The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-05-13
BRITISH LABOR PARTY WELL. ABB E :.
\: TO take OVER HOME Government

S.w ,.r
dence)-The possibility OF an as
II sumption of power by the Labor
i Party in Great Britain continues to
n occupy the thoughts Of statesmen
and politicians. Mr.. Winston
YChurchill' reiterates his impassioned
3 conviction that Labor is not fitted to
0'govern. and many people infer that,
q did he not regard the possibility Of
Labor government as a real one,
ne would not refer to it so insis-
tently.
Lord Carson expressed his view
E1rankly the other day when he weed
the opinion Labor's accession to
power sooner or latter in inevitable,
ana that instead of denouncing the
party the wise policy would be to
ster in every way the party's sense
responsibility to the country as a
hole.
Iabor men Immediately retorted
Vat their answer to this could be
eundr in the fact that while the ac-
Iedited Government of the country
ad shirked weakly its national re-
possibility in connection with the
'reat engineering dispute. four Of
ne principal Labor politicians had
IT least succeeded in the difficult
nd delicate etask Of bringing the
srties again into negotiation.
This episode Of Intervention in a
Astrophic industrial conflict gives
4 new aspect to discussion of how
labor could govern. It would have
1een easy for the political leaders to
tand aside while the area of the
was widened, by they acted
A the assumption the interests Of
he community generally demanded
& swift settlement of the dispute,
Gong lines which would lead to
Aore peaceful working in the
sture.
HThe manner in which they acted
\ accordance with this policy, in
bead of encouraging extremist de-
yands, will naturally furnish labor
Heakers with a forcible argument
shen they defend labor's fitness
I'D ability to govern. Indeed, it Is
Nnerally admitted the recent atti-
H4ye Of leaders Of the preponderant
Rderate section of the party leaves
1e room for doubt that a labor
'e'n fnment would endeavor to pro-
Re national rather than purely
n; Enthusiastically as the
't,AHtry is clearly not ready for any
'n$eping changes in it's industrial
commercial system.
Men Favorite ucst of Politicians.
aFWhen one leaves this fairly solid
- Found, however, to explore condi-
;ol% 1ol sAs IN
u re part in government, one enters
Con a field of interesting but ad-
whturous speculation. Nevertheless,
or@s a favorite quest of politicians at
resent. The one thing upon which
pVlere is any large measure of agree
4ent is the belief labor has little
Of forming a government en-
rely Its own for several years to
anre. But, while the party itself Is
fsposed to share this belief, 1t Is
citing on the assumption hiatt in
British politics there always exists
possibility that under some sudden
nd powerful impulse, the country
might sweep labor into power. It's
Saders have no doubt that in such
! event, they would be able to find
p personnel necessary to fill the
Eferent offices.
5Critics, not without reason, be-
eve the task would be extremely
lfficult, and that, in any case, many
f:the less important offices and
ndersecretaryships. would have to
9e given to men virtually without
experience in the art of government.
glance over the names Of the
blest leaders, however, indicates
he Labor Party has at least the
aking,, of government which
n labossess. in the aggregate, no
yng othm cunt of ability and expe-
ing thu Several leaders have had
ement eantage of ministerial work,
'5e-~sAbinet responsibility in the
'oouceuent during the war. Others
e superived from years of activity
4 House of Commons a full
Ultimate knowledge Of parlia-
NY procedure.
x Henderson and Mr.. Clynes
-- out conspicuously because of
IT experience in the war govern
on. To them would be added
az Haldane, to w HON even his
sw,nents give credit for reorgan-
'N00n OF the war Office. Mr.. j. II.
Junas IL often likened to the pres
{ prime minister because of his
foleness of thought and tendency
49, kard opportunism, but Of his ex-
btional talent and courage there
IN be no question. Mr.. Ramsay
.'Acdonald, despite certain defects
temperament, has one of the
renest intellects in British polit-
zeal life, and during his years Of alb
'-vence from parliament, he has ac-
asired from extensive travels wide
knowledge of the problems of en-
>~,r,@ ~arN0TA TR1Alr