New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-09
THE TWO-PENNY FUND.
Hoo Trades Unionists and Socialists
Are to Use It.
London. January %.

London. January %.
The first act Of the Labor Congress was mere
Important than three days Of debate at Belfast.
1t was the passage Of resolution increasing the
payments to the Parliamentary fund from one
penny TO twopence per trades unionist This was
carried unanimously, without word Of discus
sion. whereas every other recommendation OF the
executive council debated extensively. In
this way the campaign subscriptions of a million
organized workmen were doubled. What is now
known as the Labor party with its thirty Mem
bers Of Parliament, IS made up of trades unions
and other bodies affiliated for the purpose OF
securing the election OF representative men and
OF supporting them at Westminster. The levies
are made the basis of membership and the
money is applied TO campaign literature, the re-
turning officers charges and the payment OF
salary Of 300 to every member elected to Par
lament. The twOpence may appear insg-
nifcant the penny, but when there are
million subscribers to the campaign fund 1t is
party finance reduced 20 a system Of tremendous
simplicity. The resources of organized labor ars
massed for Independent political action. The
trades unionists vote follows his twopence. and
there is a campaign fund more effective than
capitalists can command for influencing voters.
Mr.. Harde's group already boasts OF having
secured the passage of the Trades Disputes act.
an immense enlargement OF the Workmens
Compensation law and the Provision Of Meals
measure for school children. BY doubling its
campaign fund II expects to force Liberal Labor
members 10 join #. to increase largely its own
voting strength in Parliament, and gradually to
supplant both the main parties in the strong
holds of power. Within a single year it has be-
come a most formidable political force.
The Belfast conference has emphasized the
fact that the Labor member is not responsible
to the constituency represented by him. but to
the organization which pays his election ex-
penses and salary at Westminster. The indie
pendence Of Members of Parliament has been a
tradition since Burke eloquenty proclaimed him
self representative OF the kingdom and not OF
the local body Of electors: and there have been
frequent revolts against dictation from the home
constituency or the party machine The ques-
ton Of representation now comes up in differ
ent form. The Labor member stands before a
local constituency az a candidate, but when he Is
elected he takes his orders and policies from his
paymas ters. He does not represent the nation
in Burke's sense but the trades union socialist
combination as # is worked by Mr.. Ker Hardie
The two-penny subscribers TO the campaign fund
pitch the tune to which he dances at Westmn-
ster This IS so new and disturbing idea In
constitutional practice that II may hasten tho
substitution OF a saIaried for an unpaid Parlla-
ment. The oldtme theory was that II was be-
z
legislative services. and that the high and rather
exclusive character OF the best social club in
London could be maintained by making 1t most
expensive 20 enter Parliament and 20 remain In
IT, Now that Labor members, with the trades
union campaign fund behind them. cannot be
keut out It becomes an urgent question whether
the nation ought not to become tho paymaster.
Certainly the Labor members viii be moro inde-
pendent and I'm q better position 20 represent
the home constituencies II their salaries are paid
from the national Treasury rather than the
t,yo-penny subscription fund
There was a strenuous struggle at Belfast
between the old fashioned trades untonism and
the new socialism. represented IN what is now
a composite Labor party. There were repeated
divisions and on the whole II drawn
battle one section wanted the socialists 20
become trades unionists and 10 emancipate
themselves from the control OF political ad-
venturers, who had never been workingmen. II
was defeated. but the minority was strong and
uncompromisiug. Another section was bent
upon dsquaufy ing any working candidate who
was not a socialist. and 10 proclaim as the
party programme the overthrow OF tho present
competitive system OF capitalism and the in
stItution Of system Of public ownership and
control OF all the means OF life" These pro-
posals were rejected by overwhelming ma
Jority. There were angry protests against put
ting woman suffrage before work for the unenl-
ployed. and Mr. Hardie was reproached for
being taken IN by the petticoats. There were
open revots against irresponsible leadership.
which relieved the Labor members from obliga-
lions TO the organized party. and there was a
definite declaration that the time and method
Of giving effect 10 the instructions OF the CON
gress should he left TO the Labor group In the
Commons and the executive committee. 1t came
to this-that there must be truce between
socialists and trades unionists and that ag-
gresslve tactics against both Liberalism and
Conservatism We're more timely and servlceable
than programmes. Mr.. Stephenson, the chair
man. set the key in this declaration OF policy;
The unemployed man, the III employed woman
and the employed child constitute q disgrace to
the nation calling itself civilized. and until they
are removed the work of the Labor party is In
complete" That perhaps, IS the best explana-
ton Of the purpose for which the two-penny
campaign fund drawn from n million workers
is to be used-at least for this year
1 N. F.