LABOR REPRESENTATION COMMIT TEE. An organization founded by the British Trade Union Congress in accordance with the resolutions passed at its thirty-second annual meeting. in September. 1899. inviting "the co operation of all the cooperative. socialistic, trade union, and other working organizations" in an effort "to devise ways and means . to secure a better representation of the interests of labor in the House of Commons." In accordance with these resolutions. the Labor Representation Committee was organized in 1900. and held its first annual conference February 1. 19n1. The aims, structure. and organization of this commit tee may he gathered from the following resolu tions adopted at various conferences and printed as the 'constitution of the committee': "Labor Candidates.—That this conference is in favor of working-class opinion being repre sented in the Douse of Commons by men sympa thetic with the aims and demands of the labor movements. and whose candidatures are pro moted by one or other of the affiliated societies.
"Labor Party in Parliament.—That this con ference is in favor of establishing a distinct labor group in Parliament, who shall have their f,wn whips and agree upon their policy, which must embrace a readiness to cooperate with any party which for the time being may be engaged in promoting legislation in the direct interest of labor, and be equally ready to associate them selves with any party in opposing measures hav ing an opposite tendency: and, further, members of the labor group shall not oppose any candi date whose candidature is. ls'ing promoted by one of our affiliated societies.
Eseeutire.—That the Executive Commit tee shall consist of thirteen representatives, nine of whom shall represent the trade unions. one
the trades council-. one the Fabian Society, two the Independent Labor Party. Such members shall be elected by their respective organiza tions." The officers of the committee are a chairman, a vicesehairman, a treasurer, and a secretary. who with nine other members constitute the Executive Committee above described. Each affiliated society is entitled to send one delegate to the annual conference of each MOO members for whom dues have been paid. National organi zations are required to pay 10 shillings per annum for every 1000 members or fraction there of. while trade councils are entitled to send one representative upon the payment of per an num. and one additional delegate for each 10 shillings paid.
The Labor Representation Committee may be regarded as a skillful compromise between a fed eration of trade unions and an independent La bor Party: it enables the trade union to go into politics assisted by the strength of sympathetic organizations not strictly devoted to the inter ests of a particular trade, such as the Fabian Society, without imperiling the success or per manence of the trade union itself. The method of procedure adopted by the Committee is not to nominate candidates. but 'to recognize' and sup port candidates who are pledged to the interests of the working people: and they increase their chances of success by confining their activity to selected constituencies where their prospects are favorable.