Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/201

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put it (i.e. the motion of adjournment) to the vote." Mr. Malvi merely * thinks ' it to be * irregular and out of order '. Mr. Tilak asserts his right to speak. He is not allowed to proceed. The Chairman is anxious to gag him. TheTresident is impatient to read his address. Confusion drowns the rest.

Regarding the diplomatic hurry shown by the Congress authorities in declaring Dr. Ghose duly elected, we may note that such incidents are by no means rare. Let Dr. Smith speak : —

"Sometimes, especially at meetings, where the Chairman and the party appointing him are anxious to have a certain resolution carried and wish to remove every opportunity for opposition to it, the Chairman will insist upon putting it to the vote, the moment it is moved and seconded ; and although some member claims to be heard before the votes are completely taken, the Chairman goes on taking the votes and then tells the member that the question is now decided and he cannot speak to it because it is not before the meeting. In such a case, the member should of course endeavour to attract the Chairman's attention in a way which the latter can- not ignore, and may then proceed to speak in spite of the Chairman."

Mr. Tilak's views on the relations between the Moderates and the Nationalists are sound and refresh- ing. He says* : —

"Both the Moderates and the Nationahsts must remember that persons belonging to both the parties are actuated by a sincere desire to promote the welfare -of he country; and that none is deliberately working to

  • The Kesari,