LABOR CANDIDATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 148, 1 October 1910, Page 5

LABOR CANDIDATES

PLEDGES NOT TO BE EXACTED. EFFECT OF THE OSBORNE JUDGMENT. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. Received 30, 10.10 p.m. London, September 30. The executive of the Labor Party has resolved to recommend the Leicester Conference in February to abolish the signing of the Union's constitution by labor Parliamentary candidates. The executive argue that the party has now established a policy which defines its position and is able to rely on ordinary party loyalty. Mr. Ramsay MSacdonald', M.P., interviewed, said the proposed change would remove one of -the objections to the reversal of the Osborne judgment, but the Osborne judgment or no Osborne judgment, the pledge would always be regarded as temporary and would have been abolished. The Daily Express quotes the judges' statement in the Osborne case that the pledge exacted of a Labor candidate was illegal and void, because it was against public policy. The paper adds that Mr. D. J. Shackleton, M.P., and the most moderate members of the party had been sinoe in negotiation with the Government oil the matter. "It is generally believed," says the Express, "that Mr. Asquith insisted on the abolition of the pledge as a preliminary to any change he may introduce. The indications are that the abolition of the pledge offers a basis of compromise inasmuch as the Cabinet emphasised the necessity of the Socialist wirepullers making a substantial concession to the Liberal stalwarts to whom the pledge was obnoxious, and preventing the Labor Party from helping Liberal candidates in industrial constituencies." The Chronicle states that according to Mr. Ramsay Mkcdomald the executive's decision does not amount to very much. Mlost people, however, will think it amounts to a great-deal. It must, says the Chronicle, profoundly influence the future of the Labor policy.

STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY. POWER OF LABOR UNIONS. Received October 1,12.55 a.m. London, September 30. The Chronicle says that if there had been no pledge there would have been no Osborne case. Abolition would remove the most formidable obstacle to the Labor demand for its reversal. Evei since the Miners' Federation had joined the Labor Paity, the trade unionist section was growing in influence in the party's councils. The abolition looks uncommonly like victory for trade unionism, as distinguished from Socialism, if any real labor grievance should remain after the payment of members is secured, the legislative remedy would be promptly forthcoming. The Daily News states that the Liberals may congratulate the labor men on getting rid of a restriction which might have prejudiced them in a struggle for democracy reopening within three weeks.