Trade Union Bill, 1871. A Letter by Mr. W. P. Roberts, (of London and Manchester, Solicitor.) to Mr. George Potter, Mr. William Allan, Mr. Alexander M’donald, and Others Interested in Trades’ Societies.

The judgment, however, expressly decided that in the ordinary sense of the word “unlawful,” the liability to a prosecution, the society was not unlawful; the decision was merely that the society was not within the scope of the “Friendly Societies’ Acts,” and therefore was not entitled to the benefit specially given by those acts. A crime, great or small, should be neither more nor less than a crime with them than with others. The attempted distinction is offensive to honest men of all classes. It tends to maintain that separation of interests, sentiments, and habits which good men deplore. The present law says that the purpose must be to “force, or endeavour to force,” a variation which makes the old law much more favourable to the working man than the proposed Bill. A clause which particularly operates against the free intercourse of workmen with each other admits of much oppression, and should be watched with extreme jealousy.