SOCIAL DEMOCRATS IN BRITAIN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 89, 17 April 1911, Page 7

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS IN BRITAIN.

4> . ACCUSATION AGAINST THE LABOUR PARTY. By Telegi-aph.—Presa Association.— Copyright*. LONDON, 15th April. The epeakers at tne Social Democratic Conference at Coventry accused the Labour Party of abandoning independence, and identifying itself with the Liberals. The conference rejected a proposal for national affiliation, but agreed to allow local branches the option of affiliating with Labour branches. The conference denounced the Government's invalidity and unemployment insurance proposals, on the ground that they are not sufficiently democratic. [The modern Socialist movement in Great Britain dates from the foundation of the Social Democratic Federation in London in 1884. Inasmuch (cays Hazell's Annual) aa many of the leaders of the later and more influential Socialist organisations passed through it in earlier days, the federation has had an important part in spreading Socialist opinion, but its rigid doctrinaire policy has kept ils membership relatively small. Tho federation was associated with other organisations in the formation of the Labour Representation Commillee in 1900, but withdrew after one year's affiliation on the ground that it could not work with non-Socialists. It has since, under its present name of the Social Democratic Party, undertaken Parliamentary candidatures on its own account. At the general election of January, 1910. it promoted eleven candidatures, all of which failed. At the election in December last it concentrated its efforts on the candidature of Mr. H. M. Hyndman, at Burnley. Mr. Will Thome (running as a Labour i wae re-elected for South-West Ham. ' Independent Socialist candidatures (all unsuccessful) were those of Mr. Dan. j Irving, Mr. C. N. L. Shaw, and Mr. [ Victor Grayson.] AN ADEQUATE NAVY. (Received April 17, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 16th April. The Social Democratic Conference resolved in favour of an adequate navy and a citizen C? army) .