This page needs to be proofread.
40
LABOUR IN MADRAS


They must not be captured on side issues. The Labour struggle, important as it is, is, in this great campaign, a side issue. Winning Home Rule, Labour wins its Freedom. Till it is won, Labour's champions, if Home Rulers, will be struck down under any convenient pretext. I feel sure that the hatred felt against Mr. Wadia for his Home Rule propaganda would mean the possi. bility of his being sent to gaol on this technical charge of delama tion, and no plea that the statement he made was in the public interest woull avail. I have therefore asked bim to withdraw the defamatory words, and be is a sufficiently good soldier to obey the one whom he regards as his leader, and not to go to prison till he goes for Home Rule. To that great oa:ise I will not grudge him if the need arise." THIRTEENTH MEETING On August 17th 1918 the 13th meeting of the Labour Union was held. Mr. B. P. Wadia presided and made the following speech : MY BROTHERS,—It gives me great pleasure to be in your midst this afternoon. I am not well and so will not be able to give you a long speech to-day. But I thought it necessary to come to you to show that I have kept up my interest in our common work. As I am going to Bombay to attend the Special Congress and will be away for some time, I thought it necessary to put in my appearance at this meeting. When in Bombay I shall see many of my friends who are not labourers but millowners and who are interested in industry, and I shall put before them your story and your position. When I am away I would advise you to keep up with your meetings and patiently go on with your work. Every Saturday the meeting will be arranged for and you must all gather together here and keep up with your work so that when I come back after a month's time I shall find you holding your meetings and carrying on your work.