New-York tribune., 1919-08-31

they stand. In Britain, what with
works committees, joint councils, in
dustrial conference committees and
the standing trade union agreements,
too many voices call too many orders
and proffer too much advice"
Opposes Political Activity
Mr.. Sullivan gives it as his consid-
cred opinion that the experience of
the British Labor party has amply
proved the wisdom of American trade
union leaders in defeating countless
efforts in this country to put the labor
movement directly into politics.
Speaking Of the politics of labor in
Great Britain, he says:
every briefly summarized, it may be
said that labor's entry into politics
in that country as a separate politica!
party has brought confusion to the
workers. 1t interfcres with the prog
ress of union organization, engenders
enmities among union officials, carries
far and wide the fever of political
campaigning all the year round, has
pushed labor representatives to un-
patriotic votes on war measures in
Parliament, brings to the party less
than fourth of the wage labor vote
Of the country and has eventuatcd
with respect to efficient laws for
labor's protection in a less salts
factory situation than exists in the in
dustrial states of America
"ln the United States tho labor
mcnt and they know without doubt
what fealty to their unions requires of
them.
"1n Great Britain among the most
prominent leaders of the so-called po-
litlcal labor movement are men and
women who were never wage workers.
The trade unlonists, supplying to the
party nineteen twcntieths of the votes
and a greater proportion Of the con-
srlbutions, mostly remain spectators
to the play. From the outsiders comes
ganization of society, to which the
majority of the wage workers of the
kingdom steadily refuse asserting
votes.
an November, 1918 the Labor party,
by a large vote, withdrew from the
coalition with the government and di-
rcctcd the eight Labor men occupying
high government Office to withdraw
Four only obeyed this command.
"The one daily newspaper in London
assuming to represent labor-its lead
ing editor George Lansbury, once
Labor member of Parliament, but not
Observation-Disclosures on a crusade
of opposition to all the leading trade
unionists not in agreement with ex-
travagantly radical and pro- German
views. When the terms of the peace
covenant were published in May The
Herald printed such tirst-page head
ings as Germany in Mourning,' 'Obsta-
cles to q Real Peace, Jingo Press
Howls for Harsher and More Humil-
ating Exactions,' British Workers Join
WnlE TrG ~;
Of Peace of Violence In the political
field the British trade unionist hears it
most positively asserted that 'Labor's
daily newspaper the self-same Lon
don Herald is maintained by German
bankers and Indian magnates.
"'rhc Labor party was sadly disap-
pointed in the results of the election
last December. Claims had been made
that it would return from 100 to 200
members of Parliament. The principal
extremists among the candidates, Snow
Jowett, Henderson, were defeated. The
ffty-nine members elected are by no
means a solid block.
Judge of the state of mind of the
average British trade unionist when he
hears veteran labor officials declare
that these labor politicians of every
stripe are forever talking for votes and
acting for effect on their political fort
unes.'
Strike Replaces Ballot
"The puzzled unionist hears TODAY
clamorous advocacy Of the political
strike to take the place of the ballot.
He is called on to take sides in prob
lematica international issues, and on
propositions for dubious international
congresses. He beholds prominent on
the Labor and Socialist stage pacifsts
and conscientious objectors, some of
them intelned during the war. He