THE OSBORNE JUDGMENT.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR:9 6111,—Allow me to protest against the action contemplated by the Government (if returned to office) in the matter of the Osborne judgment. If Mr. Asquith and his colleagues are sincere in 'wishing to prevent compulsion from being applied to members of Trade-Unions in regard to levies for political purposes, they should be content to leave well alone. Trade. Unionists already have the right, if they wish, to set up separate voluntary organisations to secure the election and maintenance of " Labour " representatives in Parliament or on municipal bodies. To alter the law in order to enable such things to be included in the " objects " of Unions, notwith- standing all the safeguards promised, would be a first step towards securing the complete subservience of the members to the will of the " leaders " and executives, who would (at least in some Unions) find means to tyrannise over those who might refuse to contribute. I appeal to all those who are in favour of liberty of thought, word, and action being ensured to every elector to endeavour by every means in their power toprevent any tampering with the law as declared in the Osborne ease.
Those Trade-Unionists who are in favour of the main- tenance of the status quo further object to their officials devoting time to organising and managing funds for Parlia- mentary and other outside purposes which might be more usefully employed in attending to the work for which they are chosen and are paid,--the promotion of the interests of their societies as purely industrial organisations.—I am,
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