The By-election and the Parties.
We confess to feeling some surprise that the supporters of the Liberal Party should have decided to seek consolation in the fact that Mr Dixon was about | 120 votes short of securing an absolute majority. That they would do so j wc knew was possible, but upon reflection it seenud to us that they would see the prudence of taking a line which implies that the Liberal Party is the natural ally of the Bolsheviks of this [country. "Whether through imprudence or candour, however, some of the Liberal Party's newspapers have taken just that line. Indeed, they are sobbing forth their indignatPon &fc the unkindliess of Mr Holland's party in detaching the extreme Red voters from their natural guardian and protector, lhey beg "the official Labourites" to "recon''sider their tactics," and their justification for their reproachful attitude, as expressed by our morning contemporary, is too interesting not to be quoted :^=- "Last month Mr Holland and his associates followed the Liberal leader into the lobby of the House in support of a motion of no-confidence in the Government, Yesterday they were responsible for the defeat of a Liberal and the return of a Government supporter. This sort of thin? is rather inconsistent, and is not practical politics." Jn all the long story of the effort? of j the Liberals to arrange a working alii-1 ance with official Labour we have never seen a mora candid advocacy than this of practical team-work by the Liberals and the Reds. The Reds are asked to "reconsider their tactics" and' enter jnto a working alliance with the iiiberals. It is taken for granted, not only by the Liberal Party journalists, but also by Mr Wilford, that the Reds would find the Liberal Party to be agreeable and accommodating hosts. The Liberals know best what tjiey would p&y to the Reds, and we take their word for it that tliey would give the Reds every satisfactioon. As for .the R-eds themselves, we believo we shall not be contradicted by them if we say that while they merely hnto the Reform Party, they despise the Liberals, as well they might. And the R«ds will hardly despise them loss for their present complainis. The public will take, note of the Libera) attitude of appeal to the coldly unresponsive Redgj to make a deal. 1 - '
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Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17120, 15 April 1921, Page 6
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391The By-election and the Parties. Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17120, 15 April 1921, Page 6
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