New-York tribune., 1906-03-23
DEMOCRATIC lEAVEN,
Hoe 1t Is Working in England, but
Not IN the Whole Lump.
London. March II

London, March 10.
me democratic leaven is working. The House
OF commons by a large majority, has adopted
resolution in favor Of paying members $500
per annum, In order TO give all constituencies
equal free and unhampered selection Of repre-
sentatiVes. The Prime Minister has accepted
he principle of e salaried Commons in a demo-
cratic spirit. He has argued that the object
OF the whole system OF registration and suffra ge
Is 10 obtain a genuine and straightforward
representation Of the people and that there
cannot be absolute freedom Of choice so long
as candidates virtually required to answer
the question whether they have money enough
to meet expenses and to maintain themselves
while discharging their duties in the House of
Commons. He admits that the money impedi-
ment ought to be removed and that character.
ability and sound sense should be the only
requirements for representation. Having ex-
pressed cordial agreement with the principle
Of the resolution. he explains why the govern
ment cannot at once carry it into practice. It
is an administration committed to retrenchment
and reform, after a revel Of reckless and waste
full expenditures It is putting the screws on
every department of government. 80 as to re-
duce the burdens far as possible: and the
proposal TO increase national expenditures by
voting 100000 for members of Parliament is
inopportUne. The wary Prime Minister warns
to start out on q glorious career Of retrench-
ment and economy by paying salaries to them
selves; and the subject is deferred to a more
convenient season. The necessity for retrench-
ment promises TO become A most seryiceabIe
plea in justification of delay in carrying out
progressive principles
There have been similar debates IN the Com
mons this question of salaries for members
and motion was actually carried in the Home
Rule Parliament, but never before has the gov
ernment of the day been committed without re-
serve to the principle of relieving them from
money disabilities It is significant. moreover,
that the resolution should have been offered by
wealthy Liberal manufacturer, Mr. Lever. in
the interest Of workingmen as means Of Sc
curing equality OF opportunity for .politiceI ser
vice. It supported by two Labor members
on the ground that IT would promote purity
Of motive and enable every successful candidate
10 represent the interests of the country as a
whole. This the view expressed by Mr..
Vivian, Devoushire carpenter. who had taken
an active part in the London strike of the build
ing trades and interested himself in social and
political work at Hammersmth and Ealing;
and he was supported by Mr. John Ward. the
burly stalwart who began a strenuous career of
labor agitation as hard working NAVY
ship canal and recently described himself as
striving to keep large family alive on 30 shiI-
lings a week. The Nationasts would have re-
mained silent IL Sir Edward Clarke had not pro-
tested against the endowment of a "dsloyal
party" with f24.OOO a year, and Mr.. Redmond
himself with the bare assertion that
the Irish members satisfied with the sup
port received by voluntary contributions of their
own cOuntrymen. That enough to empha-
size the danger Of sectional representation With
paymasters outside the Commons. If the Ma
uonalists with a Parliamentary fund behind
them were reinforced by a Labor group SUPPORT
ed by trades union evies, there practical
demonstration Of the urgent need of salaries
for members. 1t was another section of Parlia-
ment responsible not to the nation nor to the
local constituencies, but to the trades unions
which were paying living expenses at Westmin-
ster. AS the Nationalist considered loyalty to
Ireland the supreme obligation, so also the Labor
members were in the way OF regarding them
selves as the hired agents Of the trades unions
rather than the representatives Of the people.
There have been many controversies in the
past between high-minded members Of Parlia-
ment and their constituencies over the inde-
pendence of representatives. There was a nota-
bic one between Burke and the electors Of Bris-
toI when he was brought 10 account for opinions
and convictions which they did not hold. He re-
pudiated with indignation the idea that he was
their delegate or creature and under obligation
10 sacrifice his mature judgment and enlight-
zned conscience to their Will and caprices. He
referred in a memorable speech to his convic-
-ions as a moral trust for which he was answer
,bIe to a higher tribunal than the hustngs. and
described himself with naughty pride, not as
The member for Bristol but a Member of
Parliament responsible to his own conscience.
Afacaulay. Bright and other eminent men had
zouaIlv high ideals of public duty and personal
and, notwithstanding the growth
y party feeling and the concentrated power of
the caucus. the best in politics, Ike Lord
Hugh Cecil have resisted strenuously the press
IRE Of public interests tending to degrade them
INTO legislative agents. The members right Of
,,ivate Judgment does not come up in the new
chase of trades union representation at West
Minister The local constituency falls into the
,sckground and the Labor Representation Com
1ittee is armed with separate and paramount
,,,bori+v. The salaried agents Of trades unions
and labor federations become the hired adyo-
,ates Of special interests. and the character Of
parliament as deliberate assembly OF the
United Kingdom Is seriously impaired.
The nayment OF salaries will be a safeguard
qainst a highly dangerous sectionalism. which
ytu set class interests In antagonism and estab
,sb nevy sources OF authority more tyrannical
han tba home constituency, the party organi-
alton or the political caucus. Parliament is
more efficient as well as democratic from the
Infusion OF fresh blood. but the trade unions
,ught not TO be the paymasters, 4 large
,roup Of members left dependent upon the Labor
Committee. Independence VIII |
De cheap at 100000 a year; and cautious LIB I
rails Ike aIr. Atherley- Jones and old fashioned
rories like Sir Edward Clarke would be more /
Iagacious observers Of the signs Of the times II
hey were to welcome rather than to obstruct