New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-16

likely TO manage the nation with equal
success. The Socialist section OF
miners in South Wales renew their
mutterings Of strike. But they make
their demand dependent oil the results
OF national ballot to be taken IN all
the coal fields Of the United Kingdom.
This is very obvious way of saving
their face by empty resolution. The
ballot Of all the mining districts would
utterly condemn the policy o. throw
ing down their tools. In any case, be
fore the ballot could be taken the bill
would be law.
Blu, there is still another consider
alton. If there were any hint Of real
trouble in the labor sphere general
election would have TO take place. ana
the result would he tremendous pa
triotic uprising. Sir John simon an
his small. though motley, following -
cranks and coppcrheads would De al
most entirely eliminated. The charac-
ter and temper Of Parliament would
be totally altered.
Election Would indicate Ministry.
Arart from the Irish party, nineteen
twentieths of the new House would be
returned for the one object OF winning
Tho war. The government would then
be equipped with unlimited powers 10
take AZ home and abroad sll measures
that might be necessary and adVlsaole
Co, winning the war. All this Is 50
cIosr that the desire OF the opponent
of compulsion TO avoid general elec
tion is the ruling factor OF the sIlu"-
Even in South Wales the Merthyr
election a few weeks ago showed pun
lie opinion TO be sound and overmas.
,.r;no even in the most socialistlc OF
our mining districts. Again, all the
wisest heads OF labor perceive thaV
so iething more is al stake. lraue
unionism in this country has long beeh
aNstate within state. Il has had had
in practice social. industrial, iegisia-
i've powcr 10 which German Socialism
never approached ~.
But The whole working Of trade
unionism is founded on the princlpie
Of rigid compulsion. If some OF the
extreme labor organizations attempt
ed 10 throw themselves against the
vast mass Of the country on the ques
lion Of military compulsion for un-
married shirkers and laggards 1t is
not the latter principle that would be
defeated. Trade unionism ITSELF as
hitherto existing. would receive blow
from which it would never recover.
Latent Power Emerging.
The permanent industrial conse-
ouences of this war will in any case
he enormous. We have made eN-
,raordinary discoveries as to wnat
women cen do, how rapidly unskilled
labor can be taught and how the aver
age earning power of the whole people
can be lifted. Il would not be lmpossi-
bic 10 devise wholly new and more
advanced system bv which labor. shar-
ing hv Industrial partnership profits OF
largely increased production, would DC
placed on better and wider basis tnan
trade unionism has hitherto provided.
No sane man desires 10 raise these
great social issues in the midst OF war
There +, deep national satisfaction
that the real statesman OF labor. Arthur
henderson. Minister Of Education, re-
mains IN the Cabinet. His speech for
tho compulsion bill was one of the best
in the whole remarkable debate. and
he will doubtless carry his case with
equal success IN the coming labor con-
fcrences.
Nv duty this week has been to ex-
plain three things: Great Britain IS
not going TO be stopped in the move
ment 20 win the war. Within the next
few months ireland and the Empire
together will have more than 100000
men I'm the army alone. Germany
prote,duc underestimate OF Great
Britaiu's military capacity wa per
maps the very greatest OF Germany's
mistakes.