REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 5, 18 October 1902, Page 3

REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

THERE are some queer surprises lurking behind the ballot boxes.

The coming election will not be fought with precisely the same weapons as the last. The breach between the Trades Unions and the Liberal Federation, which was only a rift in 1899, is now more like the dreary sea that flowed between Roland and Sir Leoline, which, the poet tells us, was the result of words spoken in high disdain, etc. The Labour I'arty have always manifested a wish to go alone, and the inclusion of the word " Liberal " in the title of the Federation founded by the Premier and the late Mr A. Edwards has always been more or less openly resented. We have in our eye at this moment more than one active agent of the party at the last two elections who, while having absolutely no claim whatsoever to the distinction of "labourer," yet favoured the elimination of the objectionable % vord " Liberal " from the headline on the Federation notepaper and collecting books. Of such was the present organising secretary himself, and at the present moment he must feel pretty wild because his idea wasn't accepted. If the whole Government party could have been induced to come into the Labour tent, under the Labour banner, the issue would have been simplicity itself, and the organiser would not at the present moment be wearing out his shoe-leather in rounding up his exceedingly mixed and very disobedient flock. But the tendency of the times is towards sectional rather than party divisions. It is so in Great Britain, in America, and on the Continent, and the latest evidence of it with us is the formation of the Farmers' Union, an organisation that may, under judicious guidance, exercise considerable power. It will be safe to assume that the issue of the coming campaign will not be simply Government v. Opposition, though all who are not against the Government will probably be for it.