The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-11-21
Labor Party Presents a Prob
lem
FIGHT SHORT AND SHARP
Legislation Demanded to Offset the De
eision That Trade Unions Can
not Help with Their
Funds.

London, Nov 81 With the delivery
Of Premier Asquiths speech declaring the
policy Of the government, following as
it did Mr. Balfours outline Of the union
list policy early last week, the two par
ties in the political contest in Great
Britain have laid their cards on the Ia
bic. The fight will be short and sharp
and from the attitude Of the politicians
wlro already have taken the platform
as bitter as it win be short. When the
failure Of the veto conference was an
nomced all signs favored the government
candidates just fresh from their successes
in the bye.electious Good trade returns
increased the popularity Of free trade,
while the unionists, disorganized, hao
apparently lost heart. Some OF their
newspapers even predicted their defeat
should an election ensue. The approach
Of the dissolution Of Parliament, how
ever, restored their confidence, and all
though a section OF the party which
few weeks ago advocated federal home
rule, is finding il awkward to recant, the
ranks generally have been re-formed
The reform Of the House Of Lords is
naturally the foremost question on which
the election viii be fought, A number
OF unionists made up of old tories are UNI
willing to accept Mr. Baulfour's scheme
particularly objecting to the elimination
OF the hereditary principle, but the intlu-
ence Of the men who comprise this sec
ton will have little effect. A plank of
Importance in the mionist platform IL
opposition to home rule and ''the use of
American dollars TO destroy the British
constitution" The latter cry has lost
some force through the publication Of
statement that only the sum of $4,000
was collected by the Irish leaders, ono
third of which came from Canada, the
subscription list in that country being
headed by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the pre-.
mier. The unionists opened their tariff
reform campaign in the manufacturing
districts when the crisis was reached and
hoped to be given time to make apprecia-
bic inroads on the liberal strongholds
Dissolution interviewed and improved
business conditions followed. which tend.
The liberals are full OF confidence in
their policy for the abolition of the veto
power of the House of Lords, free trade
and the success of the governments So
eial legislation, They have an awk-
ward problem to face in seeking solu-
ton of conditions arising from the 0s-
borne judgment which prohibits trade
unions from using their funds to support
the labor party The labor members
OF the House OF Commons are demand
ing that legislation be enacted 10 over
come this Judgment, and Mr., Asquith
has promised to announce the govern
meut's policy on the matter this week
The Judgment has had the effect Of re-
dueing the number of labor candidates,
thus avoiding three-cornered contests, in
which the liberals lost dozen seats last
January.
It is expected that the elections win
be concluded by December Is. The Dor
oughs including London win poll between
December 3 and s; the district boroughs
between December 7 and IL, and the
counties between December and IL.
The peers in the coming election will
have an advantage not accorded since
the days of the "long Parliament" The
resolution declaring it an infringement
on the liberties of the Commons for +
peer or a prelate to concern himself IN
the election of the members was not
renewed at this Parliament. The suf
fragettes are well provided with funds
for the elections, but the public has lost
curiosity in their actions.