Labor and Society

Three prominent Labor members of Parliament (clad in black silk knee breeches), together with the King and Queen and a number of other distinguished guests were entertained at dinner by Viscount and Lady Astor. It is the first time that Labor has dined with Royalty at a private residence. The Labor members present were: J. R. Clynes, president of the National Union of General Workers and former Leader of the Labor Party in the House--possibly the strongest labor man in the country; J. H. Thomas, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen; and Philip Snowden, socialist member of Parliament and author. All were accompanied by their wives. The Daily Herald, London radical journal, published angry letters from Laborites. One critic said: " Continuous association with our political opponents is likely to reduce our campaign in the House of Commons to the old sham fight between Tweedledum and Tweedledee which we have done so much to expose."