The San Francisco call., 1904-04-09

Late aovfces from Sydney, Australia,
by the Oceanic liner Ventura do not
show the fullest realization of the
promises Of prosperity Of some months
ago. While the soil, aided by the rains.
has done its part toward making this
a, record crop year, the labor conditions
have been such as to leave q large
hiatus between the crops grown and
the harvest gathered.
Some sections. it is true, did well
and gathered maximum returns for Ia
Dor and money expended. But others
not so fortunately situated were COM
PEELED TO see the ripe grain and fruits
fall TO the ground and spoil for lack
Of hands TO save. Yet, at the same
time. on March s a deputation repre-
senting 1000 unemployed workingmen
OF Sydney and vicinity, mostly labor
ers, called on the acting Premier Of
the Commonwealth, Mr.. Wise, to ask
that the Federal Government take
some steps to provide work for them.
The press generally is inclined to lay
the blame for the unsettled and un-
promising condition Of affairs on the
timid policy and action Of the Federal
Ministry and on the supineness Of we'll
to-do and employing class Of voters
who neglected their duties as citizens
and electors in permitting undesirable
men TO be nominated and in staying
away from the polls on election day.
And they are not very sanguine as
TO relief at the hands of the Parlia-
ment now in session.
COLORS NAILED TO MAST.
In an editorial March l the Sydney
Morning Herald said:
The second Federal Parliament meets in Mel
bourne for steps preliminary 10 the dispatch
OF business tomorrow, but what course the
Government intends TO pursue. or whether II
will be permitted 10 manage the business OF
I Parliament or not. are questions that must re
unable 10 tell anything definite: All that
the public is able TO learn Is embodied IN the
statement telegraphed from Melbourne .s 70 our our
party is TO mark the introduction OF early
/ bills" One OF them is the arbitration bill, on
! which the Government is TO be directly chal-
which Ministers have nailed their colors 70
/ the mast They cannot now haul them Gown
/ by bringing civil servants within the scope Of
the arbitration bill without taking down the
No Parliament ever met in Australia under
such cloud of uncertainty. Ministers even
shrink from making public the usual forecast
OF the Governor General. They are unwilling
{ TO discount in any way. by giving occasion for
! comment beforehand the chances OF the nrsi
shuttle OF the Parliamentary cards. They have
I good reason TO fear the future, because IL means
for them reaping of the harvest they and
/ their predecessors in office sowed in the hrsi
Z Federal Parliament They then set federalism
aside for party and protectionist ends, sacri-
hong the prestige which the Federal leader
] ship gave them. To make good the ground lost
/ By this mistaken piece OF tactics they enlisted
/ the aid Cf the labor party. Now the Labor
I party is on the point of eXactlng Its price
] That intention has been 50 plainly stated thai
/ II can only be receded from at the risk OF I'M
! plying some secret and TO that extent danger
/ Gus compact between Mr.. Watson and Mr.
I Deakin. The only other alternative Is such 2
I coalition between the friends OF the Govern
ment and ma ajority rule on both sides OF IN.
House as will enable legislation TO be carried
Z on without labor dictation. There are no signs
/ that such coalition is possible. The state OF
! Parliament is chaos. one Of the consequence
/ OF this state OF things is that there Is already
Z talk OF changes Of Ministers and the Possibility
! OF an early dissolution and another genera
Z election But even that would be preiera pc
4 10 the continuance of the present minority rule
/ with the prospects of results which Parliament
I must sooner or later set itself TO rectfy under
circumstances which will make that necessary
task more difficult than II would be II the
nettIe were grasped firmly at once.