New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-29
British Labor Will Secure
Many Advantages from War
Workers Realize Success Of Struggle Depends Upon Then
and Are Not Slow to Demand and Receive Concessions
from Lloyd Ceorge-Will Have a Lot More to Say

Review" 1.-THE Contemporary Review"
and (ately) Leo Maxse's National Re-
view" are not friendly to the govern
ment
After three years of war nothing
short of an air raid on an English city
or the capture of 5000 prisoners
arouses the British people to anger or
to jubilation, as the case may be. II
the news of the day does not measure
up to this standard, the average Briton
begins to wonder why his favorite
newspaper has failed to record the po-
litical unrest stretching out all over
the country. John Bull is deep-eyed
political fan, and he prides himself on
his ability to sense a crisis. 1t is such
an easy thing to turn out British gov
ernment-no long and tedious popular
elections.
Looking back on the crises Of the
last two years, it Is plain that every
one originated in the failure of the
government to get on with the war.
The last three years have changed the
worlds perspective-precedents OF 1914
have been tossed into scrap baskets.
Rritain's scrap basket is especially full
of precedents and blasted reputations.
1t is no easy matter to blast ones rep
utation in England. But once that rep
utation has fallen of the stone wall,
like Humpty Dumpty, all the kings
horses and men can't put II back again:
Mr.. Asquith, Winston Churchill, Lord
Grey of Falloden, Sir Beauchamp Duff,
Sir Ian Hamilton and a host Of others
could give interesting testimony 70
this point. Just why regulations can
hang so long on the edge Of the stone
wall of British opinion before they
finally tumble is not so much ques-
ton Of British loyalty as it is Of Brit
ish trust. Since a lot OF presidents
have been thrown by the board the
people have become not one whit less
loyal, but distinctly more critical and
cautious.
Behind the scenes Of public life a
considerable amount of political wire
pulling is being done. Briefly, the anti
George faction, powerful enough in the
aggregate to overthrow him, is so split
up with internal discussions that IL
cannot unite in any fundamental pol
icy. There is an attempt being made
to form combination OF the dissatis-
fed Liberals and Independent Labor
party, but it can hardly come to any
thing. There is strong Tory OPPOSE
ton to Lloyd George. But If there is
any change it will De brought about by
labor-not tho labor of party organiza-
ton as represented by Arthur Hender-
son or Ramsay Macdonald.
Before the war the British workman
had Just begun to get the interest on
the years OF toll he had put into his
campaign for rights and privileges.
In the first two years of the war many
Of these rights and privileges were
swept aside by what ne calls Dora
defence Of the realm act), q child OF
war necessity. Then he began to ap-
preciate that war had grown from an
incident to the all-developing garment
of life. He did not like the present
or the future outlook, and he decided
to win back his lost ground. He has
got IL now, and he Is after more. 1t
takes no prophet to forecast a revolu-
tionary change in British labor-hlgher
wages. better education, food and hous-
ing.
That Is ths labor organization which
will have a lot to say in the govern
mont Of the country. And that Is the
party Lloyd George has TO deal with
to-day. 1t may wait until the end OF
the warrior patriotic reasons-and 1t
may not II wants to beat the enemy
as much as it did on August 4, 1914; 1t
has its sons and brothers fghting at
the front; 1t has It's fathers and wives
and sisters working in the munition
plants. II cannot be called disloyal.
And when il asks an accounting the
government of the hour must show
.o+t.foetory halanrA sheat