New-York tribune., 1900-10-28

there will be local elections throughout the
United Kingdom. There will be no lack of
politics during the next six months even If
Lord Salisbury has received his mandate from
the country for another six years lease of
power
The opening of this fresh series Of municipal
and county elections has enabled the Conserva-
tives TO make a partisan use OF their immense
majority in the metropolis. BY common con-
sent the two parties in London have recognized
during recent years the inexpediency Of mixing
Up local and national issues. IN the local cleo
ticns for the School Board and the County Coun-
ell the Conservatives have been content to be
known as A1oderates and the Liberals as Pro
greEsives and this change of names has pro-
NOTED cross-Voting between parties. The bulk
OF the Moderate vote has been Conservative and
the majority Of the Progressives have been Lib
erals but there has been a separation of local
from national politics. and Independent voters
have controlled the municipal contests. The
London Municipal Society has now intervened,
and the name Of Moderate is 10 be dropped in
favor Of Conservative in local contests This
implies a determination on the part of the Con-
servative political managers TO make as large
use as possible Of their party strength in the
elections for the School Board, Metropolitan
Borough Councils and County Council. They
have carried London for the Government by
heavy majorities in the Parliamentary elections.
They are now striving to maintain party dis
cipline in the local contests and 10 whip in all
the supporters Of Conservative or Liberal Union
isf candidates for Parliament. There will be no
more Moderates. The recruits Of Lord Sails
bury's and Mr.. Chamberains khaki canvass.
who ha I'VE been mustered in heavy battalions
during the last three weeks, will be kept to-
gether under the Conservative standard for the
local contests.
Loud protests against this new departure are
heard at once from the Liberal side. The Lib
erals in London are in minority. but the Pro
gressives have been enabled TO carry one local
election after another through cross-voting from
the Conservative side. They have nothing TO
gain and everything to lose by the fusion of ma
tonal and local politics. If the Conservatives
Of the metropolis can be induced TO vote soliGly
m the local contests they will be placed in un-
disputed possession Of all the strongholds of
power The School Board. the County Council
and the new Borough Councils. which are to
take the places Of the old time vestries. will be
Conservative bodies. and the party will be con-
solieated and strengthened for future contests
national and local. The Liberals and Pro
gressives perceive the helplessness Of minority
party, and are outspoken in their denunciation
Of these nav Conservative tactics. Not only
will the name Progressive" be retained as an
effective catchword for drawing in Independent
voters from the well drilled Conservative ranks
but there viii be passionate outcrfes against the
Americsnizatiou'' Of local politics in the par
tsan interest Of a national party. Lord Rose
bery has already been summoned 10 London to
rally the Progressive forces and to repel this in
Fssion Of a local field by the tacticians of the
Ministerial side
There can be TO controversy over the general
Proposition that outside Of the metropolis the
an Of local government has been mastered both
IA England and ir Scotland. Local government
q counties and in municipalities is the best in
'he world. with a maximum Of efficiency and
minimum of corruption and scandal. While
mere have been undue deliberation end lack Of
enterprise in the introduction Of electric power
u trsmways and light railways, there has been
Ooio and enlightened spirit in the adoption and
multiplication Of new municipal agencies and in
experiments with collectivism in various forms.
Oisssow, Dundee. Birmingham. Manchester,
liverpool. Bradford. Huddersfeld. Sheffield and
7sos are the model municipalities Of modern
1hes with efficiency in every branch Of the
PUBIC service and with an unmistakable trend
@Nard municipal ownership. which only with
lacuity can be differentiated from socialism.
Local government I'm the s1ires has been con-
ep with great success, as is attested by the
sHuiuon # the roads and the administration
e 'le poor laws in every section of England and
''isnd In London alone has local government
S9'eo an unmanageable problem, from lack OF
t~aiization and from the magnitude OF the
So OF population which constantly swarm
ana reswarming
O. remember that Mr.. Chamberlain, who was
o. pioneer Of the new municipal movement In
onited Kingdom, was led not long ago to