The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-24

have any politics in England 9RA again?" This question was
 asked me by a keen British pol itician a few days after the end of tho last session of Parliament-in many ways the most amazing session of any legisla- ture that has ever been held. Parliament sat for three weeks and not a single -di- vision was taken. Every bill that was in- troduced was passed unanimously and re- ceived the royal assent. Men who few months ago were calling each other trai- tors and scoundrels complimented each other as patriots and statesmen and worked amicably together for the good of the nation.
 Q If the great war has done nothing else for Britain it has shown the man in the street the utter hollowness of the party system of government. A few men had perceived it before and had announced their discovery, but they were not heeoed by the great mass of the voters who took all the bother and rhodomontade of the House of Commons at it's face value and did not know that the men who had been calling each other names across the
 
 each other in champagne across the supper table afterward. Now. how ever, there is no one in England who can read who may not see the daily evil dence or the high regard that the party politicians hold for each other
 It would be mockery to say that there was even an attempt at debate during the late session of Parliament. The hard worked whips who in ordinary times spent their sleeping hours dreaming about snap divisions and their waking hours in sec ing that the members of their parties were in their places, slept soundly at night and sat comfortably in their own places in the House during the day. Lloyd-George, the best hated man in England four months ago. and now per haps one of the most loved. introduced a budget raising the income tax all round, and in his introductory speech said some handsome things about the dukes whom he had been In the habit of denouncing at least once a week in the pre-war days He was followed by Austen Chamberlain, his great financial rival, who held the office of chancellor of the exchequer in the last tory government, and the sworn defender of the dukes, who declared that not only had he not a word to say against his right honorable friends budget, but that he had helped to make it. Lloyd George handsomely acknowledged the help he had received not only from Chamber lain. but also from Lord Rothschild. who not so long ago said that Lloyd George was highway robher, and from the au- thorities of the Bank of England. Need- less to say that the budget thus intro- duced and recommended went through on greased rails.
 The same happened with all the other legislation introduced A member of the government introduced the bill, mem Der of what was once the opposition gave 1t his blessing, and 1t went through without even the formality of a vote
 The same unity of purpose was evident In all other branches of the parliamen- tary work. Before the war there were two questions which had really aroused the passions of some at least of the British politicians so lSeenly that they / would not play golf together It was said by some unkind persons that if the opposing forces met on the green, golf clubs would be used as implements or warfare. These two questions were the position of Ulster under the home rule act and the disestabishment and disendowment of the Anglican church ir Wales. In. this last Parliament how. ever, we saw John Redmond and Sir tdward Carson sitting side by side ir amcable conference over the best meth. ods for bucking up recruiting in Ireland and Lord Hugh Cecil. who, a few weeks before, was describing the liberal party as gang of church robbers. paying high compliments to its energy and abil- ity In taking measures to prevent un. employment and distress arising out oi the war
 Even the labor party. which brides ltseH on being the pariah of politics came into line. It has been antimilitarist but its leaders met and issued ma nj. festo calling on able bodied young work. men to join the colors. Some of the Ia Dor M.Ps. joined themselves and two ol three Of them have received commits slons. There was some talk of strike. m the mining and shipbuilding trades The leaders announced that any man who oo"ned tools in this nations emergency was blackleg not only to labor, bu, 10 his country. One small strike dit occur among carpenters at work on arm, huts on Salisbury Plain and another among saddlers at work on army con- tracts, but the men were literally whip. ped back to work by their own leader. and afterwards the government, which the labor men have been denouncing da, In and day out ss the willing tool of tn, capitalists. insisted that wages be raised by the contractors
 IT an Englishman who was keen1y in terested in politics and social move ,' ments had gone to sleep six months ast and walked up last week he would hay, been Justified in thinking that somethins like what is described by IT. c. WellI Tn his story, 'In the Days of the Comet, had come to pass. In this story a va eor accompanying the comet enveloped ehe earth. and when it cleared away |, took with 1t all the envy. hatred ant uncharitableness in the world Perhaps f. is too much to say that this has han pened in England in private affairs, bu Tn public matters it is uncommonly neal being true.
 The fact is that we are living now under as near an approach as possible to tn, Ideal government carried on by the bes men in the country for the public Root alone. 1t Is fair to assume, I suppose that the men chosen by all the great par ties to lead them, taken collectively, ar, the best and ablest men in the country AS rule in England they are patriotit men, but they have become 50 blinded by the rules of the party game and b, their class prejudices that they have al lowed party and class to take the plac, of nation in their vocabulary Every yes uge or party government now has passed