New-York tribune., 1906-12-30
creasing IN number, are as worthy OF citation
and consideration as those OF success
THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.

The great southern commonwealth mas at
tanned such Interesting eminence as the tneatre
Of all manner Of political experiments thal
general election for its Federal Parliament Is
TO be regarded as Of much more than passing
! moment even to the alien observer. Particu-
larly is such the case when as in this month 8
contest the fundamental principles OF the
various parties are at issue, and there Is op-
portunity of indicating or perceiving what
progress II any, has been made by any OF them
during period Of agitation and fux. The Par
lament which has just been elected Is only the
third In the history Of the commonwealth Its
predecessor the second, in its checkered career
approximated so much to Chaos and Old Night
that 1t really seemed time this month for light
TO appear and for Cosmos to be organized
That second House Of Representatives began
its career almost equally divided among three
parties. The Protectionists, led by Mr.. Deakin,
were 20; the Free Traders, under Mr.. Reid.
were %; the Labor men, under Mr.. Watson,
were 25, and the Speaker completed the total
roll Of 70. Mr.. Deakin was at first Prime Min
lister. Then his party split and he was sue
ceeded by Mr.. Watson with the first Labor
party ministry Australia has had He in turn
gave way to Mr.. Reid, who at last surren-
dered office to Mr.. Deakin again. At the end Of
the last session Mr.. Deakln was holding office
on sufferance. with not more than 19 support
ers while Mr.. Reid had 81 followers and Mr..
Watson had 25
In the late campaign Mr.. Deakin and his
party, Liberals and Protectionists, raised the
cry of Australia for Australians, and Austria
lians for Australia" contending for a protec-
tive tariff system with preferential rates for
British goods and for a progressive programme
of constructive legislation. Mr.. Reid and the
Conservative Free Traders contented themselves
with the cry Socialism, that Is the enemy!"
Wi ar oil oiti
should unite to crush the rising power of the
Labor party. The Labor party under Mr.. Wat
son put forward the most elaborate platform
Of all. demanding the exclusion of all but white
immigrants. the naturalization of ali "monop-
oles"-meaning pretty much all great industries
old age pensions, tariff referendum, q progress
sive tax on unlmproved land values, restriction
of public borrowing and other more or less So
cialistic ideals.
After spirited triangular campaign the two
million electors, women as well as men, went
TO the polls on December II TO designate their
choice of new Parliament The result In the
House Of Representatives was TO leave mat
tiers very much as they were before The Min
isterfalists, or Liberal Protectonists, under Mr.
Deakin, elected Is members, against 10 In the
former House. The Anti-SociaIists or Conserv-
ative Free Traders under Mr. Reid, elected 81
as before. The Labor men, or Socialists. led by
Mr. Watson, elected e. q gain of one. On
the tariff issue pure and simple the new House
probably stands 40 Protectionists to 2e Free
Traders, since some of Mr.. Reid's followers
are really Protectionists and follow him on only
the anttsocialst issue Locally there were
some changes. Thus the Labor party lost three
seats TO the Anti Socialists In Queensland while
the Anti-Socialists lost three to the Labor men
In New South Wales. But, on the whole, there
Is no significant change In federal politics The
new ministry, however formed, Will have to
be supported by more or less unstable COM
blnation. and will probably be little more than
a Ministry of Caretakers," such as was the
last The real and decisive struggle for politi
cal dominance In the commonwealth Is post
poned 70 another election.