ments for the collection and publication of very complete labor statistics, including wages, earnings, hours of labor, and other matters affecting the working classes, together with statistics as to prices, production, cost of living, etc., arranged in such a way as to throw light on the conditions of labor.

A MEASURE has passed the House of Commons making the Returning Officers' fees at elections payable out of the rates. At the time of writing this it looks as if the Lords will throw out the Bill.

THE attempted annexation of Burmah continues to be attended with difficulty, cost, and loss of life. It is another page of a very old story of our crime and shame in the East. To quote the words of the Tha-tha-nabaing, or Buddhist Archbishop, to the special correspondent of the Times, "Although the British have possession of the city and country, they are not ruling it. They have not conquered the country and people.'

"

IN France a question which has been more or lest agitated ever since the fall of the Empire has now assumed an acute form. It is now proposed to expel from France all the members of any of the families which have hitherto reigned in that country. On the fall of the Empire the National Assembly repealed the law which had banished the Bourbon and Orleans princes. It now proposes to re-enact this, with the wider proscription of the Bonaparte family.

A proposition de loi, influentially backed, has been submitted to the Chamber of Deputies by M. Yves Guyot for the separation of religious worship from State endowment or State control.

IN Belgium the recent elections have given an increase of strength to the clerical party, and strong reactionary tendencies are manifested by the Government. The Belgian police have recently compelled several persons-visitors to the workmen's congress-to quit the kingdom.

IT is regrettable to find that Holland, for the first time for very many years, has its trial for high treason founded on mere spoken or written words, none of which appear to have in any way exceeded the ordinary latitude of advanced political advocacy.

KING Louis of Bavaria, officially declared mad and incapable of reigning, has since committed suicide. The new King Otto has been mad for many years, and a Regency has been established.

THERE are rumors in Spain of a revolutionary movement of Republican character, and also of projected Carlist risings. These are all officially contradicted, and it is not easy to judge how much truth is at the bottom of the rumors.

THE elections to the new House of Commons in Nova Scotia turned on the question of the withdrawal of that colony from the Dominion of Canada, which withdrawal received a majority of votes, and is favored by the local Government. CHARLES BRADLAUGH.

AMONG my Socialist contemporaries, I note the Commonweal' as the best weekly. The Practical Socialist prints Sidney Webb's interesting paper on "What Socialism Means", and T. Mann's useful argument on an "Eight-Hours Working Day". The June number is a very good one. The Christian Socialist has the report of the Edinburgh Social Reform Society for its pièce de résistance. The Tribune des Peuples issues its second number, in which the most notable item is a short article by Elisée Reclus, "Pourquoi sommes-nous Anarchistes?". To-Day continues the translation_of Marx, has a strong article on the religious education of children, and a graceful poem by P. B. Marston.

THE Leicester District Co-operative Record for June rightly gives the place of honor to Lloyd Jones. The Republicans speaks doubtfully on the Irish problem, and has a long notice of Fabian Tract No. 4. Present Day has passed into new hands, and promises to be of more interest than heretofore.

AMONG political pamphlets "The Great Trial, Fair Trade v. Free Trade", by J. Lovell, claims attention for the originality of the method in which the arguments are presented; it deserves a wide circulation. Dr. Crosskey's pamphlet on "The Liberal Policy with Respect to National Education 918 argues for the establishment of universal School Boards, complete control by the Boards of all schools receiving grants, and abolition of school fees; a very useful and timely pamphlet. The "Perversion of Scotland" is the first of a series of pamphlets attacking the Scotch Establishment, and is marked by the fulness of knowledge and lucidity of statement which characterise all the writings of Mr. John Robertson. "Practical Land Nationalisation", by Leo Dare, proposes to give landowners 3 per cent. consols in exchange for their land, reckoned at sixteen years purchase.

THE Fabian Society has issued a report made to it on the "Government Organisation of Unemployed Labor". I differ from many of its proposals, but it is certainly worth reading, and may be had by applying to the Secretary.10 The "Woman Question "," by E. and E. M. Aveling, deals with the injury done to a righteous union between the sexes by the commercial spirit of the time, and the changes likely to arise under Socialism. "Socialism and the Worker" is an admirable pamphlet by F. A. Sorge, and is just the thing to give to an enquirer.

1 Socialist League, 13, Farringdon Road, E.C. 2 W. Reeves, 185, Fleet Street, E.C. 317, Rue de Loos, Paris.

H. Banbury and Co., 28, Dover Street, Leicester. 5 G. Standring, 8 and 9, Finsbury Street, E.C. J. Heywood, 11, Paternoster Buildings, E.C. 6

Halfpenny Weekly Office, 5, Hind Court, Fleet Street, E.C. 8 National Liberal Federation, Birmingham. 9 Freethought Publishing Company, 63, Fleet Street, E.C.

10 150, Portsdown Road, W. 11 Swan Sonnenschein and Co., Paternoster Row. 12 Modern Press, 13, Paternoster Row, E.C.

The members of the Fabian Society assert that the system of production for profit instead of production for use ensures the comfort and happiness of the few at the expense of the sufferings of the many, and that society must

be reconstructed in such a manner as will secure the general welfare and happiness.

AIM.

The aim of the Society is to help forward the reconstruction of the Social System in accordance with the highest moral possibilities.

METHODS.

The holding of meetings for discussion, reading of papers and reports. The delegation of members to attend meetings on social questions, debates at workmen's clubs, etc. The publication of tracts and pamphlets, pointing out the evils and immorality of the present system and advocating a policy of reconstruction. The appointment of members to put forward the views of the Society in lectures and addresses.

