New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-17
TRADE UNION POLITICS
The Osborne Decision-A Sal
aried Parliament.
London. August u

-ztsrIe trend toward radicalisnl- In
-ocen4 letters have shown that leg1s-
Ia+,on for railways has involved from
-r7e outset safeguards for public rights
and An effective system Of state concroi
m more advanced lines than those fol-
ro7red IN the new American law An
o+F,e- illustration of the same truth Is
fn7,1d il the relations Of the state with
.-sdA unions. Those bodies were orig1-
ally localized for certain definite pur-
noses. and in the course Of time they
-e-e drawn into political activities.
-rir- v-ere collectively financed In the
Osborne case the highest court has de-
-,de5 that i is Illegal for them 70 order
ieries and 20 pay for the election ex-
-ersas and maintenance Of Labor mem
be-s IF Parliament The House Of Lords
7--e-preted the trade union charter
closely and sustained the right OF indi-
z-idual members 70 obtain injunctions
against the use Of corporate funds for
,oIitjcai PURPOSES This is conservatism,
since individual or minority rights are
projected and the trade unions are
forced % confine themselves 70 their
legitimate sphere Of operations; and get
y It's consequences the Osborne decision
-opers the way for an expansion Of radi-
al principles and practice
The trade unions through close con-
s---,~tia1 If their charter are tempo
-s-iIv th-o7n out Of politics They will
,a- sta out. Their leaders, with the
rank and fie behind them. are deter
mined 10 remain in Parliament and 70
Obtain fun restoration Of their resources
~ rrIi-icaI organization. There has
reer conference this week Of the ex-
orr-5~e committees Of the Labor party,
the Trade Union Congress and the Cen
e-s1 Fedora rion Of Trade Unions, and
campaign has been organized for max
t-E the recovery OF the LOST rights OF
mage earners q test question at al cleo
-5ons. Al the approaching sessions Of
The Labor Conference and OF the Trade
Luion Congress there viii be belliserent
speeches and uncompronlising Tesolu-
-5ons and cumulative pressure viii be
brought 70 bear upon the Liberal gov
eminent TO provide adequate redress for
TIE grievances. Of tho working world
The FORTY Labor rreu1 bers of Parliament
pfu be unable 70 obtain reelection
zher trade union financial support is
ct II. There iii he no facilities for
charging --e inference Of trade union
Ism h. political organization. a crisis
has been reached IL the fortunes Of or
zzrized labor i viii he thrown back
upon benefit work and futile discussion
IN annual congresses unless ii succeeds
IN regaining rs political powers
Two remedies ara proposed for the Cs-
borne decision. One is the enactment Of
. bill removing all existing disa bilities
~ trade unions and ena bling them 70
raise money for political purposes Nth
orr reference n the restrictions Of the
original charter I viii involve COM
pete reversal Of that decision When
the House Of Lords decided that the
funds Of trade unions were exposed .
suits Tor damages from picketng aud
other devices employed in strikes and
'0ekcUts organized wage eaTners were
deprived Of their weapons for defence
against employers The Liberal party
returned 70 power IN 1906 under pledge
- restore the lost resources Of trade
1-ionis-n. and this Was done by the en-
a-tneut O. . special measure which
sanctioned processes prohibited by the
r11rt OF last resort Parliament IS ON
ripoteut Il can ride roGghshod over
IAe Osborne decision and legaIize the
direct political activities and financial
eEradients q the trade unions It viii
20 2 radical measure for opening as
81 de and as free a field for organized
labor II politics as that party enjoys IN
>ev Zealand or Australia.
Al alternative relief measure viii be
e reform bill Tor securing the payment
o. election expenses by the state and
generous rates Of compensation for the
services Of members Of Parliament. This
would not be considered a radical pro-
aosal II America. but in The United
Eins6om Il is looked upon as drastic
and evolutionary concession to democ-
racv. For generations election expenses
have been ruinously high. and the mem
lf-s have been Unsa laried because there
aas = fixed determination on the part OF
f1e rveaItfy and titled classes % have
t1eir own representatives in Parlia rent.
The abandonment OF the notion that the
receipt of . al5-v OF Z ee0 is unworthy
or 2 -hcsen representative Of the people
ID enable hundreds of ambitious men
~ limited means II stand for Parlia-
raent and the abolition Of the returning
officers fees and the reduction Of cleo
ZION expenses xiii facilitate their appear
71"e ~ Westminster Tho passage OF
s''0h a reform measure Viii release not
on'- trade unionists. but Irish National
'sts and progressive Radicals as well.
from existing financial hindrances and
complete the conversion Of Parliament
'-1n' gentlemen's social club into q
representative assembly Of the dernoc-
rac-
There are no indications ar present
a. go- eminent preference for one or the
other policy There IS. however. a gen
f-sl admission on the part Of ministers
Rat the Osborne decision has created an
-'npossio}e situation and that something
ill have rs he done u alter il The
trade IniCuists and Labor members arc
streWd enough To perceive that the pay
a'@ut q members salaries and the aboli-
tca % the returning officers fees VIII
-