Speaking at the Eight Hours social Mr Scullin condemned as "political weaklings" those men who had recently been forced out of the Labor Party.

Now, children, your attention fix
   Upon the task today;
For of the Game of Politics
   I have a deal to say.
In Lesson One, lest we go wrong,
   Let's first of all divide
Weak politicians from the Strong,
   And judge them side by side.


The weakling, I would have you note,
   Working for country's sake
Gives small attention to The Vote
   When Principle's at stake.
And so, he shifts from here to there
   With scorn for Party Brands.
But the Strong Man stands - I don't know where -
   But, anyhow, he stands.


The Weakling serves the People first,
   Heedless of Place or Pay;
And so becomes a Man Accursed
   Because he won't obey
Some strange, onscure Authority,
   All powerful but remote.
But the Strong Man humbly bends the knee
   And wins the Party Vote.


The weakling, with a Conscience in Political Affairs,
Counts Prejudice the Deadly Sin,
   And so is filled with cares.
But the Strong Man makes of this a sword:
   "My Party right or wrong!"
And thus he reaps his High Reward
   And stays for ever Strong.


And so, dear children, here we see
   Clearly how Fortune serves
Duty's poor Slave, the Strong and Free,
   Each man as he deserves.
So Lesson One this Truth invites:
   'Tis safer far, you know,
To Wobble Strongly on the Heights
   Than Meekly Serve below.

"Den"
Herald, 24 March 1931, p6