New-York tribune., 1908-05-04
BAR TO SOCIALISM.
Conservatism of the English Work.
ing Masses.
London Ann 80

Trade un!onism had suddenly become =
itical force and Hyndrnan and other revoru-fo
lists predicted that within two years it wouI.
be transformed into q militant socialist ,a.
Extremists seemed to have justification FOR r.
extravagant hopes when the Labor party ..
months after the elections. affirmed az tbs IT,
conference it's faith IN socialism and its g,tlr,s
object. year passed and there was rsvv.'
OF old-fashioned trade union feeling q, -
congress IN Bath. Either because the rs.o.
members were more moderate and restrains4 =
the expression Of their views. or because D.,
lament and the country had ceased to be rtzs.
ened by their advanced opinions they cam.
be looked upon as a safer and more manar.s,,.
group than the Nationalists- Mr.. Kier Ha-..
did not feel at home among them ard M c.
sons vehement manner and IUrid declaraa.,.-
excited more criticism than commentator
The Labor members were yielding to N. -
nuences Of environment and becoming prsc-,.,,
politicians with a sobering sense OF personal =
sponsibility for their opinions and poI,ct,
Westminster IS a social leveller; members b.v.
a representative character and stand on ths,.
merits, and they are constantly rubbing azaf,,,
one another in the division Iobbies and srnot.,,
rooms. The new trade unionists after paytny
with socialist phrases and ideals for seaso,
showed signs OF reversion 70 their true STAN.
They gradually were rearranged IL two grouu.
more cautious and moderate than the othe-
and as they were brought into contact week ~
week with the old trade unionists and al
vanced Radicals the general trend OF opfro,
was downward rather than upward. Speechs,
were occasionally heard from their benches
which were avowedIy socfaIistic; they could a.
ways be depended upon TO jeer at sturdy Jotr
Burns as a renegade because he was a Cabins.
Minister. and 70 support extreme measures Hzs
the unemployed bill; but the general effect o.
continuous service at Westminster was 70 ss-
tablish their character as Labor members and
not as socialists
The Social Democrats do not conceal thef- ds-
appointment over what they consider a betrayzl
of principle At a conference in Nanchsster
they have turned against the Labor party and
declined 10 have anything 10 do with II. One
excited agitator after another denounced the
sluggishness and conservatism of the trais
union members Of Parliament, and proposals
for afiIfation with the more powerful o-ganizs-
ton were sccrnfulIy rejected The truth IS per-
ceived BY extremists that the Labor memners
instead of marching behind the socialist lead
ers are haItfng and turning back. and another
retreat is predicted il the miners Join the main
body o. trade unionIsts- IN place Of a crusads
against capitalism and property there IS c-ass
movement for promoting the ascendancy OF Or
ganized labor in the working world The So
cfaIists instead OF taking command % t-ads
unionism and whipping ir Liberalism are thrust
aside as irresponsible fanatics who are inca
pabIe Of directing the political forces IN ire
field and bringing about any practical results Il
legislation.
The independent Labor party. which IS -
leased from trade union domination. nay re-
vfve the hopes Of the militant socialists by o.
deri1g a fresh advance in policy toward s-o-
nonnic and Industrial reconstruction There .
however cumulative evidence that orsarlza1
labor IS more deeply interested IN working class
questions than in vapory theories about common
ownership Of land and capital and the abol1'1
Of rent interest and proArs- The Labor nam
hers have been long enough in Parliar1ent .
discover how they happen 70 be thare and hoT
they are likely To return af-er general election
Socialism did not force admission for them inn
Westminster. nor IS it in the way OF securing
their return either in this de-ade or the re4-
Trade unionism is the main resource, oecauss
the two main parties are conscious Of its pove,
and DISPOSED to form coalitions with II Ihers
ts so much of the oIdtime conservatism le1t y
trade uniOuism that the Labor members Is
they become habituated 70 Parliamentary lnll-
ences lose fervor for socialist Ideals ana aL7
content with representing the main body OF wage
Orparfzad IA hor pays fer the piper and soclalsn
is not entitled 70 call the tune The La0T
members entered Parliament as d-ean1ers, as'-
tators and deragogue= After two years N t,s
stately legislative halls they are worA'ns POI
ticfans. shreyvd enough to separate the11ST'''
from revolutionary firehrands and % upho-d IL
dignity of worksday England
one effect of Socialist reputation Of he LAIR
marry as unprcgressive and backSllding IS a
i,Dpr,veu,ent of its relations with Li5eraltsn
II the trade unfonists had been LETT 70 tn7E
selves there would not have been tHira can-
date in Northwest Manchester Ihelr l7ac'
perceivcd the advantage of having MI thu-O-
as the fr7ture arbfter between capital and la".
under obligations To- them. and were not iH---9 =
10 onrose mis- return to the Board of Trade I
Socialists interpcsed With a cand'cate O 90
own and conducted a noisy street corner -
xass for him as a victim of capitalism I1a-ll.-
I'm a railway accident while Mr. thnTe-ii-,
How'd ,;aorge and Mr.. Burns had become u7'''
ducks for the r7C1eyed class As CABINET HI
ters The coalition between Lioera-iS'i =
Labor may he strengthened by coarse 11'-.r -
against the government for offerl2S sus1-
confectionery 10 the working classes u" :.
LEGISLATION and against trade unloniS's a.
most dangerous enemies Of socialism l.
true that the working population ol 'A7 -,
dom is the most conservative and tae I787. -
lutionarv in Christendoun. there ought % Ue an.
coil against socialism when ii strikes VIZ rfs-
ton ferocity the Labor members ana '-'
eraI allies. - Vt z
When Tories and Liberals alike are Play = -.
fire for political effect the most .1,us L
sign of the times in England IS a 'e'c'-1- - sS
workers themselves against So, - - .. +
trerae type After the general eiec'l'S .1s-
cialists cracked the whip and drove - '' as z
members at a furious pace. but ''7S -. IL