ENGLAND. While Socialist ideas probably have as much influence in England as in any country, and possibly even a greater influence. they find expression rather in a molding of the thought of other political parties than in any distinct so cialist party. The chief power of socialism has been seen in the social reforms which have been accomplished in England during the past,twenty years. There are at present three organizations in England which may be regarded as at once political and Socialist. There is first the Fa bian Society (q.v.), whose members aim, not only to carry on a propaganda for socialist thought, hut to promote the election of Socialists in any way which may seem most feasible at the proper tune and place. It is essentially an op portunist organization in it s practical tactics. There is next the Independent Labor Party, formed in .Tanunry, 1893, the object of which is "the collective ownership and control of the means of production. distribution. and exchange." Finally. there is the Social Democratic Federa tion, among whose adherents H. M. Hyndman (q.v.) and H. Quelch are prominent. This lat ter organization represents Marxist socialism in England and is the oldest body, dating from 1581. In this connection special mention must be made of the Labor Representation Committee, which seeks to promote "the representation of the interests of labor in tit:. House of Commons." The Socialists claim that they had about 50, 000 votes in 1900. Keir Hardie represents the Socialists in Parliament and there are three other members with Socialist affiliations. In local elec tions, Socialists have frequently been success ful, and for some time the London County Council has been to a very appreciable extent under the influence of Socialists. It may be
said that the greatest trade unions have to sonic extent been brought under the influence of socialism. This is seen in the adoption by the Trade Union Congress at Belfast in 1893 of a resolution demanding collective ownership and operation of industries; in other words, pure socialism. This can be interpreted io mean more than it really does. it indicates a dis appearance of avowed hostility to socialism on the part of trade unionists; it shows that the name socialism is no longer feared, and that it meets with a certain sympathy. The trade union movement has in England become in the main indifferent to active socialism. but may be described as having mild Socialist inclinations.
Hyndman and Qnelch have been mentioneu as leaders of the Social Democratic Federation. E. Belfort I3ax may also be mentioned as prominent in this group. The Social Democrat, a monthly journal, and Justice, a weekly, edited by Quelch, are organs of the Social Democratic Federation.
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Webb, G. Bernard Shaw (q.v.), and Edward R. Pease are leading members of the Fabian Society. the last named being its secretary. The organ is the Fabian Yews. Keir Hardie and J. Ramsay MacDonald are prominent members of the Independent Labor Party, the organ of which is the Independent Labor Party which, like the Fabian Yews, is a monthly periodical. Robert Blatchford, the editor of the Clarion, is a popular socialist writer without special affiliations for any one of these three groups.