New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-09
SOCIALISM, IN ENGLAND.

We print elsewhere in to-day's Tribune let
ter frcn a correspondent who describes himself
as IAN honest w0rkingman," concerning the re-
cent election Of Mr.. Grayson, an avowed Soclal-
ist, 10 the British House of Commons, and ask
ing especially whether according to our knoWl-
edge and belief the Importance OF the incioent
is being minInized by the opponents OF Social
ism or overestimated by the Socialists theIn-
selves.
We are somewhat surprised at the first halr
of the question, since we had regarded the op-
moments of Socialism not as minimizing but as
most decidedly exaggerating the matter. mus
one prominent English Liberal is reported TO
have exclaimed on hearing Of Mr. Graysons cleo
, ton, This means the guillotine IN IraIaiSar
Square," and some of the more eXcitaDle Unlon-
ist newspapers in England have been printing
broadsides about the menace OF Socialism
All of that seems to us much overstralned ana
uncaled for. The election of one or OF nrty
Socialists to the House of Commons does not or
would not mean the subverson of the brltlsh
constitution On the other hand. it seems to US
that the Socialists in some respects eXaggerate
the incident Thus Mr.. Grayson himself cries
exultingly that Socialism has got Its foot INTO
1.-The House of Commons, and its representative
lis free and unshackled by bonds and contracts.
"Maugre hell's battalions, things must move
{" The result is d pregnant event" Such
heroics are not unnatural on the day after elec-
ton, but it will not be easy to live up TO thein.
II is quite true, as our correspondent pOlhlS
out. that there are many Socialists in the par
liaments of Continental Europe. But they do
not control those countries, and we cannot per-
ceive that there is any prospect Of their con-
trolling them. Moreover, there have been for
years several Socialists In the British Parla-
ment about as pronounced in their views as MI.
Grayson, and differing from him only III not
being elected nominaIly and avowedly as Social
lists The significance of Mr.. Graysons elecuon
is TO our mind, that for the first time Social
list has been elected to Parliament as a SOCIAL
list, and we expect that the result VIII Do that
others will follow his example, and instead OF
getting in and sitting as Advanced Radicals
or "Laborites" or what not else, they VIII
frankly ayow themselves to be Socialists and
will form distinctly Socialist party in the
House y. do not expect that party TO secure
a majority Of the House, though it IS possible
that, as the Irish NatiOnalists have occasionally
done. II may hold the balance Of power between
the two great parties. But the formation and
naming of il will be a gain for definite party
alignment and for accurate designation
1t does not seem to us that Mr.. Graysons
election Indicates any considerable rising tide"
Of Socialism in England Colne Valley is one
of the most purely Industrial constituencies IN
the kingdom The labor uniORS-whch. rs our
correspondent rightly surmises. gaze their sup
port 10 this Socialist candidate-are about as
powerful there as anywhere. Yet n such a
place and with candidate Of exceptional per
sonal charm and power. what was the result OF
the polling? The combined Socialist and Labor
Union candidate polled only a trihe more than
one-third-to be exact, $40 per cent-of the
vote. Out Of 1920 votes he had 3,54S, the Lib
eral candidate had 1896 and the Unlonist candi-
date had 1927. On a second ballot requiring q
clear majority, as under the French and German
systems Mr.. Grayson would almost certainly
have been defeated. While, therefore, the Incl
dent is highly interesting and not devoid of In
trinsic Importance, we can scarcely regard 1t as
"a complete and epoch making victory" for the
enemies Of capitalism" or for any one else.