27 Men on a Bicycle

Health Minister Aneurin Bevan and his closest political friends believe that Socialism is like a bicycle;--if it stops, it topples. Therefore they have long advocated a fast, nonstop nationalization of British industries. Last week it was apparent that the Bevan group had given some ground to the go-slow faction headed by Herbert Morrison. Labor issued the first draft of the platform on which it hopes to be re-elected next year, and the gist was that the Socialist bicycle would move forward at a greatly reduced rate of speed.

Sugar? The 30-page program which last week arrived at the door of every Labor Party bigwig was entitled Labor Believes in Britain. One wag recalled Carlyle's comment to a young lady who declared that she had accepted the Universe: "By God, Madam, you'd better!" A lot of work had gone into its cherry-red, pink-striped covers. For over a year, an army of party researchers had dredged up basic facts. Recently, during a nice weekend on the Isle of Wight, the 27-man Labor Party executive, sparked by Morrison, sifted the data and started knocking a platform together.

"Moderates" like Morrison clashed with Bevan's fast-cycling views. The upshot was a compromise. Nationalization was only extended to six more industries--water supply, meat wholesaling and cold storage, all "suitable" mineral production, industrial insurance, sugar, cement. Actually, three of these are already partially under state control; all can be controlled--Labor hopes--without complex reorganization.

Bromides? The program promised significant concessions to catch the vote of the middle-class housewife. "The voice of the consumer," it proclaimed, "must ring out with strength and emphasis." Above all, Labor rediscovered competition. In a section headed "Encouragement for Enterprise," it called for "development" of competition and the continued "fruitful partnership" between public and private industry and the state.

London's independent Economist wrote icily: "Fustian and bromide . . . [The program] will cause some stirrings in the Socialist graveyards ..." The Liberal Manchester Guardian sniffed: "Skillful patchwork . . . but the triumphant Socialist spirit has evaporated."

The Labor Party fathers touchily replied: "You really must accept our word that our experts know what we are doing . . ."

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