The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-04-16
The British Labor Movement.

federation, which at the last genera
election placed % of its men in par
Il;ament, had been so bound up witt
rhe Liberal party that its member
would scarcely look at Labor can
didate. British labor bore the sam,
relation to the Liberal party few
ears ago that many A. F. of l.. OF
.. ficors would now have American laboI
bear to the Republican party. TODAY
solidarity of the workers behind the
workers party has become reality
in England. And for the reason that
the maiority of English trade unionists
are also Socialists some amazement
and more amusement is derived on
this side from contemplating the bit
ter hostility toward Socialism exhibited
hy such eminent trade unionists as
Samuel GOmpers.
Another development which has con-
tributed greatly TO the success of the
political labor movement is the Labor
PARTY reorganization effected early in
June, 1918. BY this act the party
ceased to be merely federation for
political purpose of trade union and
Socialist bodies. The basis of member
ship was broadened so as to include
every man or woman willing to accept
the party program and pay a subscrip.
ton OF % cents year. The effect
has been to rally to the party stand.
ard thousands of teachers, doctors,
clergymen, lawyers, journalists, man
agerial employees, clerks and secretarial
workers; and literally tens of thou
sands of women in all walks of life.
cit is the class of mind and not the
class of life with which we are con-
cerned," as the national agent puts
it. The result of this infusion Of
intellectuals has been to develop a
corporate sense as national party
aud bring a large number of trained
executive minds to the service of the
labor movement. The absence Of any
prejudice against these "mddle class y
members can best be shown by the
fact that the member Of the present
executive committee of the Labor par
ty elected by the greatest number of
votes is Sidney Webb, the famous
economist. Nor, on the other hand,
does the most ardent proletarian fear
that the British labor movement will
ever be dominated by what must al.
ways be a relatively small broup of
supporters of the intellectual type.
a most democratic system of de.
Capitalization is employed by the
Labor party in selecting its candidates
for parliament Local labor parties
have now been formed in nearly every
constituency. The various organizations
affiliated with the local party, whether
trade unions, Socialist bodies, or in.
dependent members as described
above, nominated their own candidates.
Choice Of the man or woman who
shall contest the district for labor is
made by democratically chosen local
selection conference. Ratification of
this choice by the executive committee
of the National Labor party (known
as the national executive) is then
required, although this ratification is
almost always mere formality. 1t
should be held in mind that under the
English system of government a
parliamentary candidate need not be
n resident of the district for which
he stands.
At first glance the election cam.
paign also appears largely a local af-
fair, but in reality n great deal of
responsibility is centered on national
headquarters. Ecvery by.election in
England now is 4 fiercly contested
battle and generally a three.cornered
battle, as the Liberal party has vir.
tually severed its allegiance to the
utterly discredited coalition govern.
ment of Lloyd George and is running
many Independent candidates. With
the coalition and the liberals sending
their most able speakers to the field
of each successive election, and the
press Of the entire nation taking an
active part in every campaign and
generally bitterly hostile to labor, it
is evident that the national executive
Is called upon for continuous good
scneralship in order to gain seats for
his party,
y large part of this responsibility
devolves on the national agent, who
sends his organizers to the constit.
uency the moment an election is
declared, arranges the schedule of
Campaign speakers, and has also a
large share in determining what planks
of the general party platform, i. c.,
Russia, naturalization of industry,
leonscription of wealth, etc. shall be
stressed in the campaign. 1t is n post
calling for wide knowledge and the
keenest political instinct.
There is an old saying that "nosh.
ing succeeds like success" The truth
of this is now being proved by the
British Labor party.