The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-16
By J. T. MURPHY

bAhH were coming 70 power as the
democratic movements in other coun-
tries in other days. Then it came to
power, perhaps temporarily, thru
riot, revolution and bloodshed. Here
it is coming to power by the con-
stitutional genius of our people. ."
and so on until one gets tired.
The voting time came. The gov
eminent fell. Mr.. Macdonald was
made Prime Minister and he changed
his trilby for top hat fitting "the
traditions of his high office" Then
came the new government. OF the
Cabinet proper only nine are drawn
from the trade unions. The remain
ing II are drawn either from the
middle class or the aristocracy.
From the standpoint of Parliament
tary democracy Macdonald has
scored in the direction of blending
the classes, the right, the centre and
the left. Old Conservatives and Lib
erals are drawn in, in the persons of
Lord Chelmsford and Lord Haldane.
The former has been out of politics
for twenty years. He was placed in
charge of the admiralty and knows as
much about ships and naval require
ments as he does Of the life Of the
workers. Apparently neither is
essentiSl in a Labour Government.
But other anomalies are the appoint
ment of f. Hodges to be his UNDER
secretary. Hodges comes from the
Miners. But ShinweIl who is sec
rotary of the Marine Workers Union
is sent to look after the mines.
These are incidentals in the new
arrangemnts. What is more disap-
pointing is the acceptance of Office by
the leaders of the Clyde socialists
whom we had hoped to be the rally
ing ground in the Labour Party it
self, anticipating the maneuvers of
Macdonald and drawing to itself,
along with the Communist Party, all
the results of the resentment which
is bound to arise in the process of
MacDonald's attempt to stabilize
capitalism
We are in the midst of big indus
trial disputes which are likely to ex-
lpand during the Voming months. The
immediate policy of every member
of the Government is in the direction
of the strengthening of Cancellation
boards and compulsory arbitration,
etc. The whole Labour Party lead
ership is now utterly bewitched with
the Parliamentary success. Even
lLansbury has gone off the handle and
appealed to the industrial movement
to have patience" to look to the
Labour Government first, etc. If it
were not that Lansbury's actions are
usually unconstitutional and con-
trary to his pacifsm we should dis
pare of him. And now Wheatley,
MacLean, Stewart, practically the
Leadership of the Left wing in the
Labour Party are tied to the wheels
Of Office and debarred from playing
their true role as the rallying forces
of the Disconnected in the Labour
Party.
But their decision is the Com
munist Party's opportunity. 1t is
now the only Party of the workers
outside the Labour Government, the
only centre to which the workers
can turn for alternative leadership.
For the Communist Party every mo-
ment is now rich with opportunity.
The big increase in its vote during
the elections and the important part
we played in returning many Lsbour
men to parliament will make the La
bour Party leaders think twice be-
bore daring to renew the omen at
tack upon the Party. The last
eighteen months have demonstrated
the futility of the policy. Hence
whether the Labour Party now gives
way and permits utilization Of the
Party, OF whether it continues the
canpaign against us. the Communist
Party is forthwith the new centre of
Gravity for the disconnected and dis
ilIusioned Of the working class.