Page:Labour in Madras.djvu/179



LABOUR IN MADRAS 153 are championing the cause of Indian labourers. He is a Director of many Mills in Bombay and the Manager of more than one, so that it will be easy for me to show why he is launching himself against us-because his pocket is touched and because, if the reforms that we want for the labourers come into existence, he will be perhaps adversely affected. If he represents, while in England, the battle against us, you may be rest assured that he will be assisted by people who are also against Self-Government or Home Rule for India. Already in the telegram that has come from London to-day we find that he has spoken out against our work, and that is perhaps the result of some cable that has gone to England from Madras intimating my departure for England. But you need not be afraid of the struggle that I will have to carry on there, because with the help of friends like Mr. John Scurr, I am sure that we will win the battle. But what I am a little nervous about is leaving you here to face difficulties that are sure to arise while I am away. I have all along given you the advice which I am very glad Mr. Scurr has repeated to you himself to-day. What I am afraid of is this, which I want to speak to you frankly about. The best way in which our work in England will be spoiled will be to show that here you are not able to hold your own and stand united while I am fighting your battle there. I warn you that your employers and other peoples who want to work against you will try to wreck this Labour Union which we have built up with hard work and labour for nearly thirteen months. While I am away I would advise you not at all to think of a strike under any provocation. You may be pushed to strike and on good grounds. Even then, when you have