Widnes Examiner. — 1914-02-14 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SAME OLD DEVICE.  It was recently our duty to explain that a few soi-disaut Liberals, who accompanied to Belfast a number of the most pronounced Tories that Warrington can produce, were not entitled to say what Liberals think on the Home Rule question. The scene has changed, and we have now to take in hand a scheme for making it appear that trade unions favour Tariff Reform. As Tariff Reform would annihilate trade, it would be something at which we could marvel to see the unions supporting it. But we can rest assured that working men are not willing to commit industrial suicide, and that the few who have undertaken to speak in their name have about as much right to do so as "the six" had to speak for Liberalism upon Home Rule. There are some Tory trade unionists, but when they support Tariff Reform they speak as Tories —some of them are of the street corner tubthumping type—and they do not speak as trade unionists.  Trade Unionists and Free Trade.  This week we have received a batch of circulars and resolutions from Mr. Ashton Bagley. the secretary of the Lancashire, Cheshire and North-West Counties Division and the Yorkshire Districts of the Tariff Reform League. which are a direct result of the December Conference in Manchester, at which it was claimed that some 80 of the chief trade unions of the country had sent 300 representatives to vote against Free Trade as being diametrically .opposed to the interests of British trade unionists. At that conference, the "Daily News" points out, certain delegates were presented to the president as representative trade unionists, and they were given seats of prominence and honour on the platform, Since then, however, protests have been made I by various unions against the use of their name in connection with the matter. Despite this, I?tr. Ashton Bagley has sent out a circular giving the names of 78 trade unions and trade pocieties whose members unanimously passed 'resolutions which, he proceeds, "should be suffi cient to convince all. but the most prejudiced that the Parliamentary Labour party are iiot truly representing the trade union movement when they support the system of national black legging known as Free Trade." On the strength of this the Tariff Reform League offers to send their speakers to any trade union meeting to "demonstrate in speech or debate" that Free Trade and the true interests of the worker are deadly opposed. Repudiations. _ _ _ _  The "Daily News" of Wednesday says:— The Carters Union is one of those in the list. Yesterday Mr. Hilton, the general secretary of the union, indignantly denied that his union had ever authorised anyone to pose as their representative at a Tariff Reform conference. "We have members," he said, "who may be Tariff Reformers—you cannot have 15,000 members all thinking alike—but as a union we should be dead up against Tariff Reform." The Oldham Operative Spinners and the Bolton Operative Spinners are also in the list, and their officials authorise similar disclaimers. The inclusion of the Bolton Operative Spinners is e peculiarly interesting, because Mr. A. H. Gill, M.P. one of its chief officials, and Mr. John Battle, the president, are among th keenest Free Traders in Bolton, whilst it is estimated that at least two-thirds of the members are also convinced Free Traders. The National Union of Journalists Published a denial at the time of the conference, and it may be mentioned that all the leaders of the miners' unions which are included are strong Free Traders.  Local Attempts.  Several attempts , have been made locally to make it appear that Trade Unionists favour Tariff Reform, but as the champions of this kind are exceedingly few and show no signs of increase, those attempts have never succeeded.  £5O for the Guardians. The Warrington Guardians have got an arnymous gift of a cheque for £5O. This was sent through Mr. T. Knowles, 6, Egypt-street, who wrote : "Dear Sir,—A client of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous, has instructed me to offer the Guardians the sum of £5O as a gift to be applied to the funds of the Union. I may say in recognition of the fact that my' client had a relative who for a considerable time was a charge on your Union."—Mr. McKinley: Is she or he going to keep it up, or is it only this one donation? We should say we are very glad to have it. (Rear, hear.)—The Rev. A. M. Mitchell: It is a matter which ought to be made well known.—Mr. McKinley: It is anonymous, and that is the worst of it.