The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-25 00:00:00

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1871.

LABOUR REPRESENTATIVES.

The Labour Representation League has just
held its third annual meeting in London, and has
taken occasion to rejoice over the alleged exten-
sion of its principles. Mr. R M. Latham, the
chairman, said the Council of the League wished
to see the political power of the working men
operating beneficially for the common good.
This is just what we all desire, but the League
would seem to consider that this can only be
efficiently done by havieg labour directly repre-
sented in Parliament. We
,shall not, however,
be accused of injustice if we say thaethe com-
mon good is not the exalted object which work- '
lug men look to effect by the direct represeeta-
Hon of labour. They maintain that capitalists
and employers, nobility and gentry, the profes-
sional classes and our great merchants and
leaders, are all over-represented, but that Lab-
our has not one member to call its own. They
therefore want working men representatives to
advance the interests of their own class. Now
jest at the present moment, at all events, the
nation can scarcely be said to feel this want.
Labour seems tolerably well able to take care of
itself. In various parts of the country we find
the movement for shortening the hours of work
gaining victory after victory; the nine hours'
movement is becoming a great fact ; and it is
difficult to see that working men would stand
any better chance of victory in their war with
capital, had they more direct representatives in
the House of Commons than they now have.
Dismissing from argument the clap-trap about
"the common good," and placing the represen-
tation of labour on its proper footing—a coign
of vantage for working men as such—the ques-
tion arises whether this alleged desideratum can
be admitted on theory and principle. We think
not. Our representative system provides solely
for the adequate representation of constituen-
cies, and not of classes. With the widely ex-
tended suffrage that we now have, all classes are
supposed to be, and we believe practically are,
represented. If we are to have members of the
House of Commons sent to that House specially
as delegates of the working class of any consti-
tuency, we way expect to have a demand from
other classes. The shipping interest, the medi-
cal profession, the lawyers, the merchants, may
demand their several representatives, thus sue-
gesting an entire remodelling of our present
electoral system. Such demands would but be
but the legitimate corollary of the representa.
tion of labour were that representation carried
out to any great extent.
We are at a loss, however, to see what the
Labour Representation League has to complain
of. Time was when a property qualification
clause in our electoral law acted as an impass-
able barrier to the working men's entrance into
Parliament. This barrier has long since been
removed, and there now exists no obstacle what-
ever to his admission, except the expenses of an
eleetosal contest. It has been proposed to throw
all necessary expenses on the constituencies, an
we shall probably enough come to this in good t
time. But meanwhile working men are jatst
placed first on the same footing in this respect
as other electors, and if they choose to du 'so,
they have the power of meeting these expenses
and returning to Parliament a man of their own
class. But then comes the question which was
ono of the six points of the now exploded and
well-nigh forgotten Charter—payment of mem-
bers. We hold this to be a eine qua non in refer-
ence to the direct representation of labour, and
we are rather surprised that the Labour Repre-
sentation League evidently shirks this point. If
a man is a bond fide member of the worr.ing class
as that hackneyed phrase is ordinarily under-
stood, be certainly cannot afford either the ex-
penses of an electoral contest, or to support the
position of a member of Parliament; if a man
can afford this expenditure, he certainly is not a
working man in the ordinary acceptation of the
term. It follows, naturally, that the direct re-
presentative of labour should be paid by his con-
stituents. Now, if labour wants direct repre-
sentatives, let labour pay for them. There is no
Act of Parlianieut against this, and it is entirely
within the power of our working men. they
recognise this fact all their theurieing will be oh
no value. The Labour Representation League
has been three years at work—talking, organis-
ing, and grumbling, and on its third anniver-
sary it can only boast of the extension of its
principles, but cannot point to any one practical
victory of the smallest proportions. If it would
but look facts full in the face it might make
some little progress; and we are by no means
certain that this progress would be wholly mat-
ter of regret. It might be well to have a few
direct representatives of labour in Parliament,
so that their arguments might be fairly met.
This is not the view that the League takes of
such representation, but it may be true never-
theless. The presence of a few such members
would be of some benefit in another respect; it
would remove from working men that reproach,
which there is too much reason to fear they now
deserve, that working men do not want special
eepresentatives—in fact, that they will not trust
one another.

Notices of Births, Marriage., and Deaths, when propori)
authenticated, will be inserted in the '•Observer,'' Tree o.
charge.
•
DIED.

Putor.--On the 20th just, at Wollaston, after three day.'
inured, of dightherina croup, aged four years and elght
months, Constance Lucy, third daughter of W. Rogers
EMMA teau.

BRONCHITIS, COUGHS, COLDS, PAINS IN THE CUT,
SHOUTNIRS HE BRHATM, PHLSOM.—TWO of Dc. LO.
COCK'S WAFERS give immediate relief, end nothiug
Mae gives ouch a sound, rojrciAinq mighed ',V. In
Itheninstic and Nervous they set like a charm. To
hingers they are invaluable for clearing and Ott.',, dthen•
ing am voice. They don't taste like medicine. by
ad medicine vendors at la ljd and ds II tar box.—
CAUTlON,—tvery box of the genuine metheiu, 1,, the
words •• Dr. Locock's Wafers "in white letters i,H. red
ground in the tiovernment Stamp onside, without which
words, all are counterfeits.

SIMPeIaWS CATTLIS SPICE.—This *masoning powder, to
sprinkle amongst the food for horses, cows, calve.,
fatting cattle, sheep, pig., and poultry, la the first article
ever sold as Cattde Spice," inn ten time. stronger Mae
any imitation ; its wonderful etlects are proved all over
Use world. Sold retail in halfpenny packet., and 111,
penny packets, by grocers, drugglaur, and cum dealer.
every wnere, with the makers trade mark and signatures
—ktukan AND PA. RY Stank klesv.—A fair trl/11 is naked
for sithpsun's clipper Custard Flour, Egg k lour, and
Baking reeler-- torte I,EW lOtA most excelieLt srticler,
In large pet.r.y pa,ests, and eispenny hoses. Sold by
grocer., or g.ts , and ;,,,nfectloners, everywhere.—
thmeson and 'Mlle manufacturers) Chiswell-street,
London.

Mac WIN•Low a i MN,/ ATRUP NOR CHILDREN!
Slmuht elas)• b. used Children are cutting teeth.
it re1....v.:a ti,; ,ILL.; era at once, it produces natural
qui.. I s.tep ny C.,1ev11,4 from pain, cud tile little
Guertin sashes •• as hr.gni an • button,- It is vrffictly
harmless, ai..l very piensallt to taste, It ...Hies the
shad, it soft,iis the galas, al.ayn all pain, relieves wind,
regulates the Iv:peels, and is toe Lest known reined, for
dysentery and diarrhea, whether arising from tetthing
or other causes. Mrs. YbasuniwS Soothing Syrup is said
by thousands of Medielue Denlern in all parts of the
world at Is lid per bottle, and Millions of Mothers eau
testify to its virtae.—Menufactory, 4113, Oxford•street,
Louden.

IF Incite ARE ANY LAIILRA Who have DOI yet used the
tiLEFFIELD SEARCY!, they are respectfully h.dielted to
give it a thali and carefully follow out the direction.
printed on el ery package, and if this is done, they will
say, like the Queen's Lan...tress, it is the finest Start*
they ever used. Whoa you ask for ULKNIIALD STAMM
Bee that you get it, as mfr...r kmds are oatn substitute,
for the sake of extra profit. beware therefore of apex
soul imitation..