Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-04
BIG SPLIT IN
BRITISH PARTIES
Liberals and Laborites Draw
Wide Apart-Triumph of
the UnioniStS.
Special Cablegram to The Star.


LONDON. September 4-The most i'm
portant 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 a new phase, by the determined
effort which the labor representation COM
mittee is now making to capture the men,
bers Of the miners federation. who have
hitherto been characterized by their sturdy
independence.
The miners leaders are intensely op-
posed to utilization to the labor representa-
ton committee. They declare that body
was founded by socialists. is controlled by
a socialistic majority or. its executive COM
mittee and IL working insidiously toward
socialism. The Cockermouth election a
three-cornered fight resulting in the tr-
umph of the unionists, has greatly accen-
tuated all difficulties.
This great split was practically ofciaily
announced by the under secretary for the
colonies. who. although he occupied a mi
nor position in the government speaks in
public with the authority of minister of
the crown. He declared in speech at
Wimborne that no great party would put
up with such treat ment as the liberals had
received from the labor party, resulting In
the defeat of the liberal candidate at Cock
ermouth in three-cornered fight
I'VE cannot forget that every member
of the socialist party was returned by
thousands of liberal votes he said. ''If
some of these gentlemen so about handing
over liberal fortresseS to our Tory oppo-
nents, they cannot complain If liberal elect
ors In their own constituencies look about
for representatives of their own political
view.
When the labor representation commit
tee was formed 1t came to an agreement
with the liberal party wirepullers that its
candidates should not be opposed by off,
cal liberals II the local circumstances per-
n.'tted The arrarg' ment worked excel
lcEtly TO al. appearances, and thirty of the
labor representation committee candidates
we're returned at tic general election, as
wei. twenty CfErr labor members who
fought with The l,lr OF the official liberal
panty
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.. Kerr Har lie soon
showed that the aspirations of the pre-.
mier would receive very short shrift at his
hands.
The first quarrel arose as early as the
first week in March, when the labor men,
berS assaiied the postmaster general over
the appointment of a committee and car
rfed 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-
ing and flank attacks on the government
lowed.
Early in May the quarrel broke out
again when, over the appointment Of an
other committee. Mr.. Keir Hardie and Mr..
VIII Crooks led another attack on the
government and incidentally repudated
the twenty liberal-labor members and de-
clared that they alone were entitled to
speak for the working classes. On this
occasion the government was again forced
to divide against The socialists.
The trades Disputes bill has proved a
.const0Et source OF dispute between the
government ans! the labor members. The
government surr>nieIed the most vital
point IN The measure, and overrode such
influential members of the cabinet as Mr..
Asquith and Mr. Haldaine at the bidding
of Mr.. Keir Hardie. Quarrels have been
frequent 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.. Kerr 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.