THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK,

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1835, 22 August 1913, Page 6

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK,

The Opposition, or perhaps it would be more correct to say the main portion of the "Liberal" section of '.the Opposition, is reported to have decided 1 last evening to again request Sir Joseph Ward to take up the Leadership, of the party. Up to the present the member for Awarua has been very shy of-' committing himself to the task of attempting to stop the rot which has set in not only in the ranks of the party in Parliament, but amongst its supporters throughout the country.' To most people it may probably seem that lie has dallied over-long in making lip his' mind' as' to his future intentions politically, but it must be admitted that the honour which the dominant section of the party wish to confer on him is not a very alluring- one. Still, he has a great deal to thank the "Liberal" party for, despite its attitude.towards him after the last general election; and in its present plight it is entitled to turn to him for such assistance as he can render it. Judging the party on its'past methods it would seem that it is now fairly confident that the member for Awarua will comply with- the request that is to be made to him. Had members of the party been possessed of any serious doubts as to his accept ance of the .Leadership they would hardly, have been likely to lay themselves open to a public rebuff at the hands of Sik Joseph Ward by formally publishing the resolution arrived at. In the meantime those of the "Liberal" following who have been hoping to secure an alliance with . the reorganised LabourSocialists, who are reported to be increasing their strength throughout the' circles of organised unionism, arc meeting with a very chilling reception. The "Sqcial-Dcmocrats," as they style themselves, are not only very stand-offish, but are indeed extremely offensive to their would-be "Liberal" allies. This week's issue of their official organ states the views of the Labour-Socialists in the bluntest fashion:

This paper, it says, has endeavoured to emphasise again and yet again that a working-class party to count for aught must be absolutely free and independent of any alliance, direct or indirect, with any other party. It has endeavoured to b'how that when in the heyday of i(s power the Liberal party was as brutally arrogant in its treatment of Lalwur as ever the Mas-ey party knew how (o be. It wasn't Mnsss.v but Findlay that threatened the workers wilh the Eiot Act at the time Hie slaughtermen struck some five or six years ago. We had a sample in Johannesburg the other day. The party may be chastened temporarily today, but back of it and in it are (he same material interests that prompted the threat, of a few years ago. . . . The only justification a working-class political party has for its existence is its indejxWenco. If it is not independent it i should not exist j tlioro is 310 aoed for it;

its members can find room in one or tho oilier of the capitalist parties,

This, of course, is logical enough, though it,must be very discouraging to those of our "Liberal"- friends who had looked forward hopefully to utilising the forces of organised Labour to further their own ends. In the same article in the official organ of the Social-Democrats, from which we have quoted, appears a further interesting reference bearing on recent happenings:

'Let lis see (tho paper remarks) isn't it t'lie Liberals who are now shrieking at the t.vu'iuruy—and it is tyranny—of the M'nsseyites for refusing tiie police tho right to farm, nn association, and for dismissing Constable Smyth tho Force? Was it not the Liberals jit tho very lioicht of their, power who vindictively sacked J. A. M'Culloiigh from tho Railway Service after a -score or more years of service—solely because lio had views and the courage to express them? Aualyso either party as .vera will, there daren't appear to be much difference between thorn, and why any otherwise intelligent worker should request us to speak of t-lra Liberals in a different voice to that used against Reform passetli all understanding. Weighed in tho light of their past and present wickedness, both are equally abhorrent to us, even if one should favour iMiw wlicro it hitherto flagrantly abused.

It would 'almost seem that the suggested return of Sir Ward to the Leadership of the "Liberal" party had served to recall unpleasant memories to the Labour-Socialists, and stimulated their antagonism to "Liberalism."