New-York tribune., 1909-09-19
TRADE UNION POLITICS
President ShacIcIeton's Address-Co-
Glition 1Cith Radicalism.
london. sentanher 5.

Congress held this week at Ipswich. and 1t is
fact OF farreaching significance. He is not an
uncOmpromising Socialist. like Mr.. Keir Hardie.
but an old-fashioned trade unionist. who be-
lieves in the direct representation Of labor in
Parliament and IN. active cooperation with the
progressive Liberal party as the organization
that is most likely TO favor democratic policies.
Except on the single point OF increased military
and naval expenditures which he considers un-
necessary. he finds himself in hearty agreement
with the advanced men in the Cabinet He well
comes the labor exchanges and the trade boards
bills measures which have been favored by
trade union congresses and forced upon the at
tention of ministers: he Is grateful 20 the gov
ernment for old age pensions. and confidently
SNpects an enlargement of tine system by the re-
moval OF the poor law relief restriction; he Gis-
cusses sympatheticaly the suggestions OF Mr..
Lloyd George and Mr.. Winston Churchill
specting insurance against unemployment sick
ness and invaIidity and the Oxford scheme for
tutoriaI classes for worSfngnen; and he describes
the Radical budget as the greatest financial re-
form of modern times. The presidential address.
supported II is by the Parliamentary COM
mittee's report brings organized labor into line
with the government Of the day for the next
general election.
The address is a practical proof that the Lib
eral government has strengthened the party alli-
ance with trade unIonists by introducing sys-
tenn OF financing social reforms. This represen-
tative body of wage earners Is informed that the
money can be found for pensiouins off the aged.
for feeding poor children in the schools. for pro-
viding for the unemployed and for carrying out
other humane movements. and that this viii be
done without uuduIy taxing the poor, but by
placing the burdens shoulders which can bear
them Mr.. Shacketon being the witness. the
Liberal government has not only the viii but
the way to help the masses. and its methods OF
tgcsaton are consequently exciting the greatest
enthusiasm among the workers OF the country.
The only alternative policy Is tariff reform. and
the labor leader rejects u because he IL
vlnced that working people win find il system
for increasing the cost OF the necessares Of life
and making il more expensive for the poor 20
feed and clothe themselves. Ee does not state
the case Of the tariff reformers fairly. but he
draws the ready inference that economic les in the
pleasures and luXuries OF rich landlords are less
deplorable than unfair taxation OF the poor, by
which the mental and physical development OF
the masses viii inevitably be- retarded. TAe
threats of the dukes and other titled IandhoIders
cut down their charities. to discharge depen-
dents. To abandon their shOOtings and to reduce
their expenditures are resented by him. and the
budget becomes more democratic and helpful TO
the masses when he perceives how hostile and
intolerant are the rich
Can the Urionists offer anything in exchange
for the governments social reforms and rough
and ready methods OF forcing the wsIi-tO-dO
classes to Pay for them? That is now the prac-
ticaI issue which tariff reformers are consid-
ering with searching OF heart They cannot al
ford 10 oppose any Of the measures which min
listers have brought forward for the relief OF
the poor, the unemployed and the great army
OF workers. Their own press has warned them
that Tory democracy must be revived and that
II must be as comprehensive advanced Radi-
calism: but when thatSis done what ground
will be left for national campaign against
Socialism? Who Is To be the evangeI OF the
new Tory democracy Not Mr. BaifOur for the
masses will never be convinced that his heart
is in social reforms: nor Mr. Austen Chamber
lain for he lacks his fathers power OF interest
ing himself in old age pensions. agrarian
forms and insurance schemes for the emer-
gencies of working life; nor Lord Miner. in
genIous and logical as are his pleas for thor
ough-going revision Of the tarif. Now that Mr..
Winston Churchill has changed parties and
become the whipper-in OF the new Rad!calism.
there Is nobody on the Uuionist side who
take the field as the leader OF the Tory Democ-
racv The trade uniOnists understand this.
They feel that they have everything To gain by
supporting the coalition with the government
OF the day. and nothing to lose by attacking the
lords the landholders. the brewers and every
class of property owners.
The tarif refoTmers have their s-gument-
and il is d strong one-that their policy viii
provide more employment at better wages that
IL will broaden the basis Of taxation and trans
fer a considerable portion Of the burden 10 for
elgners and that IL win discriminate against the
rich who want many things. and in favor of the
poor. who need only few things. Certainly il
prices ure raised temporarily by a reVersiOn q,
a general tarin the weight o. the new system
win fall not upon those who can afford only a
few necessories, but upon those who live Iuxu-
riously and have the money for paying for
everything; and the cost Of raising the sd,li-
tional millions needed for the navy and old age
pensions win be lower by the customs service
than by the complex methods OF land and in
come taxation proposed by the Chancellor Of
the EXGhequeT. There is a strong and eN-
ceedinsy plausible case for tariff reform and
great progress has been made In converting the
country 20 the Chamberlain policy: but within
few months the UnOpists have lost heart
and allowed the Budget Radicals TO command
the attention OF the country. Possibly IL IS ba
cause Mr.. Bafour has considered II prudent
to say little as possible about the foremost
measure Of the Unionist party; or more prob
ably II is because undue Importance has been
attached to the by-elections as an Indication OF
a popular revolt against tho government Ger
tainly there has been sudden and widespread
shrlnkage Of confidence among them. The same
Dien who a few weeks ago we're challenging min
listers 20 appeal TO the country are now whis-
pering among themselves that the Liberals are
likely 70 carry the general elections In Novem-
her January.
This conclusion win he strengthened by the
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