May, with Coun. D. S. Humphreys, of Mexborough, in the chair, and Mr. R. T. Mackereth, of York, in the vice-chair, it was fitting that all delegates should rise in silence as a tribute of sorrow for all the fallen and sympathy with those who mourned. That Conference had the pleasure of being welcomed by Mr. Moore as President of the Leeds Trades and Labour Council, and, also, it had the pleasure of making history, as will be shown soon, by its series of resolutions and what followed them.
The A.A.D. was memorable for another reason, too. Mr. Bromley, in his annual report as General Secretary, had referred to the libel action brought against him and others by Mr. Thomas and others, and after reporting the circumstances, he said:—
"I therefore beg to tender to you my resignation of my office, and leave the matter in your hands. While my conscience is perfectly clear, the fact remains that you, on behalf of the Society, will have to put sentiment aside and view the position from the standpoint of the interest and welfare of your Society."
The report, and especially this passage, evoked a serious and high- toned discussion, at the close of which it was resolved, by 49 votes to three:—
"That this Conference accept our General Secretary's explanation, and that we do not accept Mr. Bromley's resignation, but wish to place on record our appreciation of his services."
That was possibly the finest of many important decisions of the Conference, for it was a splendid manifestation of loyalty to the chief official in a very trying episode. To conclude a brief summary of the year before dilating upon its chief events in the Society history, it was in 1917 that the Seamen's Union refused to carry Messrs. Macdonald and Jowett to Russia; that Mr. H. A. L. Fisher's Education Bill was introduced; and that Mr. Henderson was kept waiting "on the mat" by the Prime Minister. The Fisher Education Act, considerably revised, became law in 1918. Mr. Bromley was elected to the Executive of the Railway Nationalisation Society on June 7th of 1917.
