New-York tribune., 1908-12-20
TRADE UNION LEVIES
ILLEGAL Methods of Finar1ce-LegIs-
lAtiUe Relief.


Trade unionism has again been placed on ths
defensive by tho action OF the courts Inc
Court OF Appeal has decided that the funds OF
a trade union cannot be used for defrayinS the
expenses of the Labor party or the salaries OF
reprasentatives In the House Of Commons. Com
puIsory levies upon the unions for political pur-
poses are condemned as Illegal under the acts
under which they have been established, and
also as contrary to public policy, since members
elected or paid with TIE help OF such FUNDS
cease to be representatives of their constituen-
cies and become deputies without freedom OF
action and subject to prosecution under the cor
rupt practices laws. Unless the House Of Lords
as the final court OF appeal reverses the de-
cision, the current methods OF financing the
Labor party will have to be abandoned tenn
porarily. Campaign funds cannot be raised by
assessments upon the members OF trade unions
at the rate OF penny or a shilling, as tho case
may be. Neither miners members nor the SAL
aried deputies OF the labor representation COM
mittee can receive the pittances required for
their support at Westminster. Voluntary sub
scriptions are not excluded. but when there
hundreds of thousands Of trade unonists this is
not practical substitute for collective action.
The Labor members clamoring at once
for amendments OF the trade union acts. which
will enable organized labor to raise money for
political purposes They assume that this can
be done as easily as the decisions OF the courts
were counteracted in the Trades Disputes Act.
There was, however, unanimity when ths trade
unions demanded that their funds should be
protected against suits for damages from picket
ing and strikes. There will not be the same
concentration OF working opinion over the
power of the majority TO compel the minority
to raise money for the election and support OF
representatives whose views are distssteful to
u-hiC hos led
reaching decision was brought by trade union
ist strenuously opposed 20 socialism. He repre-
sented thousands of oldtime, conservative work
men, who were not prepared to accept the dcta-
tion of extremists like Mr.. Keir Hardie and to
have their shillings applied to systematic cam
paigning on advanced lines. There will not be
the same unity OF action in pressing for fresh
legislation for enabling trade unions to finance
political movements that there was when their
funds were liable for suits for damages from
corporations and employers. Yet there will be
sufficient democratic force to secure special leg
islation
There are now thtrty-one members of ParIia-
ment in receipt of f2O0 year from the Labor
Representation Committee after their election
expenses have been paid. There are eleven
members who supported by the Miners
Federation and fourteen other trade unionists
who receive financial assistance from various
invaldates ali existing arrangements for the
of trade union funds in obtaining repre-
sentation In Parliament. 1t has created con-
sternation in the labor camp in Parliament
where an ambitious plan OF campaign has been
adopted for contesting scores Of additional seats
at the general election. The money for carrying
on this political work is longer available.
Only one union-the Amalgamated Society of
Railway servants-is directly affected by the
permanent injunction: but the entire system OF
pooling the pennies and shilIlngs OF organized
labor for political objects is condemned as
levies upon the members. and no more allot-
paigning and salaries Of representatives APP
partially suspended until a special act can be
passed to enable trade unions to tax themselves
by majority vote for the sake Of sanding man.
bers 70 Parliament 20 defend their interests
The dscissons Of the courts can b svadsd by the
creation Of sinecurss with 600 salaxtee IN
place Of the present arrangements; but that will
be makeshft unworthy OF the dignity OF self
labor.
What Is good law interpreted by close con-
structionists is feeble democracy. The courts
are in the habit Of restricting the rights OF ma
jorities in the conduct OF voluntary associations
This was done when the amalgamation OF two
powerful Presbyterian churches IN Scotland was
invalidated by the court OF final resort and
properties were placed in the custody OF
a small minority II the majority in any volun-
tary association cannot alter and amend tha
constitution. enlarge the scope OF operations ana
vary the sstivft1ss tnsrs 10 1zsenaz4ty asnznA-