Evening star., 1925-03-06
BALDWIN IS UPHELD
IN NECONOM|CPL
British Premier Says Great
Changes Taking Place De-
mand Cautious Action.
BS the Associated Press.

Bs the Associated Press
LONDON, March 6.--The house of
commons this afternoon formally re-
jected the trades union political fund
bill, against the adoption of which
Prime Minister Baldwin argued on
the ground that question of such
import should not be decided sum-
marily In the manner proposed The
prime minister's amendment to this
effect was carried by a vote of 325
against 1853.
A handful OF Scotch members from
the Clydeside refrained from attendance
in the House of Commons today in pro-
test against the suspension yesterday
of their fellow member, David Kirk
wood. The other Labor members. who
left the House yesterday when the Kirk
wood suspension was voted, were in the
chamber this afternoon. however, for
the debate on the trades union political
fund bill.
Effect OF Amendment.
The bill would amend the trade union
acts of 1913, which authorizes a union
to exact contributions used for the sup
port of the Labor party from all the
unions; members, unles sthey have made
written application for exemption. Un-
der the new bill every trade unionist
would be free to contribute to the politi-
cal fund IL he made written applica-
tfon to do so. The conservative and
liberal trade unionists would thus
not be required to contribute to a
fund used for the support of an op-
position political party
Baldwin states Position.
Mr.. Baldwin, in moving the amend
ment. which declared that while
approving the principle of political
liberty embodied in the bill, the house
is of the opinion that a measure OF
such far-reaching Importance should
not be introduced as private mem
ber's BILL said he deprecated it's in
PRODUCTION last Friday. especially as
the time for debate was insufficient
and the bill dug right into one of the
most difficult funda amentsl questions
in the country.
The Conservatives. he said had won
the election because they stood for
stable government and peace among
all parties. Therefore his party should
be strong enough to make a gesture
to the country and say that while
they believed in the justice of the
bill they were not going to push their
political advantage home, because
they stood for peace and the aboli-
tion OF suspicion.
Mr.. Baldwin was loudly cheered at
this. especially by the labor members.
Continuing he said he wondered II
the inevitable changes that were com
ing over the industrial system of Eng
land, which, since its inception. had
been in state of evolution and had
developed more rapidly than was Wis
ible to people of the present day.
Own Exp~rien nce% Cited.
Citing his own experiences. he sal
his was an old family business. in
which he knew all the men from
childhood. could discuss with them
business and home troubles. and with
whom strikes and lockouts were un-
known. This business ultimately be-
came swallowed uD in one of the
great combinations to which the coun-
try's Industries were tending today.
He instanced one of the early strik es
in the coal fields which threw out OF
work 1.000 men of those workers of
his, which had seemed to him a
monstrous injustice. There was no
conscious unfair treatment of those
men by the miners; 1t simply showed
the creation of new state OF indus
try in the shape of amalgamations-
and God help those who stood out
side"
Combination Is Defended.
Combination was necessary to
guard against competition, said Mr..
Baldwin. but he emphasized the
necessity OF wide statesmanship to
steer the country through that stage
of evolution. Both employers and
employees organizations were neces-
sary for protection, but as they grew
more powerful they might sometimes
not only injurs their own members,
but the State also. and it was the
latter which the Government must
guard against.
The country was moving forward
rapidly from the old state of in
dustry, he added, and the question
was what the new state was going
to be.
II am certain he declared. .'it has
got to be a pretty close partnership,
and it must be a partnership of men
who understand their own work and
themselves. They will get little help
from the politicians or the in
tellectuaIs.'