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Chapter 3: Letters 1912
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2009
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The house is ‘up’ darling — I am shortly going off to the Reform Club with Dr Addison for dinner and then I shall go on to the ‘Miracle’.
Asquith was wonderful today and there is little left of Bonar Law. All he says about Germany is most encouraging, and the way in which he drew from him what he meant with respect to the Insurance Bill is of course splendid material for liberals. All our men are very happy over the turn of events and the Govt will do well to force the Tories to make good their charge of corruption. The Tories are now wanting ‘a new leader’.
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References
1 Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XXXIV, 28–38Google Scholar. Asquith's speech on the Address praised Haldane's mission to Berlin for exploratory talks with the German government, as well as drawing from Bonar Law the admission that he would repeal the National Insurance Act. Asquith also challenged Bonar Law to prove his allegations that Liberals were receiving preferential treatment in appointments to the civil service.
2 Josiah Clement Wedgwood (1872–1943), lib. MP (Lab. from 1919) Newcastle-under-Lyme 1906–1942, when cr. Ld Wedgwood; Chanc. Duchy of Lancaster 1924. His mother was Emily Catherine Wedgwood (1840–1920) and her house was Barlaston Lea.
3 John Howard Whitehouse (1873–1955), Lib. MP Mid-Lanarkshire January 1910–1918; PPS Lloyd George 1913–1915; employed Cadbury Bros. 1894–1903; resident at Toynbee Hall 1905–1908, where a mutual passion for Ruskin cemented a close friendship with T.E. Harvey; became a Quaker c. 1917; founder and Headmaster Bembridge School 1919–1954.
4 John Edmund Whiting (1853–1932), brother of M.K.R.'s mother; head of family firm, Hotham & Whiting. Much involved in temperance and foreign mission work.
5 MPs who favoured universal adult suffrage, rather than the enfranchisement of women under the existing voting qualifications.
6 National Insurance Cttee, Lib. Party organization set up by the Chief Whip, the Master of Elibank, to promote the popularity of National Insurance.
7 Arthur Bevington Gillett (1875–1954), A.S.R.'s first cousin; partner in Gillett & Co., bankers in Banbury.
8 Philip Harvey, brother of M.K.R.; farmer.
9 Thomas Wiles (1861–1951), Lib. MP South Islington 1906–1918; PPS T. McKinnon WonH 1911–1912.
10 William Brace (1865–1947), Lab. MP South Glamorgan 1906–1920; US Home Office 1915–1919; Pres. South Wales Miners' Federation 1911–1919.
11 In February 1912 Rowntree & Co. opened a new campaign to promote Elect cocoa and chocolate, offering the public a 6d chocolate bar in return for a cocoa coupon and a 2d stamp.
12 On 1 March 1912 the Eighty Club held a dinner in Redmond's honour at the Hotel Cecil to mark the start of the Irish Home Rule Bill's parliamentary odyssey.
13 The Women's Social and Political Union had resumed its violent campaign for women's suffrage on 1 March 1912 by smashing hundreds of windows in West End shops (and at 10 Downing St).
14 Miss Heslop, A.S.R.'s secretary at the Cocoa Works.
15 Emma Lucy Harrison (1844–1915), Headmistress, the Mount School 1890–1902.
16 Miss Feldwick (1844?–1914), former housekeeper and matron the Mount School; retd 1912.
17 Miss Dale, York social worker connected to the Bedern Mission.
18 Lydia Rowntree (nee Potter) (1870–1944), m. Seebohm Rowntree 1897.
19 The Liberals lost the seat of South Manchester in a by-election on 5 March 1912 on an 11 per cent swing.
20 James Myles Hogge (1873–1928), Lib. MP East Edinburgh 1912–1924; Lib. whip 1919–1923. Worked closely with the Rowntrees in York, especially as sec. local Anti-Gambling League; councillor for Castlegate ward 1907–1913 and leading lib. member of York Council.
21 Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XXXV, 464–502Google Scholar for Wedgwood's motion on site value rating. It was not carried to a vote.
22 The Parliamentary Franchise (Women) Bill, which proposed to enfranchise women under the existing voting system, was defeated on its Second Reading on 28 March 1912.
23 Henrietta Louisa Rowntree (1864–1936), widow of A.S.R.'s brother, James Edward Rowntree (1869–1904).
24 Hubert Bayley Drysdale Woodcock (1867–1957), barrister and unsuccessful Lib. cand. Canterbury January 1910, Southport December 1910, Chatham 1918.
25 Sir Arthur Adlington Haworth (1865–1944), Lib. MP South Manchester 1906–1912; Bt 1911. Lost his seat when he sought re-election after appointment as a junior whip.
