Evening Post FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1914. FINESSE FOR THE ELECTIONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 73, 27 March 1914, Page 6

Evening Post FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1914. FINESSE FOR THE ELECTIONS

Though the Red Federals' official organ has entreated the " revolutionists " to beware of the soft speech of Liberals, there is circumstantial evidence of an understanding, even if it is not an " entente cordiale," for mutual benefit. Salaried leaders and propagandists of the Reds are lavish with scorn and contempt of the vague Liberal Party, but much of the scoffing may be for selfish reasons. The rank and file are urged not to lose their individuality m the fog of Liberalism. If the sheep do thus lose themselves, then a few shepherds will have to look for other occupations. It iej only by making credulous men "see red" that the organisers can hold their billets. The leaders are shouting : " Stop ! look out ior the Liberal engine." The wayfarers pause, and they see (by the aid of Liberal mesmerists) a combined passenger and goods train — cosy seats, and every material comfort, by pressing the button. Also the Reds hear the Liberal roar of " Down with Massey," and the words are as sweet to them as 'the strains of the "Marseillaise." They are willing to join in a sympathetic strike at the Government, and the Liberals are giving them all possible assistance to hate the Ministry which had the courage to show a firm front to " revolutionary Socialism" last year. Mr. P. Webb, M.P. (formerly president of the Red Federation), spoke at Greymouth last night. The Press Association summary states: "Labour and Liberals must engineer the situation so that the Massey Government must go out and that this time next year would see Sir Joseph Ward back in office." One may speculate much between those lines. Has Mr. Webb been assured, or has he been led to -hope surely, that the Liberal Party; will not have an official candidate for the Grey seat? Has there been any bargaining? On several occasions The Post has been able to quote evidence of Liberal ruses to profit by the Socialists' hostility to the Government, which declined to be bluffed by a raucous chorus of terrorism. The thought in the Liberal campaigners* minds is that the Reds can be used to restore Sir Joseph Ward to office, without unduly compromising the cautious wooers, and later on the clandestine allies could be kept in their proper place. Enough has been done and more than enough has been said to justify suspicions of the Liberals' scheme. The time has come for Sir Joseph Ward to declare his attitude to the Red Federation of Labour. The Opposition Leader's references to the strike have been mainly criticism of the Government. Here is a simple question : Will Sir Joseph Ward state a plain opinion regarding the constitution of the so-called United Federation of Labour and its industrial methods? That query should be put to him at one of his public meetings. Sir Joseph should be obliged to either define his position clearly or to expose any elusiveness or evasiveness. Id Christchurch there is another kind of conjunction — the Progressive Liberal and Labour Association, which has issued a manifesto. The document is strongly redolent of a policy speech delivered recently by Mr. G. W. Russell. It is about as blatant a piece of electioneering as any political party has perpetrated in any country; it is " humanitarianism " inn amok. If it is worth while later on The Post will fairly expose to public ridicule that latest plot to dazzle the less thoughtful sections of electors. The manifesto is chiefly remarkable for its tevelation of the compilers' boundless belief "that the public will swallow any gilded plank of any crazy platform. The Liberals evidently share with Red Federal leaders tui opinion that the standard of Jiublifi inteJJigefi.ce ie.xeiy, llotw t