New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-03-10

TN%HE first time | met Arthur henderson
was shortly after his entry into the
~ Lloyd George ministry, when | went
to interview him on the question Of Prus
sian miitarism. He was exceedingly
busy executive, in constant conference with
labor leaders. He was mourning the loss of
the field Of battle, but he found
time to express his views on what he
sidered were Great Brtains war aims. On
his invitation | attended, week later, the
trade unions conference at Manchester.
During this day i sat in the conference and
watched this short, nidde-aged Scotsman,
who was once an iron moulder, handle a
thousand noisy delegates Dressed in a
black morning suit, white shirt and white
tie, he looked more the typical temperance
lecturer than he did the "boss" of British
labor. Whoever the speaker and whatever he
had to say, he constantly interrupted,
and at times it seemed that the meeting
must end in general fight, but just at the
psychological moment Mr. Henderson, who
had given no indication of his interest either
in the speakers words or the shouts of the
dissentients, would intervene, and order was
restored instantly.
The Real Henderson
But it was in the evening at the hotel
where the members of the executive COM
mittee Of the conference met to discuss the
next days plans that | got real insi ght
into the power of Mr.. Henderson. At these
private sessions the Majority and minority
representatives, men who fought one another
violently in the conference hall, sat to.
gether like so many undergraduates around
a hearth fire. There were strong differences
Of opinion, but there was no bitterness
Ramsay Macdonald, the Socialist NJ. P who
a few hours before in the conference hall
was called "pacifist," pro German" and
"slacker," did not hold the same views as
Mr.. Henderson, but he got fair hearing
and his advice was sought on a number of
questions, as was that of Paul Lonquet, the
leader of the French minority Socialists
Robert Smile, the president of the miners,
one OF the strongest unions in the country,
played no greater part in these conferences
than did Philip Snowden, NJ. p who at that
time was among the "outlaws" because of
his pacifst views and his acrid attacks on
the government. Mr.. Henderson was die
tator by day and mediator by night, and he
filled both roles equally WELL
The Russian revolution changed Mr. Hen
derson. He started for Pctrorrad a 1oval
supporter of the Lloyd George policy: he
returned in doubtful frame of mind Then
came the unfortunate incident of his split
with the Premier over the question of
Britain's attitude toward Russia Tho loss
q
the little Welshman," though at the time
no one realized just how much it meant.
Inc 1918 conference of the British trade
unions was held at Nottingham under to-
tally different conditions Instead of tho
government having powerful leader to con-
trol the meetings. it sent representatives
who were forced by the turn Of ovont~ -
adopt defensive attitude. Again Mr. Hen
derson, who had become since his hroal
WIN Lloyd George the organizer of tho
ntie'sh LABOR party, with an ambitious DO
-l''cal programme, showed his power. The
convention was in hostile frame IF r;,,I
~ No'ceu us varied grievances against the
government; it chcered Ramsay Macdonald.
not cry of "pacifist" punctuatod ph;1;,,
Snowden's speeches, which were ann1audad
louder than those Of any other sneaker rho
convention wanted to adopt a resolution cnll
ing ior the Withdrawal from the government
OF inc labor representatives but Mr. Hon
ocrson lhtervened on their behalf and tho
convention bowed to his will ''' VIC
Not Ready for Contest
Just why Mr.. Henderson adopted that
course is not known. 1t might be because Of
his high sense Of patriotism his fear ot
jeopardizng the success OF Britain. or II
might be because his Labor party was not
ready to enter a contest for the political
control OF the country. Probably all of
these reasons influenced his action, In anv
case, he showed he had lost none OF his
power
Ramsay Macdonald talked to me for an
hour in the spring Of 1917, and then tho
censor blue pencilled the whole of nv report
OF the conversation. But times hnvn
changed, and censors, like every ono else.