The sun., 1907-11-03
NOT A UVlONRST TRIUMPH
FRIDAYS ENGLISH ELECTIONS
gHOW LIBERAL DESSENSEON.
snclaIlstS Wade strong showing and Are
n Danger 90 De RouAG0nod wHah h-RaM-
uay Employees BluanmG-RlshOD %
IOutiWn ON HIS Tour --NlnacaEnl Banks.
speeiaI Cable Despatch 90 TINE sun.

I0ndOn On HIS Tour --Mascagnl BafIkn.
spseial Cable Despatcs % TINE Sun.
LoyDoN, Nov. 2-There lie great Unionist
h,bilation throughout the country over
the so-oalled rout Of the Socialists in
yesterday g municipal election. There never
vas a greater misnomer for the result of
national polling and no broad minded
Gnglish politician is deceived by it. least
lof all the leaders Of the UniOnist party.
What has happened or is happening ia
IA complete change in the political COM
plexion of the British electorate. Every
form Of radiCalsm in Britain until within
the last year has been included under
the banner Of the Liberal party. This
loose grouping has now fallen apart. as
was inevitable after the overwhelming
victory IN the last general election.
The secession OF the Laborites was ex-
pected, but the change which has actually
taken place is Of far greater significance.
Socialism pure and simple began a wide
spread propaganda about year ago and
its effects are for the first time manifest in
the result of yesterdays election.
Ire work has pretended to be non
political. Its doctrines have been preached
10 churches. school house meetings, open
air assemblies and in every possible guise
and on every possible occasion. So active
have been it's disciples that there are now
an average OF 1.5OO meetings held weekly
throughout the country.
So-called non-politioal organizations have
been formed everywhere. There are scores
NJ these in London alone with membership
Of from 100 to 1000 each which did
not exist q year ago. The leaders ignore
or repudiate the mistakes OF municipal
ownership which caused the overwhelm-
ing defeat OF the progressive party in Lon
don and other cities last spring. Those
mistakes were accounted for by saying
that they were made by amateur or un-
practical imitatOrs Of real socialist prin-
Oiples. The doctrine Of the new agitators
10 the simon pure article. which they easily
induce the half educated GLASSES TO be-
lieve will bring the social and political
millennium.
They nominated candidates for the first
time in England in the local campaign which
was closed yesterday. The wonder 10 that
they elected anybody, for certainly they
did not expect 10 do so. They actually,
captured six seats in various places. They
succeeded, besides. in changing the whole
complexion Of the municipal bodies. They
split in halves the anti Unionist vote Of
the country. The result was great Union
let triumph. although the successful Union
st candidates in most cases received con-
siderably short OF a majority Of the votes
asst. The emptiness Of the Unionist sue
sess thus becomes apparent.
Il by no means follows that socialism is
destined to capture England. On the con-
trary, an opposite prophecy is safe. One
thing it does signify. however, and this is
that the political situation in this country
has entirely changed. Socialism is to be-
come great national issue.
The leaders OF both the old parties realize
this fully. Lord BaIFour proclaimed it in
|, his appeal a few weeks ago when he called
on citizens of all parties TO organize to
meet it. The machinery of both the Union
ist and the Liberal parties is in a condition
of Generalization and disintegration.
There is no real leadership on either side.
The question of the hour is whether the
leaders and rank and file sufficiently under
stand the emergency to be willing to
abandon old party lines and reOrganize
to meet the grave issue which the country
must face sooner or later.
There il less hope Of this az present in
conservative England than there would be
in alert America. The average English
man Is not one TO foresee political danger.
hut he is more alive than usual TO this
emergency No British political situation
ever possessed more worldwide interest
than this, and it's development will COM
mand as much attention in other lands
a. in this.
RAILWAY STRIKE OUTLOOK.
- ha haliaf ara pnt dia-
closed, but the impression prevails that a
general railway strike in Great Britain will
be averted The situation upon its face
seemed hopeless yesterday. The mems
Society voted by an immense majority to
strike If the companies refused recognition
Of their organization. The reply Of the
combined railway boards was an une-
duivocsl refusal
Mr. David Lloyd-(ieoTSe. president Of
\ the Board of Trade, has been laboring
zesously with the companies TO gain some
concessions. but the railway managers
adhere 10 their resolutions They do not
want a strike. but they prefer one to
surrendering control of their employees.
The mems leaders, on the other hand,
have been playing a game that IL largely
one OF bluff Their membership includes
Mouly bne-QudTJer OF the aCJuAA ctpiOyoeo'
and there can be little doubt that the strike
would be failure, although it would cause
great embarrassment and damage to trade.
Moreover. the railroads during the months
the strike has been pending have made
n every preparation for an emergency. t
VI Is obvious in this situation that the mems
leaders are looking for some avenue OF
escape from their dilemma, and this really
what Loyd-George is seeking 10 secure
sor them. The next few days will decide
the issue.
~ The annual shoe and leather fair at lshng-
bon will open ON Monday. There are two
noticeable features, the absence Of Ameri-
can exhibitors and the presence for the
Drst time Of extensive exhibits from Bel
gum, which is endeavoring to obtain
footing m the English market, particularly
m the cheaper lines. The American
SHAPE" said large city dealer to-day
that l., the boot built with a straight In
side, Is as popular as ever, but American
boots made of American leather do not
Eand The English climate, and as a result
me people will not buy Them
The total charge on the British exchequer
tor the years 1909 and 1907 for steamship
and railway subsidies is E596, ,275, which