
other papers Of the same character published
lists of the unions meetings for July with
the avowed object of melting their readers
to break them up and prevent the speakers
from having hearing.
How successful these Indictments TO vlo-
lence may prove in the future | cannot say.
In this strange world we may even live to
behold the edfying spectacle of Sir Edward
Carson prosecuting the leaders Of the union
in the interests of patriotism, law and order.
But with regard to the past / can speak
with certainty. Instead Of the action of the
mob at Kingston being typical of the treat
ment meted out to U. d. C. meetings in general,
that was the very first meeting at which
there were disturbances of more than
a trifing character. Your correspondents
statement that every meeting has ended in
a fierce riot" is entirely untrue.
During the last eight months hundreds Of
meetings have been addressed by the union )
speakers all over the country under the au-
spices of various organizations. Very success
full public meetings have been held in Lon
don, Cambridge, Bradford, Manchester, Lu-
ton and other places. | have myself been
present at considerable number OF meet
ings where the sympathy and enthusiasm of
the audience were remarkable. II may sur
prise your readers to know that at some OF
these meetings ! have seen officers and men
in khaki applauding the sentiments of the
speakers. In this connection | might men
ton an interesting leaflet published by the
Union of Democratic Control which contains
extracts from letters in which officers have
expressed their sympathy with the unions
objects and ideals. An especially noteworthy
letter of this kind appeared in 1.-THE Cam
bridge Magazine" for May l. Strange il
may seem, these young men are not laying
down their lives in order that the spirit
which characterizes "The Daily Express"
"The Morning Post" and the egregious Mr..
Cecil Chesterton may rule England supreme
and unchallenged.
Your correspondent implies that the union
consists of thirty-one members. IL has, in
fact, apart from the London groups fifty
seven branches in different parts of Eng
land, with a membership of several thousand
1.-THE Morning Post" estimated It's supporters
at 100000 1t has public bodies affiliated
with it with an aggregate membership of over
1870 900, while large number of other pub
lie bodies, though not actually affiliated, have
expressed sympathy with its aims. Its in
huence cannot therefore be regarded as neg
lgible.
So far as Mr. Morel's name is concerned,
the facts are published in who's Who" for
all the world to read. was not aware that
reputable English papers Invariably" or
even frequently INDUCED in contemplate in
situations on the subject | supposed that
the practice was mainly confined to that
choice specimen of the gutter-press, Mr.. Cecil
Chestertons New Witness" and its imita-
tors Your correspondent does the English
press too much dishonor.
Mr.. More's personal character needs no
defence. His fearless courage, sincerity and
disinterestedness are matters OF common
knowledge, while his great achievements in
connection with Congo reform are familiar
to all students Of humane causes. But may
just mention this: Last spring when THE