Party Pars
Other parties are experiencing a “slump,” but not the S.P.G.B. From all parts come reports of successful work. Many Branches have held special propaganda missions, all of which have proved popular and profitable. The week’s mission at Woolwich, perhaps, deserves special mention. In this case even the weather was good to us, and the activities of our local comrades met with a splendid response. Result—good literature sales, new members, good collections, expenses cleared and a donation of £1 10s. to Head Office.
Realising our importance in the district, the I.L.P. wrote inviting us to send delegates to a conference to select a “Socialist” candidate for a Borough Council Election. This was replied to, with a denial of the right of the I.L.P. to the name of Socialist, and challenging them to debate their claims. No reply is forthcoming. Verb Sap.
Recently we have commented on the Whitechapel S.D.P. wriggling out of a debate, now it is North West Ham Branch that calls for notice. One of its members threw out a challenge which we accepted. We wrote asking them to appoint their champion, but from their reply we gather that the North West Ham Branch of the S.D.P. is not prepared to defend the S.D.P. in debate (which is not surprising), and will not attack the S.P.G.B. outside the four wall of their own little club-room. The magnanimity of the “dare nots” is distinctly amusing.
Stoke Newington I.L.P. have also backed out of a challenge made and accepted.
It is pleasing, however, to note that other sections of the enemy can be got to come out into the open. In this respect the Christian Evidence people—largely as the result of the splendid reception of our pamphlet “Socialism and Religion”—have been forced to toe the line, and three debates have been held. On Parliament Hill and at Wood Green the Christian martyrs were Messrs. Cook (Ethical Society) and Marsh (Christian Evidence League), while the executioners were our comrade Fitzgerald and Anderson. The latter also journeyed to Nottingham and had an easy task in despatching Mr. Vaughan, a well known local piety pedlar.
In the course of the debate at Wood Green Mr. Marsh made a special appeal for “practical Christianity” in the shape of a collection to provide boots for the poor children. They collected 9s. After that came our collection, to provide funds for the abolition of the poverty which actuated the other collection—and 14s. was subscribed for Socialism.
At Highbury (Islington) the debate at long last came off between our comrade Fitzgerald and a Mr. Bert Gould of the P.L.P. (Progressive Labour Party), and a Free Trade Union speaker. The subject was “Does the Socialist Party of Great Britain deserve the support of the Working Class.” The growing interest in our Party was clearly shown by the enormous crowd that surged round the van which served as a platform ; and the growing influence of our Party was seen when the chairman, Mr. J. H. Downs (Liberal) put the above question to a vote of the meeting and had to declare it carried, as carried it was by an overwhelming majority. The collections confirmed the verdict, for that for the P.L.P. realised 9s. 1d., while ours amounted to 15s.
In addition to the foregoing happy encounters the following coming events should be noted : Monday, Oct. 31st. at 8 p.m., at Higher Grade Schools, Noel Park, London, N. Mr. Marlowe Reed (Middlesex County Council) and Comrade F. E. Dawkins (S.P.G.B.) on “Liberalism versus Socialism.”
At Tooting Comrade Joy is to meet a representative of the Anti-Socialist Union on a date not yet fixed. This “Union” are also “appointing” speakers to meet us at Tottenham and Walthamstow. Wait and see !
Some of our members attended a Unionist meeting addressed by Lord Balcarres and Mr. E. V. Sturdy (the Unionist candidate for the division) at Tottenham on the evening of Oct. 19th, and in the course of the evening extended a challenge to his noble lordship to debate “the cause of poverty.” The challenge was, of course, declined. Subsequently a written challenge to debate “Tariff Reform v. Socialism” was addressed to Mr. Sturdy and handed to the chairman, who, after a short consultation announced its acceptance, inviting the challenger to the platform to confirm same. The challenger did as requested, and the debate (details of which will be announced later) will doubtless prove of great interest. The Tottenham comrades are to be congratulated.
Our comrades at Walthamstow have been taking full advantage of the impending bye-election in that Division, and have held many fine meetings, putting the true position before the workers and urging them to show their class-consciousness by writing “Socialism” across their ballot papers.
O.