The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 7, 1925, Page 13

By CHARLES ASHLEIGH (Special to The Daily Worker) N Jaunary 20th, Lord Reading made the official viceregal speech at the opening of the Indian legis- lature. With regard to the question of trade unions, Lord Reading remarked; “I believe the opinion has been expressed in some quarters that we are moving too fast along the lines of labor legislation.” Lord Reading carefully refrained from stating what’ quarters these were. He did not mention the fact’ that the “quarters” which had expressed these opinions into the ever- ready ear of the Viceroy, were repre- senting about one-millionth of the pop- ulation of India. He did not mention the fact that hundreds of thousands of the Indian workers think that the projected trade union legislation is a mockery, and that o by the com- plete legitimisation of trade unions, and all forms of their activities, can they be satisfied. “Moving too fast!” That is callously cynical comment on the slow starvation of the Indian masges, TILL on the subject of trade un- ions, the Viceroy proceeded: “The future of trade unions in India will, I believe, largely depend, not on en- actments, but on the spirt shown by employers and workers and in the at- titude of the public.” So far, the spirit shown by the Indian employers has been a particularly martial one. Their spirit has expressed itself in the sum- moning of troops, in order to protect their profits by cold steel and by the bullet, whenever the workers, goaded into protest, have struck a blow in their own defense. The spirit shown by the workers, of course, must be of the correctly servile kind, in order to secure the benevolent patronage of the Viceroy for “trade union legisia- tion.” In Support of the Terror i iG with the subject of the sary for my government to introduce to the legislature a measure to de- fine the powers of the high court in relation to the tribunals, and pro- ceedings held under the special Ben- gal criminal legislation. You are aware the governor of Bengal has ex- ercised the powers conferred upon him under the government of India act, and has certified and signed the bill. I take this opportunity of stating that His Excellency’s action in this re- spect has my full approval and I shall support both him and his government to the extent of my powers in meeting what I regard as aserious emergency.” To above refers to the legislation which was introduced in order to legalise the arrests made under Lord Reading o E are, however, convinced that a conspiracy does exist, neverthe- less. But it is not a conspiracy of tremendous and subtle secret socie- ties, which constitute the nightmare picture presented to us by Lord Read- ing and his bureaucrats. It is a gigantic conspiracy, by the imperial- istic rulers of India, to check the movement of the Indian people to- wards national freedom. It is a con- spiracy to hamper the expression of India’s oppressed millions, to stifie their demand for liberation from the galling shackles of British imperialist capitalism, by flinging their best lead- ers into prison, forbidding the free Publication of their organs, and the free assemblage of their societies, It is a conspiracy to intensify the heavy repression, under the weight of which the Indian masses are bowed, The Labor Government Approved. [* dealing with the special ordinance, the instrument used in the whole- sale arrests of Bengal nationalists, Lord Reading took his hearers into his confidence. He gave them the details of the genesis of this ordin- ance, of this imperial edict which filched from the Indians the scanty rights they possessed. The Viceroy states that in this revelation, he is departing from the usual course. “I am well aware that I am taking an exceptional course in giving you this information, but I do it advisedly after careful thought.” After careful thought, Lord Reading considers that it is just as well to give credit where credit is due—and, in this case, it is due to—the labor government! Seeteh folk song.) ‘Twas one November morning, In '17, my dear,. ~ When Lenin threw Kerensky out— The Yellow Chevalier! REFRAIN: O, Lenin fs our darling, Our darling, our darling, Lenin is our darling, The Red Chevalier! <r As Nick went marching thru the world The rich grew white with fear, But common folk came runnin’ out To meet our Chevalier! O, etc, the special ordinance in Bengal. This, |" it will be remembered, was voted down by the nationalist majority in the Bengal council. Then, under special powers, the governor of Ben- gal certified and signed the bill, de- spite the contrary vote. Lord Read- ing here declares his approval of this flouting of the minute parliamentary democracy Which the Indians are per- mitted to enjoy. So now, the im- prisoned Bengalee Swarajists may have the comfort of knowing that they are lying in gaol, not under an emergency ordinance, but in accord- ance with a real act of parliament— even tho this act was disapproved by a majority of legislators. We do not believe, however, that the imprisoned nationalists will much relish this very shadowy mitigation of their lot. A gaol’s a gaol, for a’ that. ‘4T is now admitted on all sides,” continued Lord Reading, “even by the most convinced opponents of spe- cial legislation, that a terrorist move- ment exists in Bengal and that wide spread conspiracies for violent crimes have been established.” We, in Brit- ain. at any rate, have still to see a convincing piece of evidence of these conspiracies. In the reactionary press, “we have had it reiterated, with mono- tonous frequency, that such conspira- cles exist, but these same papers have failed to give their details, With scarlet banners o’er his head He called in accents clear: “Now come and fight for workers’ They've left their mines and mills and shops, They've left their children dear, To draw the