Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-02
II Representation Committee Makes Bid
: for Votes at Present Independent.
QUARREL STARTS AFTER LATE ELECTION
Men Elected BY Practical Fusion Fail to
Work in Hsrmsny.
KIER HAsDlE HAS BEST OF THE CONTEST
Has So Far Compelled Government to
Come TO His Terms, but Next
Session May See
Change.

LONDON, Sept 1.-(Special Cablegram to
The Bee.)-The most important political
event Of the past few months is the split
between the liberals and the laborites. The
Independent labor party's quarrel with the
government has assumed new phase by
the determined effort which the labor rep
resentation committee is now making to
capture the members of the Miners fed
GRAFTON, who have hitherto been character
lied by their sturdy independence.
The miners leaders are intensely opposed
to efflliation to the labor representation
committee. They declare that body was
founded by socialists. is controlled by So
cialistio majority on its executive commit
tee and is working insidiously toward So
cialism. The Cockermouth election, a
three-cornered fight, resulting in the tri-
umph OF the unionist, has greatly accentu-
ated all difficulties.
The great split was practically officially
announced by the under secretary for the
colonies. who. although he occupied a minor
position in the government, speaks in pub
lie with the authority of minister Of the
crown. He declared in a speech at VIM
borne that no great party would put up
with such treatment as the liberals had re-
ceived from the labor party. resulting in
ermouth in three-cornered fight.
Liberals Vote for Socialists.
I'VE cannot forget that every member of
the socialist party was returned by thou
sands of liberal votes" he said. ''If some
of these gentlemen go about handing over
liberal fortresses to our Tory opponents
they cannot complain IL liberal electors In
their own constituencies look about for
representatives of their own political view"
When the labor representation commit
tee was formed It came to an agreement
with the liberal party wirepullers that its
candidates should not be opposed by Of
fetal liberals IL the local circumstances
permitted. The arrangement worked ex-
cellently to all appearances and thirty Of
the labor representation committee candi-
dates were returned at the general election
as well as twenty other labor members
who fought With the help of the Official
liberal party. -,,,. ,t,.
AS soon as Parliament sat the Inevitable
quarrel broke out.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman expected
the allegiance of the socialists. He was
sadly disappointed. Mr.. Keir Harde soon
showed that the aspirations Of the premier
would receive very short shift at his hands.
When quarrel began.
The first quarrel arose as early as the
first week In March, when the labor mem-
bers assailed the postmaster general over
the appointment Of a committee, and car
ried their protest to the length of voting
against the government in a division. The
government then capitulated and gave way
to the labor members. Constant bicker-
ings and flank attacks on the government
by Mr.. Keir Hardie and his followers fol-
lowed.
Early in May the quarrel broke out again
when, over the appointment of another
committee. Mr.. Keir Hardie and Mr.. VIII
Crooks led another attack on the govern
ment and incidentally repudiated the twenty
liberal labor members, and declared that
they alone were entitled to speak for the
working classes On this occasion the gov
ernment was again forced to divide against
the socialists.
The trades dispute bill has proved a con-
stant source of dispute between the gov
ernment and the labor members. The gov
ernment surrendered the most vital point
in the measure and overrode such infiu-
entail members of the cabinet as Mr.. AS
quith and Mr.. Haldane at the bidding of
Mr.. Keir Hardiee Quarrels have been fire.
quent ever since.
Parliament has broken up, leaving moth
ing but bitter feelings between the parties
1t is confidently predicted that the slight
support which the premier has received
from Mr.. Keir Hardie's followers will be
withdrawn when Parliament reassembles.
and that at every by-election the labor
representation committee will run candI-
dates against official liberals.