26 On 19 March 1912 Asquith had introduced the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Bill in an attempt to settle the strike. The Union rejected it, on the grounds that it did not include their demand for a minimum of 5s per day for men and 2s per day for boys.
27 Emma Antoinette Rowntree (nee Seebohm) (1846–1924), second wife of Joseph Rowntree.
28 Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914), Lib. MP Birmingham 1876–1885, West Birmingham 1885–1914 (LU from 1886); Pres. Bd of Trade 1880–1885, Pres. Local Govt Bd 1886, Sec. of State Colonies 1895–1903. Incapacitated by a stroke 1906.
29 David Alfred Thomas (1856–1918), Lib. MP Merthyr Tydfil 1888–January 1910, Cardiff January–December 1910; Pres. Local Govt Bd 1916–1917, Food Controller 1917–1918; cr. Ld Rhondda 1916, Vt 1918; leading South Wales coal owner and merchant.
30 Sir Alfred Moritz Mond (1868–1930), Lib. MP Chester 1906–January 1910, Swansea January 1910–1918, West Swansea 1918–1923, Carmarthenshire August 1924–1928 (Con. from 1926); First Commissioner of Works 1916–1921, Min. of Health 1921–1922; Bt 1910, cr. Ld Melchett 1928. Mond was speaking on the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Bill.
31 In the Second Reading debate on the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Bill, Balfour advocated its rejection, while Bonar Law on 19 March had not gone so far.
32 Revd Reginald John Campbell (1867–1956), famous Congregational minister at the City Temple Church 1903–1915, and exponent of the liberal New Theology; converted to Anglicanism 1916.
33 John William Hoyland (1855–1927), brother-in-law of George Cadbury and Warden of Kingsmead, a college for missionaries founded by Cadbury.
34 William Albert Samuel Hewins (1865–1931), Con. MP Hereford 1912–1918; US Colonies 1917–1919; Dir. London School of Economics 1895–1903, Tooke Prof, of Economic Science and Statistics, King's College London 1897–1903; Sec. Tariff Commission 1903–1917.
35 Hilda Mallinson Rowntree (1874–1968), youngest sister of A.S.R.; married to Henry Isaac Robson (1873–1964). Both were medical missionaries in India.
36 Leighton Park, Quaker public school for boys at Reading.
37 Ernest Ewart Unwin (1881–1944), biology master at Bootham School; he took the job at Leighton Park, but emigrated to Tasmania in the 1920s.
38 Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XXXVI, 231–234.Google Scholar
39 The sinking of the Titanic, 15 04 1912.Google Scholar
40 Scalhy, residential home for Quaker conferences near Scarborough; originally the home of John Wilhelm Rowntree.
41 Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse (1865–1929), social philosopher and journalist for Lib. newspapers, including the Nation.
42 The outcome of this idea was the memorandum sent to Lloyd George on 20 May 1912 by A.S.R., Seebohm and Joseph Rowntree, E.R. Cross, H.W. Massingham, J.A. Hobson, L.T. Hobhouse and Percy Alden. It argued for a general extension of the principle of the minimum wage and was an important formative influence on Lloyd George's Land Campaign.
43 Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XXXVII, 285–301 and 301–310Google Scholar for the closing speeches by Bonar Law and Birrell on 16 April 1912 on the First Reading of the Home Rule Bill.
44 A private bill, the York United Gas Bill, was due to be considered by a select cttce in the House of Lords. The gas co. wanted to extend its operations over a further seven miles. The Libs on the Council opposed this, as it would make it more difficult to municipalize the company.
45 Holiday home of George and Ada Newman.
46 Joseph Clark Eddington (1872–1931), Quaker; high-class furniture maker.
47 Owen Williams, son of the owner of Tyn-Llwy-Dan.
48 Sir George Augustus Eliott Tapps-Gervis-Meyrick, Bt (1855–1928), owned 17,000 acres; JP and Dep. Lieutenant in Anglesey; succ. as 4th Bt 1896.
49 Frederic Seebohm (1833–1912), bro. of Joseph Rowntree's first wife, Julia Elizabeth Seebohm (1841–1863); banker, author, among many other historical works, of The Tribal System in Wales (1895).Google Scholar
50 Caroline Elizabeth Newman (1876–1950), sister of George Newman; she finally married Eddington in 1913.
51 Dr Janet Mary Campbell (d. 1954), Senior Medical Officer at Bd of Education; DBE 1924.
52 Conference on the future of the Adult School movement.
53 Ebenezer John Fullwood, Asst Sec. NASU 1907–1933. David Parker Boyd (1857–1935), shared this post 1906–1917. Boyd was a convert to Quakerism.
