Labour's Appeal.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18202, 13 October 1924, Page 8

Labour's Appeal.

Mr Ramsay Mac Donald's appeal to the country points rather to the things that Labour intends to do than to the record of work already carried out. We may, however, ask ourselves at this stage what the Labour Government has achieved that is. likely to help it with the average, elector. The most bitter of its critics would probably agree that it has at least kept the name of Labour as sweet politically as it was twelve months ago. While Liberalism •is rapidly losing caste, the Labour Party stood- better ten days ago with those who arc not Liberals than it ever did before; and the worst t.hat\ has happened in the interval is that ;for a day or two it lost its head. The average citizen probably thinks that, if the Government has done no good it has done no particular harm. It has not solved the problem of unemployment, or done anything for the unemployed that either of the other Parties could not have improved upon. Its social legislation has indeed been its chief failure —an admittedly tragic proof of the difference between making promises 011 the public platform, and getting them carried out. But Labour lias done a good deal better in the Foreign Office. Whatever opinion posterity may have of the value of the London and other Conferences, it is a fact at present that Labour has nothing to be ashamed of in its handling cf foreign affairs but the loan negotiations with Russia. If the electors had nothing to consider but the majmer in which (lie Government had handled the problems left with it by its predecessors, Mr MacDonald could look forward to the 29th with .1 good deal of confidence. But the electors have to consider what kind of programme Labour will introduce as soon as it is strong enough, and what manner of men they are who offer themselves as its policy-makers. In point of fact they are a safe enough team, but entirely mediocre in mind and personality. Even Mr Mac Donald, though he began with a big reputation, lost prestige in the Commons. Mr Snowden is sincere and acute, while Mr Wliedtley is clever and knows the uses of sentimentality; but not one of them is a statesman in any big sense. And when you get past them you have only such men as Mr J. H. Thomas, a man of undisciplined but contagious enthusiasm, Mr Olynes, Mr Shaw, Mr Webb, Mr Buxton, and so on, useful nonentities or ineffective doctrinaires.