The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-03
LABOR MEMBERS
DEPEND on SALARY
Workmen's Representatives in
English Parliament Face
Problem.
ALL CONSIDERED POOR MEN
COURT HOLDS THAT MONEY THAT
THEY ARE PAID IS ILLEGALLY
RAlsED-JoHN BULL HAS IN
TERESTlNG PROBLEM.

London, Jan. 2.-That the recent
decision Of the court of appeals in
London that the trade union levies for
the support Of labor members OF par
lament are illegal and must be stop
ped will seriously affect the whole
course OF British politics is widely pre-
dicted. The labor party was grow
ing power In the country, and it re-
mains to be seen now whether it will
be able to survive this blow, or wheth-
or It will be forced to go out of bust
ness.
At the outset, it is well to under
stand that the Labor M. Ps. are poor
men. They are. in many cases, abso-
lutely dependent on the allowance of
81, 900 year to them by the labor par
ty. for England does not pay her leg
islators, and II this allowance is cut
off they can not afford to sit in parlia-
ment. The labor party has been alb
solutely dependent for its funds on
the trade union levies. and the ques-
tion now is "Cap it raise the money in
any other way?''
TWO Courses open.
There are two courses open to 1t.
One is to organize voluntary associa-
tons outside the trade unions, the
members of which shall contribute,
and the other is to try and amend the
law under which the court of appeals
decision was given. The objection to
the first course is 1t would be very
Some Of the most important trade un-
Ions. such as the miners for instance,
who are associated with the labor par
ty, voted for utilization by a majority
so small that one may say that half
the members were opposed to 1t. This
means of course. that nearly half the
members who have been paying the
compulsory levy for the support of the
labor M. P.'s would refuse to join the
voluntary association. It has been
suggested that the members Of the
voluntary associations might make it
very uncomfortable for the men who
refused to join. but here again the
courts would probably step in and pro-
tect them. It is likely however that
voluntary associations will be formed
while an attempt is being made to
secure change In the law.
The objection to the second course
Is that the house Of lords would prob
ably throw out an amendment bill,
even IL the commons passed it. Many
Of the labor leaders think. however,
that the bin would have more chance
with the lords than with the commons
because the labor party has drawn its
strength in far greater proportions
from the liberals than from the tories,
who Of course are predominant in the
lords.
Problem Of interest to America.
A third alternative is the appoint
ment Of the labor M. P.s as officials
Of their unions, and this will undoubt.
eddy be done In some cases; but there
are fifty Of them to be provided for,
and all can not be taken care of this
way. The party has funds enough in
hand to pay saalries until next June,
and it is hoped by that time a way
Will be found out Of the difficulty.
The trouble in which the English Ia
Dor movement has found itself should
be Of particular interest to American
labor men for the Incorporation OF
trade unions. Prior to 1876 the Eng
lish trade union was an illegal conspir-
acy. which IL much the same position
a. that occupied by the American un-
ions today. They hourished outside
the law however, and it Is doubtful if
they have gained much by the act of
1875 which gave them a legal stand
Ing. and at the same time clearly de-
nned what they could and could not
do. The main judgment OF the court
OF appeals Is based on this act, and it
declares that it is no part of of the
purpose for which the trade union is
organised to maintain representatives
In parliament. There is no hone Of
upsetting this point so long as the law
remains what it is, but another re-
markabie judgment delivered by the
master OF the rolls, who Is a member
OF the appeal court, will probably be
bitterly attacked. He said in effect
that the payment Of member of mar.
lament by trade union was unconsti-
tutional because it had the effect OF
DISTINGUISHING his constituency. The
labor M. P.s being under contract tn
obey the orders OF his trade union. is
unable to represent all the people Of
his constituency as he is supposed to
do
socialists Control Labor Party,
Tne history Of the dispute which led
to the decision is also interesting to
American labor men in view Of ner.
sistent efforts of American socialists
to capture the American labor move.
ment. The English socialists, although
numerically In = minority, are in con.
troll Of the English labor party. and
every labor NJ. p, before qualifying
for the allowance Of $1,000 q wear Is
compelled to sign the labor nartv
pledge. by which he commits himself
TO the whole socialist program. This
was brought about Of course by the su-
perior organization Of the socialists
and the apathy Of the old-fashioned
trade unionists. who found themselves
compelled to pay for propaganda
i . A4