Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-09-08

London, Eng.,-The question of re-
storing to British trade unions the
rights they possessed previous to the
infamous Osborne Judgment Of using
trade union funds for the promotion o.
Parliamentary labor candiatures an
the support of labor members has sud-
denly grown In a week almost to a
position Of pre-eminent Importance and
labor win make it test issue at thu
genera lelecNon which is expected next
january. Organized labor In this coun-
try asserts that the Osborne and the
latter consequent decisions do not
merely affect Parliamentary represen-
fation but make 1t impossible for loca'
trade councils and they also strike on
the freedom Of discussion and the reso-
luton in SO far as that congress has
taken action Of political character
In the interests Of the wage Garner.
A special joint labor convention was
held in London on August 22nd to as
sert these things and to further point
out that the Osborne decision denies
the right of trade unions carry out
their nominal statutory purpose of re-
gulating relations between employers
and employees In so far as current con-
ditions of industry and the highly or.
ganized state of capital render Parli
amentry action necessary for this pur-
pose. Furthermore, under the decision
3 trade union cannot legally send q
deputation to the House of Commons,
and, in fact. so far-reaching is the
Judgment that it has now got beyond
the question Of merely labor represen-
tation. and it is question Of actual
trade union weapons
There are thirty-nine members on
the list of the Labor party, each re-
ceiving one thousand dollars per year
salary. The party has enough money
in hand to pay these thirty-nine sal
aries for the next year and half. Be-
yohd that unless the Osborne judg
ment is reversed, the party only has
voluntary contributions to look for
ward to. The Labor party itself repre-
Hents just under a million and a half
trade unionists and appeals will be
made to them of voluntary contribu
lions Of u cents per man and woman,
which would yield over $31, 200. So far
Osborne Judgments as might call
them, have ben issued against thirteen
national unions the leading railway
SritdAtS uHAOAs Two OlS LyP6S6lLerS
unions, the stonemasons, the shop az
sistants, the postmenss federation, the
weavers and miners. Sufficient sta
tistics are not to hand to enable one &c
Judge what would be the result Of the
voluntary levy all round. but in ono.
society it is said only two members
paid the voluntary levy.
Figures have just been published
which give trade union statistics for
the United Kingdom up to the. end Of
last year. The total number of trade
unions at S1st December last, it appears
was 1,153 with total membership of
2,S47,461 which, by the bye includes
1000 members in the Colonies and for
eign countries. OF this total trade un-
ion membership mining and quarries
account for over 80 per cent. the tex
tile trades for is per cent, and, tho
metal, engineering and shipbuilding
trades for 10 per cent. The total trade
union membership in this country
shows decrease of Ia per cent as
compared with 1905. and az per cent as
compared with 1907 It shows, how
ever. an increase Of nearly II per cent
as compared with 1905 and is mucn4
higher than any other previous year.
The trades unions in the building
trades appear to be the most consfs