that carried on such insistent negotiations for Trade Union Unity, through 1924, against the stubborn opposition of Oudegeest, Jouhaux, Mertens, and other Amsterdam officials; it is the General Council that is expected to formulate and direct Trade Union policy when the crisis comes in May, 1926.[1]
2. Labor Statesmanship
Preparation for the coming struggle sounded through every session of the Trades Union Congress which met in Scarboro on September 7, 1925. During the previous session of the Congress at Hull, in 1924, extended powers had been given to the General Council. These powers had been put to excellent use the following July. Other struggles impended. Officials and delegates alike showed an eagerness to meet them.
More significant, perhaps, than any other single event of the Congress week was the opening address of the President, A. B. Swales (Amalgamated Engineering Union). President Swales is a trade unionist of long standing; he represents one of the most important of the national unions; for many years he has been looked upon as one of the "moderates" in the movement; he may fairly be said to speak for British Trade Union middle-ground opinion. Regarded from this background, his speech was doubly significant. It undoubtedly presents the point of view held by very large numbers of British Trade Union members at the present moment. Following are the main sections of the address:
3. One Hundred Years of Progress
"Last year our movement celebrated the 100th year of our Industrial Charter. In the year 1824 the great Act of Liberation took place, and during the succeeding 100 years the best men and women that any movement has known have contributed to the building up of our movement as we know it to-day. Not only in Britain but in every country where the Trade Union Movement is now established the memory of the men and women who struggled to establish the Industrial Movement should be held in honour. They handed on to us a goodly heritage.
"When we last met, our colleagues of the political side of our movement were administering the machinery of government. As was truthfully predicted as being within the bounds of possibility by last year's President of Congress, 'the full- ↑ Two excellent pamphlets have been issued by the General Council from its office at 32 Eccleston Sq. London: The Story of the Trades Union Congress, and The General Council of the Trades Union Congress. The two may be had, postpaid, for 10 cents.
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