82 LABOUR IN MADRAS some men that women who wished to become members should also be admitted. On December 9th, 1918, a meeting of the labourers at the Union premises was held. Mr. Wadia presided and made the following speech : The work that we have begun is progressing satisfactorily, more satisfactorily than I anticipated. Various letters from various parts of the Presidency have come conveying their sympathy with us and also money is steadily coming in. Some of those letters will be published in our New India paper from to-morrow. They will be published also in the Tamil paper Desabhakthan simultaneously. Another piece of good news is that we are going to have a public meeting of the citizens of Madras on Sunday next at Gokhale Hail where we will speak on your behalf to leaders who will assemble there. You will be glad to hear that at the meeting Mrs. Besant has consented to speak on your behalf. (Cheers.) I can assure you that her sympathies are with you in this great hour of your struggle and strife. That then is the next piece of news. Now I have to give you one particular piece of advice this afternoon and I hope you will bear that in mind in the days that lie in front when difficult work is to be done. I do not want you to give any opportunity whatever by your conduct in any man. ner to the Police of Madras to interfere with you. The Police Commissioner, Mr. Armitage has left us alone and we must see that not the least trouble of whatsoever character happens which will compel him to take steps against you. That is a point that I wish you to particularly bear in mind because it will have a very impor tant bearing on what is going to take place. We have to
