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But the sands of time run fast through the glass of life. It was but yesterday, apparently, when you honoured me by electing me to this chair, and to-morrow I resign it again. The years have been crowded with many works, the value of which Time alone can test, but the pleasure I have had in watching the growth of the Party and the way it has been driving its roots down into the intelligence of the people, has been keenly sweet, and my official connection with it at such a time has been a great joy tome. I am all the wiser, I hope, for having presided over your deliberations, I am certainly all the happier for having had such opportunities to serve Socialism, and I know I am all the richer for having experienced the loyalty of my colleagues and the friendship of my comrades.

APPENDIX.

The enterprising editor of the Glasgow Forward sent a circular to various members of the I.L.P. asking their opinion on this part of my address. The letter I sent in reply may make my meaning clearer, and I therefore publish it here.

"Why I asked the Question."

"Very great pressure of work has prevented me sending an earlier reply to the request you addressed to me to discuss further the question I put to the Edinburgh Conference as to how a Labour Party would act if it held the balance of power in Parliament.

"I had better explain first of all why I put the question. It was not that I had any answer ready up my sleeve, but that I saw that much that was being said about independence by our speakers did not take into account probable Parliamentary situations, and that, if the expectations of the Party were being formed by a propaganda of false notions, disaster would follow when the Parliamentary Party had to face the circumstances that had been overlooked.

"When the circumstances arise, I am perfectly certain of one thing. No party can possibly create General Election after General Election. The support necessary to enable it to survive this most trying of all tests would be so great that, if it existed,
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