LABOUR IN MADRAS of political parties. In England we have Conservative Trades Unionists; here in India is a large body of “Untouchable” Trades Unionists, who resent bitterly their social subordination under caste rule. All Trades Unionists must be kept together if they are to defeat capital; Nationalists who resent English domination and untouchables who resent Brahmin domination, must be kept together. For such reasons, Labour was of no party in England before it became its own party. For exactly the same reasons, Labour here too must eschew party politics till it can speak for itself. I do not believe that Labour has been or is being "used" by politicians as some suppose. The thinking men who lead must have po litics of their own, but it would be wise to keep nationalism and anti-Brahminism in the background, when they are doing their work for labour. Do not introduce politics into the Union. It is inevitable that in the beginning Trades Unions must be organised and conducted by educated men from outside the Trade. The train. ing of a General Secretary from a working hand is a long business. Just as in England the trained Unionists of the National Union of Railwaymen started, organised and trained the Agricultural Labours Unions, so in India the lawyers must be expected to organise the workers. It is a libel to pretend that they profit from the work and I wish
