Although the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers and Sailors always claimed to be non-political, the chief topic discussed at a meeting of the Luton branch at the Town Hall on Sunday afternoon was politics. The subject was introduced by Mr W. J. Mabley, and it led to lively scenes.

Treasurer Mr W. H. Booth reported proposals from headquarters with regard to finance, and said it would cost money to secure direct representation on public bodies – and they wanted it on all bodies from the parish council to the House of Commons. It was therefore proposed to have a Parliamentary Fund from headquarters to put up candidates for Parliament.

Mr Mabley then opened a discussion which led to heated talk and some disorder. He referred to the fact that part of the proposed increased contributions were to go towards the setting up of a Parliamentary candidate. He [Mr Mabley] was a trade unionist, as were a large percentage of discharged men generally, and though he was willing to subscribe generously to their domestic funds, for clubs and propaganda work, he would not give one farthing to a Parliamentary fund. There were thousands in the same position.

Mr Booth said they would have to face the problem. If they could not find a suitable candidate, or the time was not ripe, or local circumstances would not permit, the Federation was willing to support a candidate of one of the existing parties, but they were not satisfied with any of them. They were going to have candidates of their own. That had been their intention from the first, and they were not going back on it for the Labour Party or for any other party.

Mr Mabley held that no-one had done so much for discharged soldiers as te Labour party. They had made a stand for better payment of soldiers, and had done more in that direction than the Federation itself.

He said they had two or three million workers serving with the forces, and if that body expected to create an organisation which was going to dominate the House of Commons and pass into law every Bill they liked to bring forward, they were making a big mistake. They must work with some organisation or other, and the most suitable was the Labour Party. They were willing to work hand in hand with the Federation.

The Chairman (Mr Frank Rudd) thought Mr Mabley had raised an unfortunate point. Mr Mabley only stood where he stood 20 years ago, and not a step further. They [the DS&S] were going to have their own party, and if the Labour Party liked to help them, well and good, but if their objects clashed the fight had got to come.

A member pointed out that since this war had been on there had been such things as strikes which had jeopardised the output of munitions.

Here Mr Mabley jumped up and hotly began a defence of the principles on which the strikes were based. After a few sentences his voice was drowned in a roar of dissent. Mr Mabley persisted, however, but could not make himself heard above the uproar.

While he was shouting something about the 'Welsh Wizard' [Prime Minister David Lloyd George] making doormats of people, dozens were expressing strong views against strikers, many more calling for order, and the Chairman hammering with his mallet upon the table.

When the din had somewhat subsided, and Mr Mabley found it impossible to continue, the Chairman said such discussion was harmful and would not do them any good. They should return to the point from which they started.

Mr Booth said it was not a matter of Parliamentary levies, and Mr Mabley was crossing bridges before he reached them. Unless he and his friends had sore consciences, he did not think they would be afraid of their vote.

It was proposed and seconded that Mr Willet Ball, the local Labour candidate, be asked to address a meeting of the Federation, but this was defeated, only the proposer and seconder voting for it.

The Chairman thought it was not policy for them to pursue these political matters. Mr Mabley spoke in praise of Mr Willet Ball, and was plunging into another oration about the Labour Party and members of the Government, but was pulled up by the Chairman.

Mr Booth pointed out that the chances of their putting up a Parliamentary candidate for some considerable time were very remote. They were getting too much into the air.

[The Luton News: Thursday, August 22nd, 1918.]