Though the Victorian police do not belong to a union affiliated with the Trades and Labour Council, ard though in the past it has been their duty to remain absolutely neutral as between political parties, the Melbourne Trades Hall leaders have made a radical departure in their policy turbances seem to be welcomed as evidence that the government is in the wrong. In short, they have taken the criminals to their arms, and have therefore done Labour the worst possible service. There is no outstanding Labour leader to frankly denounce outrages, or the revolt of the police, even while he contends the police have grievances calling for remedy. If the damage amounted to £100,000, and the public confidence in law and order was badly shaken, they ignored the fact and Labour leaders stressed the point that a policeman should not be watched by any senior official, not in uniform, while he was on duty.
The case is quoted of a youn constable who was reported for leaving his beat to have a enn of tea, and out of this molehill is built up a mass of erievances—mountain high—which might occur, and the striking police demand the immediate removal of all "spooks, pimps" ete. Mr. Gompers, the veteran Labour leader of the United States, has always been strongly opposed to Labour taking an active part iv politics, holding that it is strongest if it attends to its own business. In Australia for the past 20 years Labour has sought political, rather than industrial, power, with the result that it cannot afford to offend the mob, even though it consist of men and women who do not belong to their unions. The underworld votes early and often, and its votes are invariably given to Tabour candidates. In a case like the present one Labour leaders might have come out on tov, and a few years ago they would have done so, but to-day the Communists have '"white-anted'? the movement, and revolution, during which the scum comes to the surface, is welcomed as a step in the right direction.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.