New-York tribune., 1906-10-27
SOCIALISM A PROBLEM
Tie Labor Party Upsettsng English
Politics.

,sun ana organized labor In the kingdom for Eng
u.,nsn snd Americans. Don't get eyc,tea
,,o,t I'll" exclaIns the easy going opportun,stz:
~-ske q for granted that trade unionists VIII
.. be duped by demasosues. nor a Liberal min
,x.rv be turned out by socialists; reason eentlv
..th half trained thinkers, go on with a rational
c,oeran.Ins OF social reform and be assured that
"a. principles of individual liberty will never be
scrifcsd in democratic England" There IS
much Of this good natured toIeration both in the
n,stforni and in the Liberal press. and it takes
the heart out Of oldtine champions OF organized
lsbor who are convinced that nothing is TO be
rstued by the organization of an independent
,srty committed to the vagaries and extrava-
rxuoes OF socialism Veterans like Mr. Bell and
NJ John wilson are anxious to throw down the
challenge 10 MI Hardie within the trade unions
and 20 make a strenuous Tight against socialism,
sf was done a decade ago. when Mr. John Burns
Lad & successful revolt against the new gospel of
ere liberation OF labor through the abolition of
n-,vste property and the naturalization Of all
,se resources of production, distribution and ex-
change. Tney receive scant encouragement
when influential Liberal journals condemn plain
talk about Mr. Hardie and his crude, uninteili-
ribIe ohimeras, and contend that there must be
no breach in the governments relations with this
unmanaeeable group Of visionary revolutionisss;
-or are their hands strengthened when Mr.. Win
ton Churchill proposes the second ballot as e
ss.eruard against extremists-an expedient that
has helped often as it has hindersd them In
F-snoe snd Germany, where it has been tried
When trade unionism began in England the
LADDERS were content with making labor orgaui-
zstion the chief resource OF the working world
Thsy had no idea OF equalizing the conditions Of
classes by the abolition Of poverty and the crea-
tcu OF common stock in lands, Industries and
Investments Lassaue, Blanc and Marx had in
duenctd the working masses in France and Ger
many; but no impression had been produced IN
sorkaoay England L not until Henry
Georges books were circulated by the thousand
among workers that an independent labor party
With sooislistio aims was possible; and soon
u It's leaders forced through the Trades Union
Congress q resolution IN favor Of the nationali-
nation OF land mines and industries they were
pus on their defence and routed Mr.. Keir Har-
die retired temporarily 70 the background. but
he did not abandon his principles. Connecting
himself with an uncompromising socialist or
gsn!zation- he continued to advocate indus
trial comm nonweaith. IN which the whole Of the
wealth produced by labor shall belong TO the
workers and IN which there should be neither
orerabundanoe nor poverty. The law lords in
the Taft Vale decision gave him an opportunity
for emerging once more as the leader Of the In
dependent Labor party. The revision OF the
fudge made law became the most urgent issue
q trade unionisn. and the labor representa-
ton committee the general STAFF OF the army OF
workers: and when the elections closed in Janu-
a-y he was the recognized chief OF that STAFF.
BY nlsssing their forces the trade unions had
co-operated with Liberalism in securing a new
law Of combination. This did not satisfy the
ambitious leader Of the Labor section. He was
ss aggressive socialist ever. and boldly pro-
claimed that the reorganization OF the Industrial
systern vas merely q detail Of trade union poll
tics With an independent labor party, ede-
oustely supported by the trade unions, any
thing might be done-even the conversion OF all
capitalized wealth into the working stock of the
masses,
Thirty OF Mr.. Hardie's followers in Parliament
Ue fully committed 10 his policy OF nationaiiza-
tan, and twenty more hesitating the
order lire Of oldttme trade union activities,
finding Il difficult TO resist the pressure behind
hem. In every representative gathering Of
vorldngmen il is 1uentIy advocated by agita-
tors the panacea for the economic Ills of the
tine. The cost Of this revolutionary process is
not reckoned, for they never carry slate and
pencil with them TO the platform, where their
chase Of phantorns IS conducted with ardent
enthusiasm. The AnaIgemated Society of Rail
way Servants has been seeking to drag it's
veteran organizer. Mr.. Bell. into the advanced
Socialist group; but while state purchase Of
railways is proclaimed the ultimate policy. |
nobody takes the trouble TO foot Up the col
unans in which the capital invested IN these !
enterprises IS recorded The ardor Of the So
cislists might be chilled IL any one were 10
prove from the Board OF Trade returns that at
least 5000 100000 would be needed for the
Naturalization OF existing railway lines in the
Kingdom. The Miners Federation at Swansea
mas been condemning a labor coalition with
1~E az--,,E Eos+1
naturalization Of the mines and mineral tracts
throughout Great Britain and Ireland. No
Delegate has ventured to compute the enormous
Sun which would be involved by this purchase
scheme. although a German syndicate has sup
PIED convenient data by investing good deal
y money in q Welsh coal tract II all the min
ing properties are acquired on equally high
terms there Will be & national investment much
!afger than the proposed railway purchase. and
low IS the scheme TO be financed in the money
market: VII not the interest be q perma nent !
'AeIge or the cost OF production. and what
eA}ectsuon can workers have Of proftng by
Aeir share in the common stock?@
Lana naturalization vas q scheme appalling
Il cost when Il was subjected in 1enry Georges
-'ne 10 Tie oonlTnonest tests of arithmetic. Sir
'oha Lsns made some interesting calculations
'eI FesB ago on the basis Of taxes for owners
arc occupiers in the Kingdom, and he found
mat over s. 600 100000 would be required for
1s'e ownership OF land and rentals; and that
e'olneT Investment Of $500 100000 would be
Aseesss-y II ircor.es then taxable were to be
OH'pehsated for and turned over TO the com
--'h STOCK FOR all classes Those estimates
1-e before the Boer War ana the general rise
."Ies throughout Great Britain. would have
- largely increased If similar calcula tions
&C TO" 70 lie repeated The 6ocialist-La Dor