New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-28
THE NEW PARLIAMENT
UNIONISTS SWEPT AWAY.
Clear Liberal Majority Of Over
Eighty-Labor'S Future.


from nine constituencies have not been received.
the general elections in the United Kingdom are
ended.
The government coalition will have approx
mately DO votes in the next Parliament. this
estimate including on the side Of Premier Sir
Henry Campbell-Bannerrnan the Nationalist
and Labor votes. with the concrete Unionist
minority Of 100 on the Opposition side
The issues in the campaign set forth by the
Liberals included expensive war for which
the people are still paying. a threatened raising
Of food prices. an unpopular educational system,
an unprecedented number of unemployed and
many other matters General dissatisfaction
with the ten years of Unionist power was shown
Sir Henry Campbell will enter the
new Parliament on February Is with the great
est majority ever given to English Premier
The Unionists-hereafter the Opposition-will
barely I'LL half OF the Left benches, while an
other notable fact is that many Of the most
notable Of the Unionist debaters will be absent
at least on the first day of the sitting, among
them the former Premier, Mr. Balfour. on the
other hand, the governments support win I'LL
its own allotted seats and overflow into the va
cant half Of the Opposition side where the Ma
tionaist and Independent Labor members will
also find places.
As a result OF the elections the political map
Of England shows tremendous change, and
II may safely be said that the incoming Of new
party TO power marks a complete upsetting Of
the old order Of things. for even the most paru-
san Of the Conservatives admit that the Liberal
government is in power for at least its full term
under the septennial act and that within the
next six years new names will be made and new
statesmen Will appear. while the Premier.
whether he stays in the House OF Commons or
goes to the House of Lords, has won a name
which will be handed down to posterity.
With such evidence as the country has given
Of opposition to the Unionists. who also were
pledged to carry out the foreign policy begun by
Lord Salisbury and Lord Lansdowne the Liberal
government feels confident that It will receive
wholehearted support for some time TO come or
until the minority is able to draw of sufficient
support to become an opposition strong enough
to be considered.
The composition Of the new Parliament, as
nearly as it is now possible TO tell. follows:
Liberals ......... s76NIationaIists. ........ "a
Unionists ...,...... 16OLaborites. .-......-. %
Thus it Will be seen that the Liberals have
majority over all Of eghty-two votes but such
a thing a a combination Of the entire force Of
Laborites and Nationalists against the govern
ment is hardly conceivable. On the contrary,
the Labor party members and Nationalist mem
bers may safely be counted on the governments
side on the main issues IN Parliament for some
time TO come.
1t should also be pointed out that the election
probably marks the end Of the old two-psrty
system. there now being four groups. of which
the Laborites are the most interesting. The
Labor party's development IN national politics
marks surprising change in sentiment IN the
country. Liberals are supporting Laborites and
Laborites supporting Liberals in most in
stances. In some quarters It is predicted that
the Labor party will become the great demo-
cratic party Of England. The fact that labor
felt its strength in this election is bound to
give impetus to the movement in the future
especially John Burns, the Labor party lead
er has been prominently seated IN the Cabinet
Mr.. Burns, II is generally conceded is certain TO
reflect credit upon his post and supporters, not
withstanding the vtrulent attacks made upon
him by the adherents Of the aristocratic regime
and the jealousy OF certain element among the
Laborites.
Some twenty-five members Of the Labor party
belong to what is known as Labor Representa-
tives." They are pledged to disregard the party
whips Of either side and to vote in accordance
with the wishes Of their constituents. So long
they follow instructions they are paid 81 900
each year by the Labor Representatives Com
mittee The other Labor members who are
unpedged. viii probably stand by the Liberal
side through thick and thin and on labor ques-
tons will have the support of some twenty or
thirty or the more radical Liberals.
The new Parliament opens a wide vista for
speculation on the possibility of combinations
The minority is homogeneous and the majority
heterogeneous, and the concrete minority is GER
tain TO endeavor TO secure the support Of sec
tions Of the majority. It is a fact that Joseph
Chamberlain has already outlined a plan for
the Unonist support Of labor on all trades union
proposals. Mr. Chamberlain IN a speech this
week nailed the colors Of protection to the mast,
and this and the fact that Mr. BaIfour has ac-
oepted a seat for the City Of London an es-
sentially tariff reform seat make It almost GER
tain that AIr Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain in
the future Will work hand and glove for tariff
reform on the Chamberlain lines.
It may be pointed out that the tariff reform
movement IN this election has not been without
its victories. The Chamberlain followers are
drawing much consolation from the fact that IN
several cases Unionist Free Traders were de-
feated by members of. the Chamberlain group.
Mr.. Chamberlain counts 100 Unionists. 40 La
borltes and 81 Nationalist on the question of
protection.
One thing is certain. that the Laborites will
take leading part at the coming sessions OF
Parliament. though it IS improbable that any
active opposition tactics viii develop IN the
first session.
The Nationalist, who expected TO hold the
balance Of power, are somewhat disappointed,
but political prophets DO not hesitate to say
that Home Rule for Ireland IN modified form is
actually in sight asserting that IT IS logical to
conclude, after Sir Henry CamDbell-Ba Banner
mans pledge relative TO the management Of
Irish domestic affairs for Ireland, that the ex-
pertinent of Irish Parliament subsidiary to
the Imperial Parliament VIII be tried within the
next two years.
A feature Of to-day's returns was the election
of Walter H. Long, former Chief Secretary for