New-York tribune., 1908-12-20
THE LABOR VOTE IN POLITICS.

That is a highly interesting and important
decision of the British courts to which our
London correspondent calls attention to-day In
his special cable letter, to the effect that the
funds Of trade unions must not be used for po-
nticaI purposes, and 1t must surely, as he sug-
gests have an apprecable effect upon the
future Of British politics. OF the abstract equity
of it there can he little question. The trade
unions We're formed and their funds, some of
which are of enormous size, were amaSsed for
purposes entirely apart from politics They
were for the mutual benefit of the members Of
the unions and their families, for relief IN sick
ness. old age and death. and also for the main
tenance of peaceful strikes and other lawful
methods Of improving the condition Of the mem
bers. To use them for political purposes.
10 pay the campaign and election expenses Of
men ambitious t. shine in Parliament would
be a gross Ierversi0n and a material wrong to
those who became members and contributed to
the funds Oh the understanding that they were
not thus to he used. Moreover. since Parlia-
ment has recently put these funds in a class
apart from all others exempt from the ordinary
processes of the law. it would seem to be highly
improper TO devote 10 partisan campaign pur-
poses what are in effect trust funds thus
Sacredly guarded.
The result of this decision, as our correspond
ent suggests, will be to lessen the number Of
socialist and labor candidates and thus the num-
Der Of tripartite contests for seats and per
haps. though this Is not entirely sure, to send
multitudeS Of labor voters back into the Lib
eral party. Since they cannot pay their cam
paign expenses out Of trade union funds. So
ciaIist agitators will be less ready to put them
selves forward as Parliamentary candidates.
and many men who would vote for them if they
were up will perforce have to vote for Liberal
or Unionist candidates or refrain from voting
altogether. It is probable that q considerable
number Of these will attach themselves to the
Liberal party, which has shown itself somewhat
inclined toward radicalism, but we should be
surprised if they all did so or even a sufficient
number of them to cause material change In
the balance between the two great parties That
is because Of the important growth of the tariff
reform movement and of the conviction on the
part of multitudes Of thoughtful laboring
men that Cobdenism is not the most beneficial
system for them and that the condition Of work
ingmen may be. and In fact is better under pro
lection.
British workingmen see the army Of the unem-
ployed in the United Kingdom steadily growing
TO ominous proportions. while there is actually
scarcity of labor in Germany so that many
British workingmen are f1ocking to the latter
country TO secure better wages than they could
at home, if not TO secure employment which
they could not get at home at any wages. They
may be grateful to the Liberal government for
It's enactment Of the old age pensions law. but
they realize as clearly as any Chancellor of the
Exchequer that that law, with the extensions OF
IT which are already demanded, will cost a large
sum o. money, which must be provided in some
way, and they know, too. that increases of tax
alton at home fall largely upon themselves
The Liberal government now contemplates
substantial increase OF the land tax. which is
perhaps desirable on grounds of equity. for
there is reason to think that that class of pron
erty does not now pay its full share Of taxa
ton. But the workingmen also real!ze Clearly
that tie land tax law viii not ana can not com
pei rentals or other charges to which tenants ora
subject TO remain stationary and that the land
tax, therefore, while II will be directly mid
by the freelolders will In fact largely come o,,+
Of the pockets Of the tenants They Will ask
Why ii would not serve their welfare het+ar IN
have the additional taxation levied instead
upon the imported luxuries Of the rich ana ,no1
those imports which come Into coInnrtifion viii,
British products aud which so dominate tho
British markets 80 to depress British vo,es
and TO deprive British workmen Of emDlovment
These considerations viii we are inclined to
think, cause considerable part of the British