New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13
IBY CABLE TO TEE tribune

THE RADICAL PROGRAMME.
IBr CABLE TO TEE IRIDuNE.i
cepyrtoat 1892: BIZ me Tribune AssOctation
London. March l2.-All kinds Of causes are
assigned for the overwhelming victory OF the
Progressives at the LONDON County Council eiec-
ton. The apathy of the classes Is one Inc
organs of the classes were of opinion on Monday
that there was 10 apathy. On Tuesday tney had
changed their views and put apathy IN the lore
front That is a good enough example OF the con-
fusion of mind which exists after great ro"',
The good organization of the frogresslNes "i'"
want of good organization among the Mooci"'ce
is ALLEGED as another cause, with no suncleht Iea-
son. What was wanting TO the Moderates was
not so much good organization as enthusiasm ana
leaders Their policy consisted mainly Oh ciiu-
csm. They had been minority III the last |oul-
Gil and could not do much except crl'icisc' 10
transfer this critical attitude 10 'nc arena vi
contested election was great mis'"he III "'O"O''
il nothing else They had no constructive ponoS'
nothing to enlist the activity of masses OF voters
nothing concrete and tangible with 'he pfoih''e
of that substantial benefit TO the individual voter
80 narticnlar class which seems more attrac-
two than anything else 10 community s'ni IL"
in municipal politics.
Anotber reason for the defeat OF the Modera'es
NAV be given They had too many Du"eS' i"e
league which entered upon the WORK OF m"lioip"i
r.form WAS a ducal league. 1t had too much inc
air of aiming. first of all TO pcfpe'na'c oi0
listing immunity of ducal landowners III Lo"uo''
from those municipal taxes which mere ~ ~ ''
name of rates. The rates are paid as p,e''S
much everything is paid, by tenants not oS i'h''
lords and tenants are after all human JULES
and have sympathies, and would be wiilihs u
allow landlords to bear their fair snare Vi '"'So
burdens But the landlords are not "iIllns' ""'
r. was asking much of the tenants u ION wv
10 vote for a landlord policy. Ana yeV 80 0N"CNo
~ ,ho whole condition of things at present tha'
Tho worry districts of London-the west Ehu' 20
neciollv-wbere tenants suffer most at inc hdlo'
- landlords are the districts where the Mo0eA-
ates won. Ill . ,opr ON
.,ror causes and come at once TO the chiel c"ueo
- oil The vote of last Saturday was tile uPii'
.nc q, tho working classes. The ProgresslNes Ia"
formed an alliance with the trades unions A"'S
had dane something for the waSe-eaIIlhe ''''"O"
In the past. and they had PROMISED hiu'" '''o,
for the future. They had shown theihs01'Io iN ,,
N adopt trade-upiOn views OF wages vi "''
tion # profits, and of employment, my
made a kind Of hero out or MI Johh Dui'
IL tellovyartisans seem willing 10 regard Dis .cii
renresentatiye when they can get no DEUEL. i''
Rad mt forth a Progressive programme, i"i' "
- dre.ms which, Us Mr.. Morley SAID, young
men dream, likely TO come true when 'n'
INN comes. but meantime well calculated 10 at
80 They ran labor candidates, Mr. john
Eurns AZ their head, and Battersea, undisfhaSeo
-, A. Rurnss vision of London COMMUNE
ni.cted him -triumphantly, just as Poplar eiecu'u
che McDougall, and Islington elected MI. ralhni-
son The discredit into which theSe io'' WV
gentlemen had fallen seems TO lave ehoeaieu '","
20 their constituencies, and they are ic'"i"'u ~
increased majorities TO the sphere 'nos
adorned. Other notable elections are 'l''o Va
Mfr Sidney Webb, the Socialist; oil MI Dcnii' ".'
Progressive whip, and of LORD hoSepeiS, VIM
now Benns honored colleague III EasU iio'"'
,r,,bere the artisan has come forward, ana
almost everywhere he mas put Ills irlehds anu
champions at the top of the poll Inc IrosIcsSi>e
majority during the last three years pau MAUI
many mistakes but they were not MISTAKES VI ."
kind which the London electorate cafeu 10 pul1iS"
The policy of Paul Pry with a dash oil ""O iSi'i
seems at present rather popular WIN 'hc e"''
and north and south OF TINS meToPoliT, o"'
on.rters whence this huge Progressive majority
Is drawn.
On much for the true cause OF the Progressive
victory There arc two other Interesting questions
First to what extent this victory OF m1hiclpaI
icasm The Radicals themselves think they are
stronger for it, that they will gain some seats AT
the general election, but not carry London, mean
ing by that ma jOrity of the London representa-
lives in Parliament The Municipal suffrage II one
thing the Parliamentary suffrage another. ms
Council election was fought avOwedly on political
grounds vet the Radical prophets, who are some
times clearsighted if not always Outsp0kcn, COLI
slider the issues too widely divergent to make l,
possible to argue from one to tie other FOR fc"-
sons given above and for others, many LOndoncrs
are Progrcssiyes in municipal affairs, but Conser-
NATIVES in Imperial affairs. Is snort, the influence
of this victory is helpful to Radicdlisn, out lar
from being decisive.
The second question Is, what viii the ProgIes-
siyes do with their victory, now that thcy nave
won it? They have already held caucus, hoh
mated officers and nominated candidates for the
ten Aldennanic vacancies, including two or thicc
Moderates They want Lord Roscbery as Chair
man. if they can get him. ] ought TO have named
Lord Roeebcry among the chief causes of Progress
sive success His services in the last Council, his
useful and brilliant career its presiding officer.
his speech at St. Jamcss Hall on the eve OF the
election his prestige and hi5 political position,
all were flung into the Progressive scale lie ought,
! think TO accept the responsibility Of his acts
and once more take the chair at Spring Gardens,
where he has almost always been, if not Mod
crate, modcrating force. lie has agreed to take
it Professionally or for few weeks during the re-
organization OF the Council. London, even Rad
ical London, would feel considerably safer II the
few weeks were prolonged into months or years
No other charOteer seems able to keep THIS unruly
team on a straight road. If Lord Rosebcry VIII
not serve permanently, Lord Darlington may prob
ably become Chairman very good ana capable
man, but Of more radical type
Most significant Of all the caucus acts Is the
choice of MIR. Ben Tillctt and two other strike
leaders as Aldermen Ii is distinct acknowledge
ment OF the Progressive debt TO the trade-unions
and to the wor!zingman in general
AS for the immediate future, the Council Is