New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-28

not De known until the Conservatives have
ralhed their forces for the county elections but
1he social revolution is disclosed by the records
VI ule successful Labor candidates. a cotton
spinner has captured Sir James Fergusson's seat
IN Manchester; a millhand has beaten Sir Err
nest Flower In Bradford prir ers have headed
the poll at Norwich Burnley Manchester and
Deptford; navy, who was once employed in
excavations for the Manchester Ship Canal is
member for Stoke Trent: a railway guard
has majority Of over seven thousand at New
castle-on Tyne. where Mr.. Morley once suffered
defeat. An obscure collier has distanced mine
owner; a cotton operative has vanquished Lord
Goschen's son at Bolton; a stonernasons son
and warehouse clerk have each won by
seven thousand FIVE hundred votes at Leicester
over Sir John Rolleston; a laster in a boot
factory has carried a Wolverhampton seat
against Sir Alfred Hickman: miners have been
victorious at Morpeth and IN Glamorganshire;
a furniture maker. who had begun life in
mineral water factory. triumphs at Leeds; and
men who have been carpenters, shipwrights
steelsmelters sailors. engineers mechanics, pit
men and even newsboys are sent to Parliament
in place Of university men, baronets with large
estates. shipowners, manufacturers, bankers and
the sons Of earls They may not be working at
their trades now. but they have sprung from the
toiIing millions, and their election in such num-
lack training for public life. They have made
their mark as trades union organizers: they
have presided over labor congresses; they have
brought about amalgamations and declarations
Of allied trades; they have been aldermen and
councillors in municipal politics; they have been
delegates 70 international arbitration and social
ist congresses: they have been experts in tech
meal education; they have conducted trades
union journals and written articles for the most
- nd mo q
speakers with fine talents for the management
OF men Some Of them are socialists, who have
been organizing professions Of the unemployed
and making violent speeches in Hyde Park ana
Trafalgar Square: but the majority are shrewd,
intelligent representatives. Of trades unionlsn'
who have trained themselves in the management
Of unions. declarations and analgamauons' ana
have acquired experience in a rough and strenu-
Gus school. These are the substitutes for the
wealthy Irnionist Commoners in the best club
in London"
trades union triumph has come when the
old Tories were looking for an indecisiVe con-
fict between Tariff Reform and Free Trade and
a transition period during which the LoeraA
government would be at the mercy of the irish
Nationalist. It is an amazing return for the
investment Of the shill1ngs and pennies or or
ganized labor. Yet since it is so large ana
promises TO be so remunerative, the changes eI-
feCTed in the social OrOer OF 6IlLSI AoliSioS az
likely 10 be permanent. Large as the Prime
Minister'S majority will probably be when the
elections are ended. it Will be unmanageable
The fourth party Will have its own whips and
act independently, for its members will be the
salaried representatives Of the trades unions
and will have legislative claims which the gov
eminent will have TO settle. II will be group
with a programme Of It's own, beginning with
revision Of the law OF combination as inter
preted by the House Of Lords and running on
with proposals for old age pensions, a salaried
House Of Commons. extension Of the principle
Of compensation for accidents TO all trades, and
many other advanced schemes. There must be
q measure for the working interests at each SEES
sion or the group will join the Nationalist in
the Opposition Hobbies: and when another gen
eraI election comes the number OF Labor can
didates will be doubled and the resources Of
trades unionisrn will be behind them. The work
ing millions in the United Kingdom have dis
covered in the present elections how they can
bring their power 10 bear in the conflicts be-
tween the two traditional parties They have
been masters for twenty years without knowing
It; and now at last they understand the re-
sources and power Of labor organization in poll
tics. Since the Reform Act OF 1882 Parliament
has represented middle class England. It has
suddenly become a more democratic body under
the control Of working England. Inf