A Roman Catholic, Dacey was influenced in his political opinions by protectionism and the rerum novarum, which supported people's right to join trade unions. He combined these beliefs with his experience with the Wool and Basil Workers Union and the Labor platform. He was an anti-billite, meaning that he was against Federation, and spoke against it, for example at Coraki, New South Wales on 15 June 1899, based on his opposition to free trade.