sword at Lenin’s word—~ Our Red Chevalier! O, ete. (To the air ef “Chariey Is My Darling”| Dear Juniors:—It is late ET us see what the Viceroy says. Referring to the promulgation of the special ordinance, he remarks: “The whole matter was submit- ted to careful examination by Lord Oliver and his majesty’s govern- ment as .then constituted. They agreed with the course suggested as the only possible method of deal- ing with the dangers facing peace in Bengal.” Thus, you will see that the special ordinance, the wholesale arrests—the “course suggested”—were submitted to that sterling proletarian member of the labor party, Lord Oliver, and to the labor government, before this course was adopted, AND THAT THE LABOR GOVERNMENT APPROVED OF IT! T was the labor government, then, according to Lord Reading, which unleashed the police hounds, and set them at the throats of the Indian na- tionalist leaders. It was the labor government, that mixed hodge-podge of patifists, sentimentalists, bureau- crats, trade union officials and intel- lectuals, which approved of this final and heaviest burden being laid upon the bowed shoulders of the Indian masses. It was the labor’ govern- ment which cheeered Lord Reading on, when he was still in doubt, and consulted them as to whether he should take this extreme step. Lord Reading says so; will they deny it? ND, actually, when the labor government came in, there were Indians who greeted it with faith and hope. Now was a new era about to dawn for India, thought they. For A Mether, and Her Son. at night, but I can’t deny myself the luxury of a chat with you. I’m so happy tonight! For my oldest son, my twelve-year-old baby, my twelve-year-old little man has joined the young Leninists. A week ago tonight he came from a meeting very enthnsiastic about the memorial meeting that is to take place in this city.. He brought me a DAILY WORKER. While I did my work he read for me the whole paper and in his voice I detected the revolutionary spirit. I put the younger children to bed and we two discussed every article. I told him how many com- rades have dedicated their lives to the cause of the working class. He listened attentively to every- thing I told him, then he said: “Maybe I’ll be one of them some day. I think it is wonderful to work for such an ideal. No sacri- fice is too great.” There was a serious expression of determina- tion and decision in his little face. And now he has joined the The workers’ hearts beat high with| Junior groups. He is a Leninist! hope, The rich men’s low with fear, And everywhere the workers dare To follow Lenin dear. O, Lenin is our darling, Our darling, our darling, Lenin is our darling, The clearest of the clear! HAVE A HEART! Put Your Interest For Our COMMUNIST CHILDREN INTO ACTION Come to The JUNIORS’ DANCE FEB, 14, 1926 Workers’ Lyceum ACT NOW AT ONCE Get your tickets for Red Revel Ball, February 28, / And I am the proudest of Com- munist mothers! With affectionate greetings, ; . BL —_—_—_—_—_—— Second-Hand Books Used Communist, Labor and Eeo- nomic books, pamphiets, and maps in all languages, sold and at cut Graete handled Of wa bee ee + pam- WRITE OR PHONE “Daily” Book Exchange Room Five, 805 James St., N. &., (Phone Fairfax 1024) Pittsburgh, Pa. (nero deenerastesanenontnstnenreenesiannasneneneenh SS LLL Lethe nn n: Labor in India e they were simple souls, and they had given credulous ear to the mealy- mouthed chattering of “brotherhood,” issuing from the various Ps. A. halls where our I. L. P. leaders were per- forming. They had believed the fine, idealistic declarations, proceeding from these labour “leaders,”—before they took office. . OW they will no longer believe. , This admission of the Viceroy will destroy for ever any lingering hope the people of India may have in the labor party politicians, in the L lh P. “socialists.” Now that they are out of office, the cat is let out of the bag. They stand revealed as the in- famous oppressors of the Indian people, as the politicians who gave the word which set all the powers of repression upon the Indian nationalist movement. Thank you, Lord Read- ing! We always knew it, but it is well you should confirm it. * 8s 6 HE toilers of India are slowly” learning. Now, they aré learning who are their enemies. Now, they are discovering their false friends. . Let them go further; let them know what the Communists say, regarding im- perialism, and its overthrow. Let them know that the Communists have always foretold the actions of the pretended friends of India—these white terrorists who impudently adopt the title of “labor.” Let them hear and read the Communist message to the colonial peoples; and then they will have started, at last, upon the road which, after strong determined struggle, shall lead to freedom. Our Readers Views Life Would be Miserable Without The DAILY WORKER, To The DAILY WORKER:—I would rather go without a meal than The DAILY WORKER. It is the power that inspires hope, without which life would be indeed miserable. I had great hope in the S. L. P, (but like that bitter fake, the S. P. or S.-D. or “whatever you may call it,”) it propos- ed to practice the pure “non-resist- ance,” and any one who thinks the capitalist dog will give up the fat bone, without a fight, is a fool, and he who thinks that votes are counted right, when private interests are in danger, is a worse idiot, and he who thinks that the workers can “over- take” the establishments and ma- chinery of industry, like the I. W. W., without resorting to force, is a hope- less fool. Communists Are Not Dreamers. The Communists are the only ones who seem to be free from the politi- cal somnambulism affecting all the others. As a poet says: “"Tis said the gods produced this pre- cious crew, In a time when they had nothing else to do; And when they are ensued with state affairs, To make them merry they will look downstairs; HE g r=