The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-01-23
Frank Purdy Addresses British
Labor Conference--Atmos-
phere Electrical.
CRISIS AT HAND FOR PARTY
Germany Can No Longer Claim
She Is Fighting Defensive
War, Declares Leader.

Nottingham, England, Jan. 23.--At
the opening today Of tho annual Iahor
conference, Frank Purdy, the presi~
dent, said that If Germany would not
accept the terms President Wilson,
Premier Lloyd George and the labor
party had laid down as the minimum
I'VE must fight on"
President Purdy said that In view 81
the declarations of President WiIs0n
and Premier Lloyd George. Germany
could claim no longer that she waa
fighting defensive war. I'VE se0 no
signs yet" he added. that Germany
and her allies are willing to accept
the principles enunciated by Mr.. Lloyd
George, Mr.. Wilson and the lAb0K
party"
Mr.. Purdy said peace by negotiations
while Germany was occuying torrt~s
tory Of other countries would be = vlcS
tory for Germany.
The conference is larger in point a.
membership than its predecessors. II
Is attended by 500 delegates, repre-
senting nearly 2500,000 members of
trade unions. The atmosphere wnS
somewhat electrical, as 1t was be-
lieved that the issues to be raised
would have far-reachng effect on the
future of the party The climax waS
expected to be reached on a vote IN
to whether the labor members would
be called upon to leave the cabinet.
Must Be Just Peace.
"Peace, when 1T comes, must ~ y
general peace, a. just peace. a lasting
peace chat will secure liberty and
freedom for all nations, great and
small; peace based on the will of
the people," said Mr.. Purdy. 1T must
be a peace In which labor. nationally
and internationally, may play It's part
in order to secure full and fair con-
sideration of it's claims.
1--WE appreciate the lofty ideals
which induced the United States to-
join the allies"
VariousIy Received.
Whatever might be the view of the
labor representatives as to the effect
the Russian revolution had exerted on
the course of the war. the president
cause il had released the Russian pe0-
pie from thraldUm. He continued.
IF our responsible government and
It's allies had endeavored to appfe-
ciate the real meaning OF the revo1iI-
tion they would not have Been "a
lukewarm toward that great event.
The government had sent Arthur
Henderson. then a member OF the
cabinet, to Petrograd Mr.. Purdy con-
tinued, but had declined to accept his
advice, and even today there was no
great anxiety on the part of the Brit
ish government to recognize those
who were representing the Russian
people.
Organize From Top to Bottom.
Arthur Henderson, former member
Of the British war cabinet, on behalf
Of the executive. moved that the
membership of the party should con
sist OF all organizations, together with
hose men and women who fere indi-
rldual members OF a local labor party,
Ind that they should subscribe to the
program of the party.
On moving the resolution, Mr.. Hem
ierson said that the representation OF
peoples bill now passing through par
lament would have an effect on de-
nocracy which could not be exag-
.erated and that the labor movement
lad to organize itself from top to bot
ON, as only by that means could it
ecure the reigns of government. It
must be broad enough. he added, to
include al so that when the election
anne, which he predicted would be IN
he summer, 10000, 900 electors would
e able to vote for labor
Welcome Wilson's and Georges Terms
Tf8 conference unanimously adopted
resolution welcoming the statements
4 Premier Lloyd George and Presi-
ent Wilson and calling upon the all
es to formulate their war aims at the
arliest possible moment.