Evening star., 1907-11-03
SO-CALLED ROUT
OF THE SOCIALISTS
Result of British Election
Dubbed a Misnomer.
Special Cahlegram 20 The Star.


LONDON, November 2-There is great
unionist jubliation throughout the country
over the so-called 1out of the socialists in
yesterday S municipal election There
never was a greater misnomer for the re-
suit Of a national polling and no broad
minded English politician is deceived by
1t, least OF all the leaders of the unionist
party. What has happened there or is
happening is complete change IN the po-
iltical complexion OF the British electorate
Every form Of radicalsm in Britain until
within the past year has been included
under the banner of the Liberal party
ms loose grouping has now fallen apart.
as was inevitable after the overwhelming
victory in the last general election. The
desertion OF the laborites was expected.
but the change which has actually taken
place is of far greater significance.
Socialism, pure and simple, began a
widespread propa aganda about a year ago
and its effects was first manifested in
the result of yesterdays election. Its
work has pretended to be non-political.
Its doctrines have been preached in
churches, schoolhouse meetings, open-air
assemblies and in every possible guise
and on every possible occasion So active
nave oeen its disciples that there are now
an average of LOO meetings held weekly
throughout the country.
So-called non-pol.tical ORGANIZATIONS hava
been formed everywhere There are
scores OF these in London alone with a
membership of from 100 to 2.Gp each.
winch did not exist a year ago
Leaders Ignore Mistakes.
Inc leaders ignore or repudiate the mig
takes of municipal ownership, which
caused the overwhelming defeat Of the
progressive party in London and other
cities last spring. Those mistakes were
accounted for by saying that they were
made by amateur or impractical lm,tators
OF real socialist principles. Their doctrine
is the simon-pure article, which they
easily induce the half-educated classes ia
believe will bring the socia, and noljtical
millennium. They nominated cand,6atas
for the first time n England I, tba lo,.,
campaign winch was closed Yesterday
The wondsr is that they selected anv-
oody' lor certainly they did not expect 10
80 so. IhCy actua ly captured SIX seats
n various plic s. They did succeed bou
ever, In changing the whole cornnleyion -,
the municipal bodies Thev s,Iit In
iiaiVes the anc-unionst vote of the coun-
Try. Inc result was a great unionist TT
uhpn, although the successful unionist
/ ii
erably short of the majority of no ,,otea
cast. The emptiness of the unIonist slIc-
cess Just becomes appa rent 1t bv M
means lolloWs that socialism Is destined
to capture England
An Election Significance
on the contrary, an opposite prophecy
IS safe. One thing It does signify how
ever. and that is that the political s.tua-
ton IN this co. ltry has entirely changed.
Socialism Is to become a great national
issue. The leaders of both the old parties
realize this fully. Lord Baltour proclaimed
II In his appeal a few weeks ago when
he called on citizens of all parties to
organize to meet II. The machinery OF
both the unionist and the liberal parties
is in a condition of Decentralization and
disinte tegration There is no real leader
ship on either side.
The question of the hour is whether the
lea iers and rank and file sufficiently un-
derstand the emergency to be willing to
abandon old party lines and reorganizn to
meet the grave issue which the country
must face sooner or later. Tn re is less
nope of this at present in cons rVative
England than there would be in alert
America. The average Engiishman is not
more alive than usual to this emergency.
No British political situation ever pos
sesSed more world wide interest than this,
and its development will command
much attention in other lands IN this.
1t is obvious in the situation that the
mems leaders are looking for some ave
nue. of escape from their dilemma and
this really is what Lloyd George is seek
ing TO secure for them. The next few
days will decide the issue.