hardy working-men to be the only class unable or unwilling to face the contingencies of their life and lot?
The great home union was at once summoned to discuss and pronounce upon the question. The telegraphs and telephones of the day could accomplish that business with equal ease and promptitude. It was not necessary that all members should attend personally, for even at Land's End or John o' Groats they were enabled, by telephonic connection, either to speak or to listen to central London, much as though personally present within the hall of meeting itself.
Nor was opposition unexpected; for the views in question were the still lingering remnants of tenaciously held unionist ideas of the nineteenth century.
The great assembly duly met, and the discussion, waxing warm at times, was protracted almost beyond precedent. Yellowly, in his presidential chair, strengthened by the excitement as well as the importance of the occasion, sat erect to the very end. When discussion was exhausted he rose to put the question, and by a large majority carried the case against the Australian co-unionists. The chairman congratulated his class-fellows upon the proper victory of equitable and reasonable views.
That famous discussion marked a trade union era for the entire empire. The opposing unions at the other side, as the Government there most cordially apprised Yellowly, had loyally accepted defeat, and at once abandoned all their claims and designs. But the victory was dearly bought. The venerable president, who had greatly overtaxed the strength which
