The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1915. A BLOW TO THE ANTI-WAR PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1915. A BLOW TO THE ANTI-WAR PARTY.

Oae of the most cheering items of news received from Britain for a long time past appears in to-day's cables relative to the result of the Mertliyr Tydvil parliamentary election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. J. Keir Hardie, who was chairman of the labor Party in the House of Commons until 1907, but who in 1914 declined to seek re-election as chairman of the Independent Labor Party, although Merthyr is one of its greatest strongholds. It might be thought that the events ;n connection with the obstinate strike of the Welsh miners some while back would have had a very strong effect on the men as regards .the casting of their votes against the Government, but the splendid victory achieved at the poll by Mr. Stanton has proved beyond all doubt that the large majority of the miners are imbued with true British instincts, and that the war has aroused their patriotism and extinguished their party politics in a way that should have a strong effect on the whole of the workers of the Empire. The issue on which the election was fought was solely that of the war, and the Independent Labor Party devoted its whole strength and well organised power to secure the return of its nominee, Mr. Winstone. It was a fight between the anti-war element and the true

British patriots, and we rejoice that ; there was a two to one majority i against the anti-war party. In view of ' the recent labor troubles this victory ! reflects the highest credit on the constituency, for it shows that the miners, though willing to fight for their rights as workers, are equally, if not more, willing to support the nation in its terrible ordeal of warfare against a tyrannous foe. 'What makes Mr. Stanton's success the more notable is the fact that ho is an advanced Socialist; but he is a Britisher first, a warm supporter of the Coalition Ministry and of the war, oven going to the length of favoring conscription if determined on. We have been prone, in the past, to regard Socialists as unfavorable to constituted authority, as pledged to peace and antagonistic to war, and more or fes ■us political thorns in the flesh. Mr. I Stanton has now set up a far different I and a most welcome standard. Hs election by so large a majority, in face of such strongly organised opposition, is a crushing blow to the anti-war pnriy in Britain, and it will be hailed with intense satisfaction not only throughout the Empire, but by all our allies. There were no half measures in connection with his candidature, no truculinf, j for the sake of catching votes, for he j resigned, the leadership of the mimrs on | account of his disapproval of the views j of the local branch of the Independent : , Labor Party. It was a manly, courase- ! ous act, that might under somj eir- ! cumstanees have brought about his de- ! feat, and that it brought success is a tribute to his personality and princyl'?. a* well as a glowing testimony to thi patriotism of the electors. The triumph is one that comes at a very fitting time, and it should serve to chee. and aid the British Government in its arduous task of putting sufficient men into the firing line to hasten the end of the war, and devote its energies to the readjustment of affairs so as to meet the | effects of the struggle In a way that j will best conduce to the welfare of the :, peopl«, (