New-York tribune., 1912-02-12
TO FORCE ASQU|TH'S HAND
Laborites May Ally with Irish to
Secure Legislation.
SOCIAlISTIC DOMINATION
Main Aim of Extremists Is to OBJ
tain Reversal of the Os-
borne Judgment.

London. Feb. ll.-Snce the Liberal party
returned TO power in 1905, and particularly
since II has depended for It's political life
on the support Of the Labor and National /.
ist parties, more legislation Of the kind
advocated by trade unions has been en-
acted than in any similar period in the
history Of the country. Sull, labor or at
least the independent Labor PARTY. which
is largely dominated by the Socialists, Is
not satisfied and has arranged a programme
which. as last years president OF the party.
Ben Turner admitted. contains eNpecta-
tions much greater than the possibilities.
Mr.. Turner said that the party had not
done all that Il should have done, tho
drawback lying in its lack OF numerical
strength. Its business now Is, he added.
10 make Itself the dominating. controlling,
guiding and ruling party Of the state
In the last few years the laborites have
seen enacted into acts OF Parliament the
trades disputes act, which permits peace
ful picketing during strikes; an act 10 pro-
,1de for tho feeding OF school children; the
coupensation act, which provides for the
paynnent OF persons injured while at work.
a fuller adoption of the fair trades resolu-
tion. which makes obligatory the payment
bv government contractors OF the union
rate ~ wages in force in the district where
tho work Is to ne done: an Improvement
In tho position OF the workers In IN" gov
crnment dockyards; the provision ot work
for the unemployed: the old age pensions
act; the payment Of members OF Parla-
nent. which relieves the trade unions ot
the payment of members who represent
their interests In the House OF Commons.
tho establishment Of labor bureaus, where
men and women IN search ~ work may
register and he supplied with Information
as To work cbtainable. and the Insurance
act against illness and unemployment
which. although falling 10 meet altogether
tho approval Of the trade unions. has been
accented with the understanding that an
effort vii be made TO improve II and 70
nossible Introduce A non -contrihutory sys-
tenn.
The Party Platform
For the immediate future the psrty's
plattorm contains planks looking ~ the
further improvement o. the conditions of
Iabor. a rIght-to-work bill--that IS, law
making q obligatory upon the government
IN provide work for those desiring II, tine
abolition OF night work as far as possible
= land policy which would place the work
ors on the land until the naturalization
Of land has been accomplished; the nation
aIIzstion Of railways and mines, and bills
for the Improvement NJ the housing ot
vorkingmen.
The members OF the party are bending
their efforts 10 secure legislation reversing
tho Osborne Judgment which ruled that
trade unions could not devote part OF their
rrrds 70 the support If the labor party.
u has been suggested that the party should
torco the governments hand by making
Tho support Of this measure the price OF
its s,;pport OF Home Rule that an alliance
,hou,d re formed between the Laborites
and Natioralsts looking 10 the passage
80 Home Rule and bill 10 reverse tlis
Judgment.
to-. vide difference NJ opinion among the
leaders At q recent conference the dele
,.,tas from the Miners Federation let 1t
- kroUn that they would be satisfied
.,,,b tho bill 10 be introduced by the Primo
,,,r,s,er granting manhood suffrage and
It'd NOT vote in favor OF motion sup
,,r.i,,, woman suffrage. As the miners
Tn, ,earlv half the membership of the
,o,ty this decision caused somewhat of a
oa,,iop hut not so great a one as a
.noecb nv Philip Snowden, the Socialist
,,,or,bar for Blackburn, who told tie con-
s'sa,,oo Iluntly that there was no demand
fo. tho extension Of the suffrage TO unen-
-, -, and that there were more votes
r.r ,,on than there were men who could
lintelligently use their votes. The motion
was not passed, so that the party Is OIL
clally In favor Of woman suffrage. al
though almost hall Hs membership .j
against IT.