The Connecticut labor news., 1923-12-08
By International Labor News Service

By International Labor News Service London, Dec Warning that amalgamation of trade unions has consequence not always foreseen by the advocates of the proposal IS given by w. A Appleton, secretary of the General Federation of Trade Unions, in the ooth quarterly report of the federation. MT. Appleton writes: | Loss of faith as cause of de- caying membership is difficult to deal with To even speak of 1t is to in 1 vite adverse criticism, but as 1t IS factor of grave importance 1t cannot be slurred over in the hope that time alone will revive this faith. It in wolves disbelief and dissatisfaction. Disbelief in the possibility of trade have been promised on their behalf, and dissatisfaction at the disappear ance, in many cases, of the old per sonal relationships between officials and members. Amalgamation has been in the air The General Fed eration years ago started a campaign in favor of 1t, and some useful con- sequences stand to it's credit, but the federation was always careful to avoid recommending the amalgamation of the dissimilar. It, always realized that numbers might melt if sympathy and technical understanding were absent.
 "It does not advantage the move ment If some portions grow larger but the whole grows less, and per haps 1t would be desirable when amalgamations are proposed to ask definitely with whom and what for? Amalgamation of related occupations offers possibilities of permanent suc- h1,t .cesses and immediate interests diff fer, success Is doubtful. If the com ing together is for the purpose of advancing specifically related and de termined occupations all we'll and good, but if to satisfy idealism or ann bition the ultimate result may be the end of trade union1sm as free and voluntary movement. Those assoc1a- tions of employers who have been supporting the formation of gigantic organizations have seen further than labor"
 Mr. Appleton hints that the non success of amalgamation, as exper- fenced in some cases by British trade unions, has been factor in the great Joss of membership by the unions in recent years. He says that unem- po1yment accounts. for much of the
 
 Inquiries among former trade union ists have shown, he says, that very common complaint is that, with trade depressed as 1t is, they cannot afford to pay the union dues and contribu- tions. Another charge made by form CT union members IS that the unions have diminished in usefulness Of this MT. Appleton remarks:
 "The charge of diminished useful ness is an exasperating one for those who foresaw the danger, if not the extent, of bureaucratic usurpat1on ot trade union functions. It IS doubtful whether this generation can now de- wise means of escape from the state of things which thoughtlessness on the one hand and ambition on the other has brought about
 History, however, rather suggests that from time inmemorial peoples have decided that when bureaucracy has passed a certain limit the only thing to do is to kill the bureaucrat. Tn spite fthe fact that this method is sanctihed by age and use 1t IS not so permanently successful as 1t ought to be- Perhaps 1t will be necessary and better to restore public confidence in the value and glory of personal and voluntary effort and to trust to the development of national intelli- gence for the elimination of all the trade union godmothers the state has appointed After all, trade unions are voluntary associations, and to the ex- tent to which the voluntary principle is destroyed so is trade unionism en- dangered."
 Mr.Appleton sees little encourage ment in the industrial situation, which has caused so much unemployment in Great Britain. Of this he writes: