New-York tribune., 1906-07-07
ENGLISH DEMOCRACY.
o5e Prime Minister the Necessary
1eqder IN Conflict scith Lords.
London. June q.

,sDt Parliament, Win atS ADVANCED Raalcal-
sDa increased representation Of the work.
- masses. The new members have made it
y S7or, the opening OF the session that they
-. boen sent to Westminster 70 work rather
- - talk. The Labor group. which had been
-. -,.oa 70 talk out every debate. has acted
.- .olf-restraint and moderation. Mr.. Keir
-. e a most astute leader, who knows how
s.sse work among his followers and TO en-
o,,erv one TO the best advantage. Not
80 than one Labor member speaks in a debate,
=. ,.toever the man may be he has special quail
."..,one for the task and ordinarily is master of
=. ..,biect from the trades union point OF view.
= .or,roittee work and in other details OF legis-
,.,on the right representative OF organized
,-tor ts where he can make himself most use
-, and the discipline OF the group is perfect.
-TT,b so much efficiency at the end OF the line,
- Ioouacity and disorder were looked for,
-. main body of government supporters is well
o-vanized and businesslike. The majority is so
,.rge that there can be no excuse for waste of
.,ne and neglect Of work, and ministers are act
.,g with determination and an adequate sense OF
-.enonsbility. Closure has been adopted in
move drastic form than has ever been known
:, Westminster; steady progress has been made
-ri,h the Education bill without the suspension
n other legislative business. and the Prime
minister has foreshadowed autumn sessions and
,,ore complete control Of working hours as
necessary reforms. AS sturdy John Burns has
declared at Manchester, there is an active ad-
rlnistration in every branch Of the public SER
,ioe with a vigorous, progressive policy in Par
lament.
There must be 4 working Parliament when
o1e-fourth Of the members poor men and
at least one in every group of ten members has
fsgun life With little education and earned his
bread by manual toll. Never have there been so
few idlers in the Commons. Never have there
been so many legislative projects with compact
,naiorities behind them. An autumn session be-
comes inevitable when there is a spirit Of un-
tagging industry among the members and so
much work remains unfinished. At the present
moment the Education bill. establishing public
control over all schools supported by ratepayers
g gradually passing through committee under
high pressure Of closure; and behind It is series
NJ important measures abolishing plural voting.
extending virtually TO all workers the benefits
Of compensation from employers for accidents,
releasing trades unions from the disabling effects
Of judge-nlade law, and reforming the conditions
Of land tenure. So formidable a list of contro-
eersial measures is a proof that the House Of
Commons with two-thirds Of its members pro-
eressve Liberals Of democratic instincts, is de-
fermined 10 carry out the will Of the country
sfter q long period Of inaction in legislation.
There will be an autumn session this year, and
probably one every year while the present gov
ernment remains in power: and arrears Of work
viii be cleared away, even if the traditions and
habits Of Parliament are abandoned and the
lsured class Of legislators in the upper house is
ssriously inconvenienced and forced to relinquish
The pleasures Of country house life and foreign
travel. The Prime Minister has asserted that
autumn sessions, with a long holiday at Christ
mas and an earlier meeting for continuous work
until the middle Of July, more important
than changes Of procedure. More time is needed
for doing the work which the country urgently
requires and II viii be taken when the House OF
Commons is fired. as at present, with zeal and
enthusiasm for business.
The Lords. who Go not share this frenzy for
sork. can easily block the wheels and wreck
most Of this legislation VIII they venture to
DO il? They have already reminded the govern
merit Of their power by rejecting an amendment
70 the Aliens act prohibiting the importation Of
foreign blacklegs under contract Is this a
warning that they will defy the Commons by
mutiating or smashing the Education, Trades
Disputes. Plural Voting, Workmens Compensa-
fion and Land Tenure measures? Mr.. Winston
Churchill evidently thinks so. for at the Man
chester mass meeting he cautioned them to be-
ware Of the democratic steam roller which
worked steadily on its course. grinding all the
Foughness out into smooth. broad path along
which the millions Of mankind were marching to
peace and progress" The chief Liberal journals
share his view, for they are reviving the ques-
uon Of ending or mending the House Of Lords.
and arguing in a nenacng way that It will be
easier and safer 70 abolish the upper chamber
man 70 deprive it Of the veto power. Aggressive
Is these declarations are it is not probable that
t1her the Lords the country will be fright
sheo by this stage thunder. The Lords threw
OUT the Home Rule bill when the country had
tfned lower house with mandate for passing
Ashd their influence and prestige were not i'm
Pared by 50 direct challenge TO the general
esctoEate- The series Of measures now before
me Commons attacks the vested interests Of
which the Lords as capitalists, landlords, en-
lloyers and privileged patrons of religion are
u1e Natural champions. They may not reject
.'em outright but they are likely to amend, en-
.seoie and mangle them more or less. Probably
my VIII not venture to resist the popular will
.'0 Auenacusly so soon after a general cleo
N0h' nor, or the other hand will the Liberal
government raise prematurely the issue OF limit
'As o. abolishing the functions Of the upper
house. ana appeal to the country on it. Not until
ne resources Of compromise have been ex-
-.~ustec VIII there be an open conflict between
me TWO houses Of Parliament, and the emer-
ssney is not 70 be expected either this year or
ihe next
-1ul1illn sessions. however. win provide prac
"a. 'est q the sincerity and staying power Of
isIealtary legislators Ordinarily their func-
'-'iS are delegated TO a small group assembling |
q ieisurely way for a somnOlent sitting of
-'- an hour, CT even less. and exchanging COM
III a conversational key. 1t is only at
t'' ciose Of a session. when a few government
- a. nave been forced through committee, that
80, 80 nave more serious employment than ger