hidden workers of the party The professional Liberal agents, 1885 – 1910

Described by the chief Liberal agent in 1909 as the ‘hidden workers’ of the party, the Liberal constituency agents have generally been overlooked by historians. The years after 1885 were significant ones for the agents, as they sought to respond to the effects of major electoral reforms and to establish themselves as a profession. Kathryn Rix examines the activities of this crucial element of the party ‘The slave to duty’ peaking as guest of Liberal organisation and of Lib- organisation during ( honour at a dinner eral Agents. If you go for a sea- Evening News, 19 held at the Newcas- voyage, you will find a number this formative period, August 1910) tle-upon-Tyne Lib- of charming gold-braided offic- which included the eral Club in 1909, ers, who walk the bridge, navi- SSir Robert Hudson, the chief gate the ship, and determine its Liberals’ landslide Liberal agent, declared that he course – always with the hidden victory in 1906. was there ‘as a representative of assistance of certain rather grimy

 Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 hidden workers of the party The professional Liberal agents, 1885 – 1910

engineers down below. It is on member constituencies. For the courts held in September. Local behalf of those hidden workers first time, limits were placed election contests also occupied of the Liberal Party that I thank on how much candidates could much of Furniss’s time, with you for the honour done to me spend during an election, and elections to the Board of Guard- this evening.’1 the 1883 Corrupt Practices Act ians and the municipal council. These ‘hidden workers’ – the also provided strict guidelines on At the start of the year, Fur- constituency agents – have how this money could be spent. niss made arrangements for the received remarkably little atten- The year 1910 saw the last gen- annual ward meetings, sending a tion from historians, despite the eral election before the electoral personally addressed circular to vital role which they played in system again underwent major every known Liberal in Liver- party organisation. Within a revision, with the 1918 Repre- pool. A total of 108 ward meet- constituency, the agent not only sentation of the People Act. ings were held in January and managed local and parliamen- February. At the end of the year, tary election contests for Liberal In 1902, Furniss turned his attention to candidates, he also attended to Constituency activities: collecting subscription arrears. the registration of voters, and registration almost a In 1902, almost a quarter of a served as secretary to the local The wide variety of politi- million letters were dispatched Liberal association, making cal work undertaken by agents quarter of from the offices of the arrangements for its political in the constituencies was out- Liberal Federal Council.2 and social activities. This article lined in 1903 by Bertram Fur- a million Although the large-scale considers these key party work- niss, agent for Liverpool, when letters organisation managed by Fur- ers during the period between he produced an account of his niss was found only in major cit- 1885 and 1910. previous year’s work. Furniss were dis- ies such as Liverpool, the annual The year 1885 saw the first superintended a permanent staff routine he described was typi- general election to be held under of ten, with up to one hundred patched cal of the agent’s work in many the revised electoral condi- extra clerks employed at elec- other constituencies. As Furniss’s tions created by the passing of tion time, and up to fifty extra from the account made clear, registration the Corrupt and Illegal Prac- workers for registration. A great offices work was central to the agent’s tices Prevention Act (1883) and deal of effort was put into reg- endeavours. Although lists of the Third (1884– istration work, marking up the of the voters were drawn up before 85). Candidates now faced an new electoral registers in Janu- 1832, it was the First Reform enlarged electorate, the 1885 ary, making two surveys of the Liverpool Act (1832) which introduced the election being the first at which constituency in June and July principle of the electoral reg- the majority of adult males had to collect information on those Liberal ister. The parish overseers had the vote. The electoral map was eligible to be registered, and Federal the annual task of compiling the completely redrawn, with redis- defending registration claims register, which was then scruti- tribution into largely single- and objections in the revision Council. nised by the revising barrister.

Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006  hidden workers of the party

