New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-05

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: After the December general election
Of 1910 we beheld a hitherto unexampled
phenomenon in British Parliamentary his
tory. The destinies of the empire were con-
trolled. not by one of the two great historic
parties. Liberals or Conservatives, but rested
ia the hands of about seventy-ive Irish Ma
tionalsts and forty Labor members. Nom-
nally Liberal government was IN power ou'
that government had perforce TO toe the line
and pledge its liberty of action with the
Irishmen and Labortes, for by their good
craces and consent alone could it hope TO re-
tain Office. Concessions were necessary and
the price had to be paid.
The Irish demanded Home Rule, but the
House of Lords stood in the way. therefore
the veto of the upper chamber had to De re-
moved. This was accomplished by the Par
Iliament act and Home Rule was then squeezed
through. The famous Osborne judgment had
been upheld by the highest court; hence 1t
became illegal to devote trade union iuhds 10
political purposes, which at one blow cut on
the salaries of the labor members. ms du-
fculty was gotten over by the three coaiitioh
parties voting themselves and every man IN
the House-apart from ministers and those
already in receipt of emoluments-a rouhd
sum of $40 q week each, whether he wanted II
or not. John Burns, the first "workingmsn
minister" WAS president Of the Local Govern
ment Board. at $4,000 a year. In his street
corner tub humping days he maintained that
no man was worth more than $4,000 year.
With subtle irony cruel fate now ordained
that his annual encouragement was to be
raised to $4,000. He suffered the blow with
resignation and collected his shekels till this
war broke out, when he resigned oftlce.
A perfect bacchanalan orgy OF pubic ex-
penditure marked the career of this truly LID
eral government. Britain was to be remod-
elled by gigantic schemes of social reform
for the benefit of the workingman," and
incidentally, the bleeding of the rich and the
middle classes. Strange to say, 1t was the
workingman who kicked hardest against the
national insurance act, because he was
compelled to pay for prospective Dement'S. The
non-contributory old age pension act was
quietly accepted. The Land Valuation scheme
"a fad of Mr. Lloyd Georges-caled an
army of new inquisitoria officials into eX-
istence, with generous salary attached to
each. Every dollar cost about seven to col
lect. All the officials on this particular ramp
we're suddenly fired few weeks ago and the
scheme fzzled out. Labor bureaus were
opened all over the country, with more Of
fcials, TO carry out the simple duties hitherto
performed by the "help wanted" columns IN
the press Everybody that had anything to
lose was taxed up TO the eyebrows; the mid
die classes, who in many cases earned no more
than the skilled workmen and yet were COM
chief sufferers. The rich simply frightened
their purse strings and spent less; they cur
tailed OF entirely stopped their numerous do
nations 10 charities till the hospitals and
such like institutions saw bankruptcy star
ing them in the face. You cannot eat your
cake and have it.
But there is another side 10 the picture
Whilst money could be voted and poured out
like water for every conceivable and incon-
ceivable object. the navy and army estimates
Invariably met with strong opposition, not
only from the Labor benches, but also from
the Liberal side. That the navy has not been
allowed TO suffer is due chiefly to the con-
sstent pressure exerted by the Unionist OPP
position, the Navy League and public opin-
L ion. The naval holiday proposal emsnated
| from the Government side; fortunately, il
was met by a candid non possunaus from
Germany. There are those who argue now
and have done so for years-that strenuous
efforts toward preparedness for war by Great
Britain might. or would have, precipitated q
conflict This is bad logic, and means, in
effect, keep yourself weak, so as not to
irrtate your neighbors." great power which
adopted such a policy would soon drop into
the second or third class.
The British Labor party was pacifst-and
socialist--almost 10 . man; Of the Liberals,