THE LABOR MOVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19662, 15 September 1927, Page 16

THE LABOR MOVEMENT

[By Veteran.] Brief contributions on matters with ivlercacft W ihe Labor Movement arc invited. EARLY TRADE UNIONS. I have previously referred to the early days of trade unionism in Britain. Some time ago i recommended Dunedin unionists to road ‘ Village Trade Unions in Two Centuries.’ Ido not know if this book is in' the Dunedin Public Library, but if it is not it should be. it is quite possible that not a dozen of tbo most prominent trade union advocates have road tbo book. If they did they would leant of some of the, ditlieulties that the pioneers of trade unionism had to contend with. The organisers of the first Agricultural Laborers’ Union was formed in 1833 at Tolpnddle, a village in Dorsetshire, by George Loveless, a Methodist local preacher, and bis brother James, and a few others. Rules wore drawn up, which show tbo intention of tbo promoters to keep within the law. Rule 23 reads; “That tbo object of this society can never bo promoted by any act oi acts of violence, but, on the contrary, all such must tend to injure and destroy tbo society itself. This order therefore will not countenance any violation of tbo laws.” Tbo meetings were evidently run on strict business lines, and one of the by-laws directed that no member should be “allowed to cat, read, sleep, swear, bet wagers, or use any absurd language during lodge hours.” These laborers were paid seven shillings a week, and were told that shortly they would have to bo content with six. Nothing happened until the union bad been in existence four months, when, in February, IS3I, placards were posted up in conspicuous places warning tbo laborers that membership of the union was a crime, to be punished by seven years’ transputlation. The union bad made no claim, and bad uttered no threat, yet within three days of the publication of this warning George Loveless, bis brother James, and four others were arrested and put in gaol, after a farcical trial 1 he- judge took two days to decide whether bo could pass sentence or not. Eventually bo sentenced the s!v men to seven years’ penal servitude at Botany Bay. 1 have read the history of this ease several times, but, seeing the following in the Liverpool ‘ Post ’ of July 30, brought it back to mind;— “ Mr Ramsay MacDonald purchased at a sale at Christie’s recently a picture which be is presenting to he bung in the office of tbo Labor Party in Eccleston square, London. It shows a trade union demonstration in London in 1834, and is drawn and engraved by AV. Summers. It bears tbo following dedication :

“‘To Thomas Wakcley, Esq., M.P., this plate, representing the meeting of the trade unionists in Copenhagen lields, April 21, 1334, for the purpose of carrying a petition to the King for a remission of tbo sentence on tbo Dorchester laborers, is respectfully dedicated with permission by bis very obedient servant Isaiah Saunders.’ “Tbo procession, with banners bearing the numbers and initials of each lodge, is drawn up in the lields. Tn the centre is the triumphal car bearing tlio petition, which was taken to Lord Melbourne, tbo Homo Secretary of the period. The case of the Dorchester, or Tolpnddle, laborers who wore convicted for administering unlawful oaths is an interesting episode in trade union history. Tbo laborers were sent to Botany ...IT.” * * * * THE UNION MAN AND A 31 EMBER OF THE UNION. ■ Tbo member of the union is the man that pays bis dues only when be is forced to. Usually be comes to meetings only when bo lias an axe to be ground. He is the man that will always say that the union has never given him anything, as bo would get good wages if there was never a union ni existence. And bo cannot see what tbo officers arc doing with all the money. The union man is a very dillerent person. Ho attends Ids meeting regularly, takes part in tbo debate that is in the interests of tbo union, never permits himself to be suspended on account of arrears of contributions, always ready to extend a friendly band to any brother who may bo in distress. You can find him in tbo union shop because ho is a union man at heart. And to-day the great Labor movement is earned on by tbo union men and not by the so-called members of a union. Tbo union man criticises when criticism is justified, and fights for what ho thinks is right. The member of the union kicks at all tilings, but never fights for anything.—American cx-cb.-mge. * * * * MINERS’ FEDEU ATI ON.

The Liverpool ‘ Weekly Post ’ in a leader says: “ Tbo animal conference of the Miners’ Federation was a depressing affair, for the federation is badly bruised and broken after tbo events of last year. There has been a revolt against the leadership that ended in disaster, and rival organisations have been set up in the North, in tbo Midlands; and in South Wales. A big army of miners lacks work, wages are low, and tbo mining community is overwhelmed with debt. No wonder the federation felt sore and depressed when it met at Southport!_ The Communists seized the opportunity to advocate a plan of campaign that would heap disaster on disaster. But tbo miners have taken the measure of these mischiefmakers, who have done their utmost to wreck tbo federation and the Labor movement. Mr Herbert Smith, as president of tbo .federation, denounced them in stinging terms and exposed tlie.ir policy of more strikes. Such a. policy not" only loads to ruin, but it inflicts terrible suffering on the miners’ wives and children. Air Herbert Smith, with tbo support of tbo majority of the delegates, stood for a constitutional as against a revolutionary policy, and reminded Labor that if it used its vote in-the right way it could get what was wanted.

“ This is a sane attitude and indicates that the wild men are being put in their proper place. The outlook for the miners at the present time is black, ’ hut it would not bo improved by the adoption of a reckless policy. It lias been our contention throughout that the mining industry can be saved only by the adoption of the main proposals contained in the Samuel Report. Sooner or later parliamentary action must come, and Labor should frame its policy with this fact in view. We realise that additional irritation lias been caused by the Trades Disputes Bill, but this, again, is a matter for parliamentary action. Our constitution provides ways and means of grievances and improving the conditions of the workers. Labor must seek out these ways, and the Miners’ Federation is to ho commended for the sane attitude it adopted at Southport.” * * * ♦ A COSTLY PROTEST. The cletnonstratiou of protest by Sydney workers against the execution of Sacco and Vauzetti had a_ sequel which probably few of the participants anticipated. When those who were employed on the railway construction works around Sydney and at the Bunneroug power house arrived at their jobs on the following morning they were not allowed to start, the explanation for this being that as they had absented themselves they had become automatically dismissed. The incident was an unfortunate one for the workers, as it meant the loss of several days’ pay, which, needless to say, they could ill afiord. While giving the men credit for the highest and most unselfish motives, it must be admitted that they were illin the action they took,.

It was an occasion on which they might have sought the advice of their executive, instead of being led away by tho wipdy flapdoodle of men of" the Jock Garden type. The position was well put by Mr Bodkin, secretary of the railway workers’ branch of the A.W.TJ. “ I hope that the members of my union in future will not take any notice of people who issuo instructions to the men without the approval of the executive,” said Mr Bodkin. “ A few individuals who field a meeting in the Trades Hall were responsible for pulling the men out. They wore successful only liecauso the men believed the instructions were official. Tho Sacco-Vanzetti demonstration hqs certainly cost tho workers a good deal. It was the most expensive demonstration they could make. It would’ have been better for ihera .to have remained at work and held a protest meeting in tho lunch hour.' That would have been just as effective. There is no doubt the rank and file were misled.”—‘ Australian Worker.’