On This Day, 2 November 1918

Birmingham Daily Gazette

Saturday 2 November 1918

LABOUR AND THE PEACE

Sir. —

Many thanks for your leading article, “The Labour Perils of Peace,” in to-day’s Gazette. Personally, I am grateful for the attitude that you have taken up regarding the loss of civil liberties, conscription, the surrender of trade union rights! In fact, whenever the existence of democracy has been threatened you have spoken out fearlessly, It is indeed rare and refreshing in these times of Press control, when so much inflammation is poured out by the Jingo Press, to read the closely-reasoned, clear, and sane articles that have been so characteristic of the Gazette all through the war.

Naturally, we of the Labour party are not always able to see eye to eye with you, but I am sure that, in the absence of a Labour daily newspaper, are indebted to you for the way you have stood up for the rights of the individual. Your remarks concerning Messrs. Hodge Roberts are more than justified.

One of the greatest needs of the Labour movement is the need of strong leaders, men who will remain true to their convictions when they occupy high positions well as low ones, and not lose their equilibrium in the glamour of the footlights. Of course I know that this weakness is not confined to Labour leaders, but then, so much is expected of them that they need to be above suspicion.

I hope that the ironworkers of West Bromwich will remind Mr. Hodge on Sunday that he was not sent to the House of Commons to preach about the blessings of “benevolent autocracy,” nor to appeal to charity on behalf of the discharged soldiers and sailors.

In conclusion, I would like to appeal to organised workers and, in fact, all democrats, to insist on Labour being represented at the Peace Conference.

—Yours, etc.. C. F. Johnson.

79, Trafalgar-road. Erdington, 31 Oct.