THE FIRST SOCIALIST M.P.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12905, 10 September 1907, Page 6

THE FIRST SOCIALIST M.P.

Few bye-elections for tlie House of Commons during recent years have created the seneatkm that was caused by the recent return of Mr Victor Grayson for the Coin© Valley division of Yorkehire. It was not only that the seat, previously held for fifteen years by an orthodox Liberal, had been won by a candidate whom both bides had agreed to regard as a negligible quantity, but that Mr Grayson etood ac an avowed straight-out Socialitt, and in that capacity achieved the distinction of defeating representatives of the tiro great political parties. There tvere already Socialises in the House of Commons, but they were Labour-Socialiste, elected under the egis of the Labour Representation Committee. Mr Grayson neither sought nor accepted support from the Labour party, or any Labour organisation. Ho stood <m his Socialist platform, and won. He is a man of interesting personality and of considerable force of character. Ho was trained os a school teacher, adopted journalism as his profession, and then entered Owens College, Manchester, with the intention of becoming a Unitarian minister. Ho is also said to havo earned his living as a mechanic for six years, and by his own admission has been a stowaway on a eailing ship and a tramp in Wales, so that his twenty-five years of life havo furnished him with varied experience. His programme includes the State ownership and control of everything, "human equality, sexual equality, and "the abolition of sex ties." "I shall " feel myaelf," he said after hie election '"the member for tie stajving "child and I shall stand for hunum "legislation first. ,. Public opinion on the result of the election wae, of course, divided, and there was a curiously fatuous tendency on the part of supporters of either side to dwell rather on the fact that the opposition candidate had been defeated than on the more significant incident of both being rejected in favour of a Socialist. Thi* is party prejudice run mad. Tho Conservatives who rejoico at the defeat of the Liberal candidate seem to overlook the fact that Socialism, though opposed to the Liberal Government as a Government, ie a etill greater menace to all that Conservatism holds dear,

•while freetrade Liberals gloating over the rejection of a tariff reform candidate, ignore tliedangerto true-Liberal-ism that would follow a widespread acceptance of Socialistic doctrines. Some papers professed to see in the affair the beginnings of a great Socialist political party such as exists iv Germany. Some look upon it as a warning to tho Government that their programme is not sufficiently "advanced," others regard it as the penalty for the Government's " playing up to th& forces of Socialism."' Tho "Pall Mall Gazette," while admitting that the election ie epoch-making, read 6 both parties a lesson. It aeclares that the country is not Socialist; <; its danger lies in a wedge of Social- " ism being driven in between parties "which aro too intent on their own "narrow purpose* to take common " action for the public safety. A " broader view is necessary on both "sides." This was excellent advice, ill view of tho possible conscquencee of a Socialist party securing the balinco of power in ! the Houso of Commons. At the same time, wo do not think there is any present need to fear such a condition arising. One avowed Socialist M.P. does jiot mako a party, and his election does not necee.«arily imply that Socinlism ia beginning to permeate uic English constituencies. Mr Gravson had several circumstances in nis favour. He is young, enthusiastic, well-educated, and ablo from experience to talk to working-class audiences as ono of themselves. Tho Colne Valley constituency is said to Iμ* tho most Socialistic district in tho Uniteo Kingdom, and it has been assiduously "nursed" by Mr Grajson for tho past •two or three years, a steady quiet house-to-houso canvass, combined with tho candidate's courtesy and pleasant address, winning for him a largo personal following. ender nil tho circumstances his success is not particularly surprising.