The Fabian Society collects and diffuses information on social questions; its objects are educational as well as militant. It seeks recruits from all ranks of society, believing that not only those who suffer from the present system, but also many who personally benefit by it, recognise its evils and will welcome a remedy.

The Fabian Society looks for the reconstruction of the social system in the emancipation of all natural and accumulated wealth from the control of individuals or classes, by placing such wealth in the hands of the Community for the general benefit. The Fabian Society further endeavors to help forward the regeneration and evolution of Society, and insists that only a general high sense of duty and the subordination of individualistic aims to the general good can bring about true justice and true liberty, and ensure the true dignity of Man.

BRANCHES.

66

Fabian Societies may be formed in any town or district by not less than ten persons, each such society prefixing to the name Fabian Society" the name of its town or district, and using only such localised title in all publications and notices. Each such Fabian Society shall fix its own rate of subscription, shall have complete control over its own funds, and shall make its own rules; subject to the proviso that no rule shall be made which conflicts with the bas's and aim of the central Society. It shall appoint one of its members as Corresponding Secretary, and communicate the name and address of the member so chosen to the Executive of the Fabian Society, thus providing facilities for intercommunication, for the circulation of literature, and for the exchange of lecturers.

All information may be obtained from the Secretary, Mr. Edward Pease, 150, Portsdown Road, London, N.W. The Society meets on the first and third Fridays of every month.

On June 4th the Committee appointed by the Society brought up its report on "the Government organisation of unemployed labor". A long discussion took place, and as much difference of opinion was shown abou the propositions made in the report, it was resolved on the motion of Annie Besant that instead of its adoption by the Society, it should only be "ordered to be printed for the information of members". Copies can be had on application to the Secretary. The second monthly meeting was occupied in discussing a paper by Mr. Graham Wallas, on "Personal duty under the present system ".

ity

By far the most important work of the Society in June was the Conference called by it on June 9th, 10th, and 11th, "to discuss the present commercial system, and the better utilisation of national wealth for the benefit of the community". The exertions of the Committee charged with the business arrangements were crowned with success, and six most interesting meetings were held. Of the four other Socialist organisations, the Socialist League, the Socialist Union, and the Anarchist Group of Freedom, took active part in the Conference. The Social Democratic Federation at first promised co-operation, but withdrew shortly before the date fixed for the meetings. The support given was, however, so wide that the unexpected defection caused no difficulty. About sixty societies were represented, among them the Land Restoration Leagues of England, of Scotland, and of Ireland, the Land Nationalisation Society, the National Secular Society, the leading Radical Clubs of London and its environs, the Socialist Societies of Sheffield, Bristol, and Edinburgh, etc. The Conference was opened at 5.30 on June 9th by Hubert Bland, who briefly explained the objects of the gathering, and then called on Mr. J. B. Wallace (Irish Land Restoration Society) to read a paper entitled "Just and gentle Nationalisation". He was followed by Mr. W. Jameson (Land Nationalisation Society) on "The utilisation of Land"; and then Mr. W. Saunders, M.P., read a vigorous paper on the "Taxation of Ground Rents". Mr. Saunders drew vigorous applause by his declaration against private property in land, as did Mr. Jameson by his emphatic statement that they wanted no millionaires as landlords in place of the present owners. The discussion was opened by Mr. Stern (John Bright Club), who advised advances towards nationalisation by gradual changes. Dr. Russell Wallace objected to Free Trade in Land as a step in the wrong direction, and argued against making a new proprietary as increasing vested interests in a vicious system. Mr. G. W. Foote (National Secular Society) declared against private property in land, and denied the right of a holder to bequeath it. Mr. Banner (Woolwich Radical Club) complained that compensation to the rich was proposed, while compensation to the poor was never thought of; he respected no right which made him live in poverty while he enriched another, and declared that those who wanted luxury ought to work for it. Graham Wallas (Fabian) thought that buying out was impossible; the money could only be got from the people, and that was not the way to help them. Mr. Duncan (Lambeth Democratic Association) made a violent attack on Mr. Saunders. The Conference adjourned till 8. At 8, the Rev. S. D. Headlam in the chair, Mr. F. Johnson (National Refuge Harbors Society) read a paper on "Refuge Harbors". He was followed by Edward Carpenter (Sheffield Socialist Society) with a most interesting paper on "Cottage Life on Land", in which he gave his own personal experiences as a small agriculturalist. Charles Bradlaugh, M.P. gave a careful paper on "Waste Lands", advocating the proposals he laid before Parliament in the spring. Mr. Corin (No Rent League) advised the Building Society plan. J. Cuerel (John Bright Club) supported Mr. Bradlaugh. Dr. Clark, M.P. pointed out that the abolition of rent would mean the creation of a new favored class: rent was the equivalent for higher natural fertility, and should continue to be paid, but to the State. Sidney Webb (Fabian) laid stress on the wrong of paying rent to individuals, and urged that wheat should be raised in the most suitable countries. John Robertson (National Secular Society) argued against S. Webb's view as to the non-cultivation of poor soils. Annie Besant (Fabian) summed up the results of the discussion, and noted that no reader or speaker had said a word in favor of private property in land. Brief replies by the readers of papers brought the evening to a close. On June 10th, Mrs. Fenwick Miller in the chair, Sidney Webb read a paper on "the Need of Capital", and was followed by one from Mr. Cherrie (Scottish Land Restoration League) read by the

Mr.