The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-25
SOCIALISM IN ENGLAND,
James Keir Hardie Declares
That 1t Is Capturing That
Country.
WORK OF THE LABOR PARTY
The Trend of Modern Thought
Leads Away From Old Forms
and Traditions.

James Keir' Hardie, until lately mem
Der OF the British House of Com
mons, reviewed the progress of So
cialism in England after his re-
turn yesterday from the Cliff and park.
He was evidently convinced of the ulti-
mate supremacy of the sociaistic move
ment In Great Britain, and made some
remarkable statements regarding the
change that has already come over mems
minds in the old country, a change point
ing 10 revolution of ideas upon govern
ment, taxation and the social fabric. He
said:
1t was through the single tax that I first got
to socialism. was a very enthusiastic single
taNer for a number of years, but never quite
satisfied myself with the defense OF interest in
Progress and Poverty" 1t equally with rent
was burden upon industry, and further,
whatever the ultimate idea may be, State
socialism is necessary as stage In the de-
yelopment of the ideal. So, little by little, 1
became socialist.
Congress in Glasgow, an informal meeting was
held of those delegates favorable to the founda-
ton OF an independent socialist party, and it
was agreed TO hold q conference of socialistic
societies then existing. The conference was
held in Bradford, January, 1898, when 121
delegates met. was i'll the chair The indie
pendent Labor party was formed. 1t grew with
amazing Tapidity, and at the next general
election we ran twenty-eight candidates in op-
position to both the old parties, polling over
$4,000 votes, about 1212 per cent of the cleo
torate in constituencies contested. None of
our men were returned.
1t has been asserted in the press at home and
here that the Independent Labor party has
been complete failure. Our reply is to point
TO the fact that the Liberal party has been
wiped out OF existence chiefly by our efforts
and as result OF our agitation.
Regarding the present status of socialism in
Great Britain the trades unions are somewhat
divided. As to what is called the new union
ism, which IS chiefly confined to unskilled
labor, Its mem berS are socialists to man.
There are 10000 to 200, 600 OF these men or
gained. In older unions 40 per cent of the
members are socialists. In MAY of this wear
the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, the
Oldest and wealthiest in Great Britain, elected
secretary and there was contest between a
socialist and an antl-soclalist. Our candidate
the sociaist-came within 200 votes out OF
10000 OF winning.
The Independent Labor party has 20, 900 pay
ing members and $50 clubs and branches all
over the country. Last year we sold over
100000 pamphlets. The movement sup
ports two newspapers and every week social
ism is preached in every town and hamlet.
The movement is not by any means confined
10 the working classes. l lecture twice year
TO students at oxford, where majority OF the
professors, including the head of the univer-
slty, Professor York Powell. are socialists. The
students have three socialist societies in the
university. Cambridge is also moving in the
same direction, and there are many aYoWed
socialists in the universities OF Edinburgh,
Glasgow ana Dublin. The treasurer OF the In
dependent Labor party is a landlord belonging
10 one OF the Oldest families in Yorkshire, John
Lister OF Shibden Hall, near Halifax Bust
ness men, manufacturers and large employers
OF labor belong to the party. To prevent any
misunderstanding l want to emphasize the
fact that each member OF the Independent La
Dor party is an avOwed socialist, and must
sign his declaration before being admitted
The prospect is very hopeful. We intend TO
run 300 candidates next election, and expect
we shall return number Of them. That will
be the real beginning of the socialist move
ment in Great Britain. Our platform is the
creation of an industrial commonwealth upon
the socialization of land and capital. Our labor
programme includes legal eight-hour day,
prohibition OF child labor, provision for its
sick and disabled and aged, and the national
iZatiOn OF railways.
I think the whole tendency of modern
thought in Great Britain is toward socialism
1t is rare thing to meet public man, say a
member OF Parliament, who does not cognize
that socialism is inevitable. Sir William Har-
court declared from his place in the House OF
Commons, 1--WE are all socialists now" En-
plOyers and employed alike find themselves in
the grip OF the COM eutive system from which
there seems no way of escape save by socialism.