54 George Currie Martin (d. 1937), Congregational minister and missionary; Supervisor Lecture Services NASU 1912–1930. His salary was paid by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.
55 Revd Charles Silvester Horne (1865–1914), lib. MP Ipswich January 1910–1914; famous Congregational minister and leading figure in Brotherhood movement.
56 Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XXXIX, 774–777Google Scholar (Birrell), 777–781 (Bonar Law) on the Irish Home Rule Bill in cttee. Asquith had spoken earlier (715–717) on the order to commit the Bill to cttee.
57 The conference that produced the memorandum of 20 May 1912 to Lloyd George.
58 Sir Rufus Daniel Isaacs (1860–1935), Lib. MP Reading 1904–1913; Solicitor-Gen. 1910, Attorney-Gen. 1910–1913, Ld Chief Justice 1913–1921, Viceroy of India 1921–1926, Foreign Sec. 1931; kt. 1910, cr. Ld Reading 1914, Vt 1916, Earl 1917, Marquess 1926. Intimate friend of Lloyd George.
59 Edward George Hemmerde (1871–1948), Lib. MP East Denbighshire August 1906–December 1910, North West Norfolk 1912–1918, Lab. MP Crewe 1922–1924; fanatical land taxer.
60 Arthur Herbert Dyke Acland (1847–1926), Lib. MP Rotherham 1885–1899; Vice-Pres. Cttee of Council on Education 1892–1895; succ. as 13th Bt 1919.
61 Revd William Douglas Morrison (1852–1943), clergyman and journalist, especially on the subject of prison reform, in Daily Chronicle and Nation. Rector of Crown living of Marylebone 1908–1941.
62 Sir Albert Spicer (1847–1934), Lib. MP Monmouth Boroughs 1892–1900, Central Hackney 1906–1918; Bt 1906. His eldest s., Dykes Spicer (1880–1966), married Alice Morrison 1910.
63 Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XXXTX, 1700–1746Google Scholar for the debate on a motion by two Lib. backbenchers against a second chamber for the Irish Parliament. A.S.R. voted against as the Conservatives backed the motion.
64 The government had introduced a Franchise and Registration Bill on 6 June 1912. It was intended that the Bill could be amended so as to include women within the new franchise.
65 Hannah Elizabeth Gillett (nee Rowntrec) (1840–1931), aunt of A.S.R.
66 The Daily News and Morning Leader had finally amalgamated in May 1912, under the sole ownership of the Cadhurys.
67 John St George Currie Heath (1882–1918), Lecturer Woodbrooke 1906–1912, Sec. Lloyd George's Land Enquiry 1912–1914, Warden Toynbee Hall 1914–1917; convert to Quakerism 1910.
68 Cttee on reforming the administration of the Adult School movement.
69 Gerald Kenway Hibbert (1872–1957), first warden Swarthmore settlement at Leeds 1909–1919, Head of Ackworth School 1919–1930, Reader at Woodbrooke 1930–1945; convert to Quakerism 1909.
70 Dr Janet Campbell.
71 Arnold Viccars; important figure in the Adult Schools movement, from Leicester. Served as Convenor of the Lesson Handbook Compilation Cttee 1910–1936.
72 Olive Hope Rowntree, cousin of A.S.R.'s from Scarborough branch of the family. Lived in London with her brother, Ernest Rowntree.
73 Richard Westrope (1856–1941), former Congregational minister, known as ‘Brother Richard’ from his id edition of the classics, ‘Brother Richard's Bookshelf’. First Warden York Educational Settlement 1909–1921. His daughter, Hilda Westrope, was a secretary at Rowntree & Co.
74 Ernest Handel Cossham Wethered (1878–1975), barrister, active in Adult School movement in Bristol; Circuit Court Judge 1934–1950.
75 Lloyd George's speech at Kennington Theatre on 13 July 1912 celebrated the inauguration of National Insurance on 15 July with a slashing attack on the Conservatives and The Times for their opposition to the measure.
76 On 22 July 1912, twenty-two Liberals, including A.S.R., voted for a Labour amendment criticizing the increased Navy estimates. Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XLI, 835–948Google Scholar for the debate.
77 Rufus Matthew Jones (1863–1948), leading American Quaker and close friend of A.S.R; Prof, of Philosophy at Haverford College, Pennsylvania.
78 White Slave Traffic Bill, popular name of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 1912. This was a private member's bill which the government took over. It tightened up the law on prostitution.
