110 LABOUR IN MADRAS Labourers do not want attractive toys when their stomachs are empty, their limbs are weary, their spirits are crushed. The labourers have fully realized the situation, and whatever may happen in the future they will refuse to be cowed down to lie silently, or work like slaves. The new spirit has touched the labourers and our Union has attained that much. No one has regretted the assaults more than my. self. Twice in formal resolutions and more than that informally regret has been expressed. I would hand over the culprit if I knew them; I have done my best to trace them and I make bold to say that they are not among our Labour Union members. OUR CAUSE The cause of the labourers is just and righteous. They have been badly treated. They have shown of what excellent stuff they are made. With Famine staring us in the face, with economic distress surrounding us, for over a fortnight these labourers have behaved like sportsmen, and I do not know of one deed of theirs for which I, as their associate, need be ashamed. Look into their eyes, observe their faces, watch how they suffer and endure, and you will learn that the Madras Labour Union members are heroes, to serve whom is a delight. I wish some Madras leaders would come and see for themselves what Mr. C. F. Andrews has seen at our head-quarters at Perambur and then they will agree that there must be something wrong with the manage ment of the two Mills, which, in the space of a few weeks, had to have recourse to two Lock-outs, the second of which is engendering, suffering and threatening us with serious developments in our city. The situation is
