The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-01-25


is destined to play as big part in the
present century as the liberal party
played in the ninteenth century.
Their goal, frankly admitted, is la
borfgovenment and they have con-
fidence that the goal is not far dis
tant as it may seem.
The recent alignment of the big
cooperative societies with the LABOR
party bringing the number of votes
represented up to about 100000, is
one cause for this confidence. Broad
ening the party's program still fur
Their, the leaders claim, should give
them sufficient votes to sweep the
country
Has Many Live Issues.
Aside from this predominant ques-
ton, the conference has many live
issues before it. One is whether or
not labor party representatives
coalition government There are
several resolutions, variously worded,
to this effect before the meeting. The
British socialist party offers one
reading in part:
"This conference holds that the
methods employed to remove MI.
Henderson from the war cabinet
when acting in perfect accord with
the decisions of the labor party,
prove that participation in the gov
eminent and fidelity to the labor
movement are incompatible"
The. Willesden labor party has a
resolution putting the question in
this blunt fashion:
This conference demands that all
members of the labor party resign
their ministerial offices under the
present government"
The East Ham Trades and Labor
Councils resolution calls for with
drawal ain view of the continued
barefaced robbery of the people by
the food pirates and the open support
given by the government to this &C
tion"
There are others.
Favor Swallowing Resentment.
Objection to withdrawing from the
coalition government is voiced by
many leaders, however. because they
believe refusal to participate in the
government in time of national
danger, would be fatal to the labor
party's great hopes for the future.
They favor swallowing their resent
ment toward the present government
while getting on with the war-and
developing their own plans.
Other resolutions include a number
providing for an international labor
conference either before or stimuli
taneously with the final peace con-
ference
Several local unions will urge i'm
mediate steps toward peace by nego-
tiation On the other hand the Ches-
terrified Trades Council offers this
one:
THAT the members of the So called
pacifist party shall be given to under
stand that they are not to have any
voice in the setting up of peace terms
beyond their representative
strength
The utilization by the government
of the great resources and distribu-
tive equipment of the British coop
preventing profiteering, is demanded
along this line is sure to be taken by
the cOuf0TeuCe.
The Women's Labor League asks
for the abolition of CONSUMPTION.
Would Abolish House of Lords.
The National Union of Boot and
Shoe Operatives suggest the aboli-
ton of the house of lords.
Electoral reform will be considered
by the conference, the disposition
being to regard the governments
proposals in this direction as merely
a compromise.
Soldiers pay and pensions are due
for considerable thought More than
one delegate carries in his pocket
memoranda on the pay of United
States troops and the United States
insurance scheme The independent
labor party will urge resolution
providing that soldiers pay shall be
based on rates of civil wages and
shall respond to the great rise in the
cost OF living.
Taxation questions have brought a