79 Selly Oaks; collective name of five educational colleges in Birmingham founded by George Cadbury.
80 Tom Bryan (1865–1917), first warden of Fircroft, a working men's college and part of the Selly Oaks group, 1909–1917; convert to Quakerism.
81 Dr James Rondel Harris (1852–1941), eminent Orientalist and theologian; Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge 1875 1882, lectured in USA 1882–1893, Lecturer in Palaeography. Univ. of Cambridge 1893–1903. Dir of Studies Woodbrooke 1903–1918, Curator John Rylands Library 1918–1925; convert to Quakerism mid-1880s.
82 Ernest Dodgshun (1876–1944), Quaker; lecturer in adult education; Hon. Sec. NASU 1924–1944.
83 Barrow Cadbury (1862–1958), nephew of George Cadbury; Dir. Cadbury Bros., Chmn 1922–1932. Inspirer of West Hill, a college for training Sunday school teachers and part of the Selly Oaks group; Hon. Treasurer NASU 1907–1922.
84 William Adlington Cadbury (1867–1957), brother of Barrow Cadbury; Dir. Cadbury Bros; elected to Birmingham Council 1911 for King's Norton, Ld Mayor Birmingham 1919–1921.
85 In 1912, 100 English Adult School members visited Germany, while a similar number of Germans from Frankfurt and Dusseldorf visited England and stayed in the homes of Adult School members.
86 Michael Ernest Sadler (1861–1943), eminent educationist; Sec. Oxford Univ. Extension Cttee 1885–1895, Dir. of Special Enquiries, Bd of Education 1895–1903, Prof. Manchester University 1903–1911, Vice-Chanc. Leeds Univ. 1911–1923, Master University College, Oxford 1923–1934; KCSI 1919. His wife was a cousin of M.K.R.
87 One controversial element of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill was which rank and type of police officer should be able to make arrests under its provisions. A.S.R. was not able to produce an amendment to cover special constables.
88 The first vote on 29 July 1912 on ‘business of the House’ produced a government majority of 253–94. Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XLI, 1669–1672.Google Scholar
89 Baron Maurice Arnold de Forest (1879–1968), Lib. MP North West Ham 1911–1918.
90 Charles Henry Roberts (1865–1959), Lib. MP Lincoln 1906–1918, Derby 1922–1923; US India Office 1914–1915, Lib. whip 1915–1916. Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XLI, 1926–1933 for his speech on the Indian budget debate.
91 Barmoor, Hutton-le-Hole; country home of Harvey family on Yorkshire moors.
92 Alfred Frederick Bird (1849–1922), Con. MP West Wolverhampton January 1910–February 1922; Chmn Alfred Bird & Sons Ltd, manufacturing chemists; kt. 1920, Bt 1922.
93 Donald Macmaster (1846–1922), Con. MP Chertsey January 1910–March 1922; called to Canadian bar 1871, English bar 1906; Member Canadian Hof C 1882–886; Bt 1921.
94 Granville Charles Hastings Wheler (1872–1927), Con. MP Faversham January 1910–1927; Bt 1925.
95 Alfred St George Hamersley (1848–1929), Con. MP Woodstock January 1910–1918; barrister, practising at Canadian and New Zealand bar.
96 Dr Chipman, Canadian surgeon, based at McGill University.
97 Hon. Waldorf Astor (1879–1952), Con. MP Plymouth December 1910–1919, when succ. as 2nd Vt Astor; PS Ministry of Food 1918–1919, Local Govt Bd 1919, Min. of Health 1919–1921. Member of fabulously wealthy Astor dynasty of New York.
98 Mt Kisco, home of James Wood (1839–1925), prominent New York Quaker; Clerk of New York YM and Clerk of Five Year Meeting 1907.
99 The British Medical Association had refused to co-operate with the National Insurance scheme until their demands were met. On 22 October 1912 Lloyd George made a further offer to the BMA, suggesting GPs should be paid 8s 6d per patient per year, including is 6d for medicines. If this was rejected, the Chancellor hinted at the attractions of a national medical service.
100 Between 8–18 October 1912 the allied Balkan states of Montenegro, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece declared war on Turkey, whom they easily defeated over the following two months.
101 At Bradford Liberal Club on 26 October 1912 Illingworth had announced there would be ‘very little leisure for any member of the House of Commons’ until late in 1913, but no autumn session would be required that year.
102 Elizabeth Harvey (‘Tessa’) Rowntree, second child and eldest daughter of A.S.R. and M.K.R., b. 1909.
103 Charles Walter Starmer (1870–1933), Gen. Manager North of England Newspaper Co. Ltd.; partner with J.B. Morrell in a number of other newspapers, all of which merged into the Westminster Press in 1921; Mayor of Darlington 1907–1908, Lib. MP Cleveland 1923–1924; kt. 1917.
