The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-09-12
BRITISH TRADE
UNION CONGRESS-
MOVES TO RIGHT
Leaders Defeat Two Pro-
gressive Moves
lspeoIaI q La paIly Workerl

Especial TO The Daily Worker)
LONDON, Sept. 1O-The Trade I'm
ion Congress in session at Bourne
mouth has been the scene of conflict
between the forces of progress and
reformism, with the result so far that
the right wing leadership has won
some votes after sharp struggle with
the left wing delegates, particularly
the miners and machinists, or "engi-
neers" as they are termed in Eng
land.
Unite Against Critics.
The general council leaders, both of
the right and so-called left" had
united against allowing any discus
sion Of their conduct in the general
strike and its betrayal when on the
point Of victory. A delegate Of the en-
gineers' union precipitated a sharp
struggle that led to near physical
clash, when he moved that the con-
vention investigate the conduct OF the
strike by the general council, which
he denounced as having proven cow
ards by their order calling the strike
off. His motion was defeated.
Again the left wing fought for its
proposal that the general council have
greater power in the direction and
control Of any struggle, power to levy
assessments on all or part of the af1-
Hated organizations, and power to call
gradual, partial or complete strike
stoppage of all or any part of the af1-
lated bodies.
Foreso General Strike Weapon.
This proposal was fought most bit
terly by the members of the general
council itself, who gave the impress
sion that they would not consent to
another general strike and inferred
they were sorry they called the last
one. Shrinking from struggle in this
manner, they excused their reluctance
on the ground Of sectional interests of
their particular unions, taking the
same attitude as the hitherto despised
Havelock Wilson.
O. T. Cramp Of the Railwaymen bit
terly attacked the proposal for more
power to the general council of which
he is a member, and in so doing ex-
posed his real opposition to the gen.
eral strike in principle. He declared
"mouldy and ancient conception,
that all our difficulties can be solved
by the general strike" He added that
his union was opposed to giving the
council more power on the ground
that We've had some." thus express
ing regret at the general strike in
stead of the betrayal of it.
cramp Wants No Struggle.
He evaded the point that power is
not necessarily to be used for betray.
al and that Capitalization of power is
absolutely essential for successful
struggle.
John R. Clynes Of the General
Workers Union and Ernest Bevin Of
the Transport and General Workers
Union also opposed the motion, and
the resolution and its amendment
were voted down.
The miners delegates attacked j..
Bromley, when he posed as defend
er of the resolution supporting the
miners. shouting their protests at him
as a hypocrite who was actually OPP
posed to the miners strike.
Council Takes Refuge in Dignity.
A cable from Michael Tomsky,
chairman Of the delegation of the Rus
sian unions which was barred by the
government from landing IN England,
was distributed among the delegates
and created a stir from its sharp
criticism of the leadership OF ]. H.
Thomas during the general strike,
Thomas was charged with being the
main instigator of the defeat Of the
fighting workers Of Britain, for whom
victory was in sight when their weak.
kneed leaders called off the strike.
The general council took refuge be-
hind its dignity and declared they
would not even reply to such alleged
'presumptuous criticism" Tomsiy's
cable stressed the necessity of a clos
er cooperation between British and
Russian workers In the Anglo-Russian
committee for a better support to the
striking miners than had been given
in the past.
PortIaud OroaDizae