South Yorkshire Times – Friday 31 August 1934

Workers’ Conference

A conference of workers’ organisations of Conisborough, Denaby, Mexborough, Doncaster and Edlington, was held in the Welfare Pavilion, on Saturday. Mr. T. S. Friedenson, of Sheffield, was the chief speaker.

He said that it was no use permitting free speech to Fascists because they would attract certain elements, even of the working class, by their demagogy. Fascists should not be allowed to hold meetings in working class areas. He hoped that if Fascists attempted to show their heads in this district, the working class would not allow them to stay on the streets for five minutes. At the present time it was necessary for a United Front Movement among workers. They were living in a period of declining capitalist system which was a menace to the standards of the working class. He referred to the effects of rationalisation and mechanisation of the mining, engineering and railway industries, and the necessity for keeping a strict watch on developments.

Mr. Friedenson moved a resolution, which was seconded by Mr. P. Waters, Edlington, calling for the building up of a strong United Front Movement. The resolution also demanded the repeal of the Unemployment Act, the abolition of the Means Test and the immediate payment of benefit to all unemployed of £1 for a man, 10s. for his wife and 5s. for each child. It was also advocated that a movement should be built up to resist the growth of Fascism and to defend the rights of working class organisations.