The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-02-04

the result that never has any election
so completely swept the board OF one
party as the polling results OF the last
week. Since last Saturday the Censerv-
alive party has had reverses which have
rarely been experienced in political MS
tory. Minister after minister has fallen
under the overwhelming forces OF LIB
eraI opinion. and finally Mr.. Balfour has
lost his seat. No stronger or louder eX-
preston could have been given by the
country as 10 their opinion on the pro
posals which Mr.. Chamberlain imagined
would be the great election trump caro-.
and yet Mr.. Chamberlain dares 10 say
that he does not take the decision Of
the country on this question as final
The feature. however. OF the last cleo
ton is unquestionably the new Labor
party. What will it ask as the price OF
It's vote? What is its immediate and
practical program? Primarily of course
the unemployed question.
II will demand the alteration OF the
law that disfranehises a voter because
in times OF exceptional distress he ac-
cepts temporary work at the hands of
the guardians. Thousands OF men in
London alone have lost their votes dur
ing the past year through receiving the
aid Of the parish.
II will also demand the provision Of
meals for school children at public ex-
pcnse, a revision Of the regulations with
regard 10 the rights of strikers. and an
eight-hour days labor on government
work.
OF course the dream of the party may
extend much further, but these are the
Nd II
Keir Hardie might desire a universal
compulsory forty-eight hour week and
a minimum wage, but for the most part
the labor people are far too intent on
obtaining something tangible and imme-
diate TO be led away by dreams which
cannot at present be realized.
There is. however. at this moment
danger which is no fancied one with
regard TO the doing of this third party.
II these measures are TO be secured. it
will be necessary that there should be
a strong cohesion between Liberalism
and Labor. and yet during the last cleo
ton. in several Instances a Labor can
didate has been run against Liberal
candidate with disastrous effect to both.
fer on almost every occasion 1t mas
meant the success of a Conservative,
and one of the only ministers OF the
late government who has obtained a
seat IN parliament owes that seat not
to the opinion of his constituency. but
to the accident of the split vote, which
should never have occurred
During this contest. however. in which
/ was specially interested. as my son
stood as Liberal candidate. there was
one notable feature. and that was that.
for the first time. George Meredith en-
tered the field of politics and wrote the
following letter TO my son:
We view a stormy sea of the disruD-
ton OF parties. and Conservatives win
as promptly as Liberals perceive that
the mover of this turbulent state is the
life OF it. His supporters as a fighting
body are swallowed up in his person
Joseph Chamberlain was once a light
of the Radical ranks: he is now enrolled
among the Tories. He was a free trad
er; he has become a protectionist. and
he has been thoughtlessly called a rem
egade. He is merely a man of ire
mendous energy acting upon one idea.
Formerly il was the Radical and free
trade; now it is the Tory and protec-
ZIONIST idea. He is quite in earnest. alto
gether at the mercy of the idea ardmat-
ing him. You see 1t in his lear. long
head and adventurous nose. fden %
such a kind are dangerous to their
country. They are usually. as he is.
adreit debaters. persuasive speakers.
"Energized as he is by petrol within
TO drive. swift and defiant of opposition
TO a mark in view. Mr.. Chamberlain Is
one OF the motormen occasionally let
loose upon us to stir CONFUSION.
1.-The motorman OF HighbuFy is as
sured that he can persuade the working
man that by accepting tax on his loaf