LABOUR MEMBERS' PLEDGES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 936, 1 October 1910, Page 5

LABOUR MEMBERS' PLEDGES.

ABOLITION PROPOSED.

BRITISH LEADERS THINK PARTY LOYALTY SUFFICES. 1 BARGAIN WITH LIBERALS. By Megi&pli—Press Association— Copyright. (llec. September 30, 10.10 p.m.) A London, Septembor 30. . The Executive of the Labour Party has resolved ,to recommend the Leicester Conference,.iii. February to, abolish the rule requiring Labour candidates for Parliament,to sign the party - constitution. .: - ' .'' . ; ■' It is argued, that' as the partyi is now established, and, its policy defined, it is now in . a ; to . rely , on ordinary, party loyalty keeping its supporters together. Mr. Ramsay :Macdonald, M.P. for Leicester, and secretary of the party, on being interviewed, said the; pro-1 posed change would remove one of "the objections to a reversal of the Osborne judgment, but; Osborne..or no .Osborne, the pledge had always been regarded as temporary, and would have been abolished. '' ' . The -"Daily Express"' (Unionist) quotes; the statenieht inthe Osborne case' that-the . party , pledge was illegal and void, because it was against public policy. . ■ ''Hho "Express" adds that Mr. D. J. Shackleton, > i Labour member . for Clitheroe;.' and; most, of, the moderate members; of- the,, party have siiice. been, in negotiation; with the Government, and. it. is- generally"believed; that'- Mr'. 4squith insisted; on,the abolition of; the pledge as a preliminary to any change he. may introduce. : , ' Present ' indications '. are' ;, that - the ' abolition of the pledge offers a basis for compromise, . . inasmuch . as v tho Cabinet has emphasised . the necessity of the Socialist wire-pullers : making ,":a. j substantial concession to .. the -. / Liberal 1 stalwarts,, to whom; tho pledge is... Ob- '.i noxious, and -is, preventing' the. Labour Party from • helping the Liberal candidates: in industrial .constituencies. :'. . : The 'Daily .Chronicle" (Liberal) states that according to. Mr. ,Ramsay Macdonald tho executive's -decision does not amount to very much..' Most people, however, , will think that it amounts to. a groat deal, and will profoundly influence futuro Labour policy, j If ' there had been no pjedge thero would have been no Osborne case, and the. abolition of the! pledge, will'removeJ the most 1 formidable obstacle ito tho Labour I. demand;- for the. reversal; of; tho judgment. Ever sinco the, Miners' Federation joined the Labour party tho | trade unionist section has been growing -in /influence in the party's councils, and tho proposed abolition of the pledge looks uncommonly like, a victory for.; Trade . Unionism, .as distinguished from Socialism;; If ■ any real Labour grievance should remain; after the payment of members-of Parliament ' has, been secured, a legislative remedy- will be' promptly forthcoming'. r . v ; : . j.;- ! ' The "Daily News" (Liberal) ; "States theVLiberals , may congratulate the Labour men on ridding themselves of a. restriction vhich might-have prejudiced them-- in the struggle, for; : .demMracy'that will