The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-03-16
POLITICAL RESULTS
OF LABOR UNREST
One Seat Lost to Liberal Party
Owing to the Miners Pro-
tracted Strike.
The Government Still has Working
Majority of 114-Home Rule
Bill Going Forward.
lll-Reasoned Tactics of Suffragetts
Arouse Strong Opposition
to Movement.

The strike had it's first grave polit-
ical result in the crushing defeat OF
the liberal candidate in the Manches-
ter by-clection. The unpopularity Of
the insurance act played a prominent
part. hut the strike really was the
most potent force, says +. p. O'Con-
nor in his London cable of March to
the Chicago Tribune.
Anybody with any power of FORE
sight could have seen that the failure
OF the government to end the strike
meant tho loss of the seat. Popular
sympathy. which was general with the
miners at the beginning of the strug-
gle, vecrcd suddenly round when the
miners refused the offer of the gov
ernmcnt to pass a minimum wage bill
through parliament.
AS the paralysis of all the trade of
the country began to prevail and the
streets began to be lined with tens of
thousands OF working men from the
mills and entirely unassociated with
the struggle of the miners, the middle
classes became alarmed and, feeling
the pressure of one single class of
workmen on the throat of the nation,
began to believe chaos had been let
loose.
suffrasetts Create Alarm.
Though small In themselves, the
TO tho general alarm, suggesting the
idea that all restraint was gone and
that the government and country were
paraIyzcd. Manchester resolved under
such circumstances to give q strong
warning to tho government that order
must he restored and that If they
could not do 1t, others must take their
place.
The liberals already have somewhat
recovered from the first stupefaction
of Manchcster's defeat and the inside
story of the election reveals remark
able features which diminish it's seri-
ousness The election was not fought
on general politics at all, Home Rule
and tariff reform being scarcely men,
toned.
The election is now described as q
plebiscito on tho insurance act with
an emphatic verdict against it, but
here again tho constituency is of a
unique character. consisting largely OF
merchants clerks who dreaded losing
the sick leave generally given by the
employees. Tho doctors, almost to
man, are in revolt against the act.
The government, in spite of it's re-
cent losses, still has majority of ia
in the House of Commons and with
such q majority can calmly proceed
with the proposal of Home Rule and
the other items of it's program. All Of
the stories of the abandonment Of
Homo Rule or an early brcak-up Of
the government are ridiculous inven-
tions and in a week from now Man.
chester will be forgotten.
<AhIOh6 SIic 4lHpOI ltLlL IIdilSLOl AidSs
tions of opinion during the week is the
changed attitude toward the suffra.
gettes. Public opinion now is turning
violently against them and while, up
to the present, a crowd looked on
amused at their antics, an angry mob
tried to maui them during their last
performance and those female furies
who have been the most frantic enc
mics Of the police, who have struck
| and abused the police, had to appeal
for their protection against mob vio-
lence.
Similarly the government was driv-
en- at last to vigorous action. The ar
rest Of the leaders of the militant sec
ton, the seizure of their books and
their prosecution for the conspiracy
which may involve several years Of
penal servitude show that the last hour
of federation has come and now the
fight to the death.
Oppose Suffrage Movement.
The same transformation Of opinion
| is visible with the House of Commons
where the men, who were pledged to
support the suffragettes. now are op-s
emily abandoning them and it is doubt