104 Birrell moved a government amendment to the Home Rule Bill providing for the election of the Irish Senate by proportional representation; Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XLIII, 621–706.Google Scholar
105 Frederick Rowntree (1860–1927), cousin of A.S.R. from Scarborough branch of the family; an architect.
106 Joseph Rowntree Gillett (1874–1940), first cousin of A.S.R.; partner in Gillett Bros Discount Co.; Pres. London Union of Adult Schools 1911–1920, NASU 1925–1926.
107 Devonshire House, Bishopsgate St, London; headquarters of English Society of Friends.
108 Barbara McKenzie, Convenor of the Women's Cttee of NASU 1906–1911, 1913–1915.
109 The original Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 contained a loophole. A block of flats could not be defined as a brothel, even if most or all of its apartments were occupied by prostitutes. Clause III of the 1912 Bill had been intended to deal with this situation, but it was withdrawn on 5 November because of the reasons outlined by A.S.R.
110 Hon. Alfred Lyttleton (1857–1913), Con. MP Warwick 1895–1906, St George's, Hanover Square June 1906–1913; Sec. of State Colonies 1903–1905.
111 Arthur Hamilton Lee (1868–1947), Con. MP South Hampshire 1900–July 1918; Civil Ld of Admiralty 1903–1905, PS Ministry of Munitions 1915–1916, Min. of Agriculture 1919–1921, First Ld of Admiralty 1921–1922; cr. Ld Lee of Fareham 1918, Vt 1922. Originator of the Criminal Law Amendment Bill.
112 The Conservative resolution had been proposed by Sir Frederick George Banbury (1850–1936), Con. MP Peckham 1892–1906, City of London June 1906–1924; Bt 1902, cr. Ld Banbury of Southam 1924.
113 Graham Moffat (1866–1951), Scottish playwright and actor/producer. Author of Bunty Pulls the Strings (1911)Google Scholar and A Scrape o'the Pen (1912).Google Scholar
114 Sir William Edwin Briggs Priestley (1859–1932), Lib. MP East Bradford 1906–1918; kt. 1909.
115 The Irish Home Rule Bill.
116 E.R. Cross gave up his post as Clerk to the Justices of the Peace in Scarborough in 1913 and moved to York.
117 Stephen Henry Hobhouse (1881–1961), s. of a LU MP and nephew of Beatrice Webb. Converted to Quakerism 1909 and gave up civil-service career to become a social worker; went to Balkans to help American Red Cross 1912–1913; founded Emergency Cttee to help aliens in Britain 1914; imprisoned as a CO 1916–1917.
118 Ann Mary Burgess (1862–1943), Quaker. Worked in Constantinople 1888–1922 with the Medical Mission for Armenians.
119 The Liberals retained the Bolton seat in a by-election on 23 November 1912.
120 Juliet Emily Reckitt (1870–1955) and her brother Albert Leopold Reckitt (1877–1947), Quakers. Members of the family who controlled Reckitt & Sons, starch manufacturers of Hull.
121 Sheffield paper, Sheffield Independent; Darlington paper, Northern Echo. By the end of 1913 the Independent was in profit and the Echo's losses had been reduced to under £500.
122 Lady Agnes Sullivan, widow of Admiral Sir Francis Sullivan, Bt. Lived at 23 Thurloe Square.
123 George Cadbury, Jr (1878–1954), s. of George Cadbury; Managing Dir. Cadbury Bros 1899–1943; founder of Fircroft College. Elected as a Liberal to Birmingham City Council 1911 for Selly Oak ward; Alderman 1921–1927.
124 Joseph J. Bradshaw, prison reformer who was inspired by the Adult School movement. Prominent in the Central Association for Discharged Prisoners and the Borstal Association.
125 in July 1912 the Canadian government had agreed to build three Dreadnoughts as their contribution to Imperial defence and a Bill to this effect was introduced to the Canadian House of Commons in December 1912.
126 Hansard, 5th series, 1912, XLV, 276Google Scholar for A.S.R.'s question on the amount of poor relief the introduction of pensions had saved in York.
127 The British Friend was wound up in 1913. A.S.R. became a Trustee of the Friend 1913–1945.Google Scholar
128 Dr Joseph Tyler Fox (1885–1949), fifth generation of his Quaker family to be a doctor; m. to daughter of Edwin Gilbert. He was concerned about co-operating with the National Insurance scheme.
129 Percy Alport Molteno (1861–1937), Lib. MP Dumfriesshire 1906–1918 and leading anti-armaments campaigner.