Evening star., 1943-07-18

LONDON.-At the forty-second an
nual conference of the Labor party, re-
Gently concluded, representatives of the
disciplined ranks Of British socialism
met to consider momentous questions OF
the war and its aftermath. Beyond any
doubt the conference made clear that the
socialism Of the Labor party is still the
socialism Of moderation-evolutiona
rather than revolutionary.
The impact of the war has not altered
this basic fact. Left-wingers within the
party fear that q kind of comfortable
senescence has settled down on an in
stitution which has developed a core OF
vested interests. They complain that
Labor party leaders are more interested
in holding their jobs than in gaining
benefits for the workers.
In the discussions that went on during
the four-day conference there was GER
tainly no lack of vigor. With the pre-
eminent fairness and tolerance we have
come to associate with the British, the
TOUGHEST Issues were fercely debated
but always within the framework of
orderly procedure. The conference voted:
To refuse the request of the Com
munist party for aff1liation.
To take a stern line with Germany
after the war.
For mere generous pension pol
Icy.
For far-reaching extensions of the
free educational system.
More important than any Of the reso-
lutions they adopted was the interparty
row which ended with reputation of
Labors chief representative in the
Churchill cabinet. Herbert Morrison
of Home Security, was candidate for
treasurer of the Labor party. Before the
conference started he was the odds-on
favorite for the office which In the past
has meant domination of the party and
top political honors.
Turn to Greenwood.
BY a vote OF $4,000 to 1,253,o0o the
conference instead chose Arthur Green
wood, long party orator with con-
siderable personal following. While
Greenwood does not list his age, he is
between 63 and 81. Morrison, more
vigorous, more capable, far more under,
standing of the demands of the times,
is 81.
In part it was grudge fight-Green-
wood showing Morrison where the real
control lay. Ernest Bevin, Minister OF
Labor is said to have Influenced Gen.
yorl,ar TT,,io i,, he.
half. In limited sense, it was re-
pudiation of Morrison, who continues to
be labors most important figure in the
Churchill government.
The decision typifies the cautious con-
servation that exists within the party.
If any Laborite has a chance to be
Prime Minister after the war, Morrison
Is the man. Yet on largely personal
grounds he was given a setback which,
while it may have no long-term effect,
certainly does him no good now. The
Labor party looks after loyal oldsters.
The average age of labor members in
the House of Commons is nearly 10
years greater than the average age of
Conservative members. Too often the
party is interested not in selecting a
vigorous candidate for Parliament, but
in taking care of good old Joe Doakes
with safe seat.
Because of his position in the
Churchill government Morrison per-
force became an apologist for postpone
ment until the end of the war of the
benefits to be conferred under the Beve-
ridge social security plan. He made the
final speech in the House recommend
ing that the question be put over until
after victory. AS result resolution
was presented to the conference, plainly
aimed at Morrison, rebuking Laborites
in the cabinet. On motion of Greenwood
this was put aside.
Morrison May Come Back.
Thus peaceful surface was presented
to the world. It is possible that Nor
rison this fall may make comeback.
At the meeting OF the parliamentary
Labor party, the inner organization de-
termining the politics of parliamentary
elections, Morrison may run against
Clement H. Attlee for the post Of leader.
q
held the position for six years and an
upset is possible.
Despite strict party discipline, there
are many divergent personalities within
the ranks. A member of the National
Executive Committee, elected with a
high proportion of votes, is Prof. Harold
j. LasN of the London School of Eco
nomics, who is widely known in Amer
lea. Always considerably to the left Of
the official policy, Laski describes him.
self as the conscience of the Labor
party. The rank and file want him
there as a check on the older and more
conservative members of the executive.
the executive group who favored allowing
the British Communists to affiliate with
the Labor party. That proposal stirred
the sharpest debate of the conference.
One Laborite after another mounted the
rostrum in Westminster Hall to recount
efforts to cooperate with Communists
which had ended in bitter disillusion.
Earnest Britishers spoke with vehemence
of the Machiavellian intrigues they had
come up against in their efforts to get
along with the Communists.
The most telling argument against
afiliation was the action the British
Communist party took after the Nazi-
Soviet pact Of August, 1899. The war
against Hitler, for which the Commu-
nists had been clamoring, promptly be-
came an "imperialist" war in which they