Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-02
BRITISH LABOR SUFFERS
SETBACK THROUGH PRIDE
One Writer Attributes This COndi-
ton t. Shortsightedness Of
Its Leaders.
GUIDED II ONTO ROCKS
Eaton Fcarn Says That Problems In
Every Country Are Much the
Same, but Those In England Are
More Interesting.
;UlDED II ONTO ROCKS
ny EATON FEARN.

ny EATON FEARN.
LONDON March 1.-The Labor party.
through the short sighted policy Of its
SO Ca He'd leaders. has suffered Il setback
at the recent election which IL VIII
take many years to recover from. The
claims OF labor ror full representation
in the British House OF Commons are
recognized by all fair-mindcd and
right; thinking people whatever COM
piexion their politics may take.
The problems OF the future IN ENG
la nd Undoubtedly will be problems con-
nec,sd With lseGt nsf2ns,ru''aq r,
now facing are in great measure m
separable from labor problems. on the
right solution of which 80 m'iIh De
pcnds Problems connected with bet
ter housing. hours Of work ana wages,
recvns%uctd system OF education TO
NEE, modern needs. :. less strained re-
are All OF the mos; vital Importance in
the national life OF Britain
full opportunity which undoubtedly
presented itself. had it pu. the vital
needs Of the nation ~ one OF the most
forefront Of class legislation. had 1t
cast aside the alluring temptation Of
coque'ting with paciiicisn and Eo!shcv-
that the number of successful labor
candidates at the poll would have been
trebled.
AMBITIONS wERE HIGH
FROM ONE POINT OF VIEW
Labor unfortunately thought too
much Of itself II was pulled up with
pride. Its ambitions were top high
iarrowNfrom another aspect. II over
looked the fact that in a composite
world like the one in which We find
ourselves no particular class or section
reasonably can expect to dominate the
whole
In the perfef, state. as those far.
contended. the btain- workers as well
as the skilled craftsman. must each
hi. rixh,fui place; The arm cannot ct
thee: neither can the hand say 10 the
eye: '"I can ge; along without Tou:' As
each member of the human body Is de-
il. the state polite even the dreamer
of dreams. the man of Imagination.
psyS an af tb rot aoT .ns
the precursors OF factories where re-
munerative and technical work alone
becomes possible.
MUST LEARN SALUTARY
LESSON TO PERFECT LIFE
Labor, therefore. must learn the sal
utary i-sRon that important part MS
IL undoubtedly plays in this work "a
Of f ,hs ' perfec, While MT V clSnes p the
late Food Minister, who has been men
toned as one OF the probable future
from Il recent. article he contT!bntcd
10 the London Daily Mail. evidently
sees the force Of the argument enun-
In his three "rnusts" for labor he
says: IF labor Is to looE seriously in
power in Parliament IT must be un-
sparinE in It's demands for thorough
ness in the treatment of the questions
on the settlement of the subjects which
IN any way come within the term re-
construction"
OUTLOOK MUST REGARD
COUNTRY AS WHOLE
In other words. its outlook on legis-
lation must not be narrowed down TO
suit some particular section OF the
eS,m!rnnni'y. bnt !. wus, have is eye
the needs OF the nation as whole.
Mr, Cynes. too. strikes distinct
Of The ne no S
no right to get by industrial means
what they have failed 10 secure by
T'hc VAT II ma jority or III the % millions
Of electors are OF the wage-earuing'
classes. and their verdict. such as it is.
and must be used with whatever skill
who claim 10 be the best democrats
by thresteninE the country with the
terrorism OF the strike weapon when
the country does not respond as we
which we make"
II labor has only the sense 10 steer
its ship on the lines laid down. it's flu
ture AZ political power Is full OF the
greatest possibilities.
BUSINESS MEN NOT
ALWAYS LEGISLATORS
Because man Yields n hammer
dexterously IL does not necesSari-
~ follow that he has the making
or wise and great legislator. There
Is q story told OF famous painter who.
having painted a masterpiece. on the
day OF it's public exhibition hid him
self behind the canvas In order to
listen TO the criticisms OF the oalookers.
A shoemaker came ont the scene and
caustically. criticized the shoes OF one
of the figures. The painter nj once
perceived the Justice Of the criticism
AID in the evening put the matter
right.
On the following day the shoemaker
appeared on the scene and was sur
prned to find that the shoes were now
perfect Again he began to criticize
the picture from another poin, of view
indisnation no LONGER. and in angry
10 his last" This story should he
pregnant with meaning TO the labor
politician. On all matters connected
with labor his advice and counsel
would be OF inestimable value in suid-
ing the lawTaker in the right Lives.
but his criticism and advice upon
purelv> I'm oerial matters nigh: he an
wrong because I've had had no eyupri-
ence in Statecraft 1919