The political parties realised Left: Sir Robert required an immense amount him with registration work in that it was in their interest to get Hudson, chief of knowledge on the part of the Liverpool, other agents were involved in this process, lodging Liberal agent. agent, as well as considerable much more reliant on their own Right: J.H. claims for votes on behalf of sup- Linforth, Liberal financial outlay by the political efforts. Stanley French, Liberal porters, and objecting to claims agent for , parties. Not until the 1918 Rep- agent for Wellington in Som- made by opponents. The Sec- and one of the resentation of the People Act erset, described in 1910 how ond Reform Act (1867) greatly founders of the – which simplified the franchise he toured this rural constitu- extended the work of registra- SCLA. and provided for more efficient ency each summer by bicycle. tion. With the creation of the compiling of the register by pub- Accompanied by his wife, child, household and lodger franchises lic officials – was this burden on maid, office lad and dog, he in borough constituencies, it party organisers relieved. camped overnight, and collected produced a substantial increase The agent’s key task was to the necessary information for in the numbers eligible to vote. ensure that as many Liberal sup- registration purposes from local By 1869, the UK electorate stood porters as possible were on the inhabitants.5 at over 2.4 million, almost three electoral register. Throughout While the nature of registra- times what it had been in the the year, information was col- tion work was to some extent immediate aftermath of the 1832 lected on those eligible to vote, dictated by the type of constitu- Reform Act. The Third Reform with names being sent to the ency – urban Liverpool, with its Act (1884–85) extended the parish overseers for inclusion on more mobile population, requir- household and lodger franchises the voters’ lists. As well as lodg- ing greater efforts than rural to county constituencies, with ing claims on behalf of eligible – another crucial factor the result that by 1886 there were Liberal voters, the agent would was the funds available for regis- over 5.6 million voters – roughly make checks on the validity of tration work. The Liberal Party’s two in every three adult males.3 Conservative voters’ claims, so weaker financial position meant While the Reform Acts that objections could be lodged that in some constituencies the marked the most significant where possible. The annual Liberals went unrepresented in changes to the franchise, there revision courts in September, the revision courts, or relied on were by the close of the nine- when the revising barrister volunteer effort rather than the teenth century well over 100 dif- decided on the merits of the assistance of a qualified profes- ferent Acts of Parliament and 660 claims and objections lodged, sional agent. When the Liberals appeal cases governing the fran- marked the culmination of the did turn their attention to reg- chise and registration process.4 agent’s efforts. While Furniss istration in previously neglected The complexities of registration had a considerable staff to assist areas, the results could be strik-

 Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 hidden workers of the party ing – in 1905, the Liberals made for meetings, getting posters tion workers. The election agent a gain of 2,000 on the register at printed, hiring men to distribute had to ensure that the laws with Wimbledon. With the Liberals leaflets. However, some agents regard to bribery and other cor- unrepresented in the Wimble- were more directly involved in rupt and illegal practices were don revision courts for the previ- spreading the political message. strictly observed. In his mem- ous eleven years, ‘the Tories had James Martin, a Liberal agent in oirs, J. H. Linforth recounted done what they liked and had Warwickshire and later in Suf- how in 1885, while agent for stuffed the register’, but now the folk, gave hundreds of lectures Nottingham, he stopped a local Liberals ‘turned a microscope using the ‘magic lantern’ to pro- councillor who wanted to hire on it’.6 Increased Liberal effort vide illustrations. Drawing on the traditional election ‘lambs’ at registration prior to 1906 was his own background as a former (gangs of rowdies), pointing out one factor contributing to their agricultural labourer, F. C. Riv- that this would constitute illegal landslide election victory, show- ers used ‘labourers’ language’ to employment.10 ing the vital importance of the write letters on political topics to Articles in the Liberal Agent in agent’s work. the local press in the rural con- the run-up to elections showed stituencies where he served as that no detail was too small for agent, sometimes using the pseu- the agent to consider. In 1910, Constituency activities: donym ‘Tom Ploughman’. Riv- Linforth W. J. Arnold advised his fellow party organisation and ers also undertook lecture tours agents to prepare a booklet of political education for the Home Counties Liberal recounted political songs for use at election The agent’s activities between Federation. Other agents wrote how in meetings: ‘set to catchy tunes, elections were not, however, political pamphlets or served as they fill up an interval of wait- solely concerned with the tech- editors of local Liberal publica- 1885, ing, and keep the audience in nicalities of registration, essen- tions: Birkenhead’s agent in 1897 good humour’. While modern tial though this was. The agent edited The Free Lance, while while agent technology such as the motor also played a significant part in Frome’s agent produced The Bea- car could provide valuable arranging the social and politi- con.8 The greater effort devoted for Not- assistance in the essential work cal activities of the local Lib- to such activities illustrates how tingham, of canvassing voters and get- eral organisation, which it was the agent’s duties were expand- ting them to the poll, the agent hoped would help to secure and ing during this period, and helps he stopped needed to ensure that it was used maintain support for Liberalism. to explain why political agency to best effect: ‘it too frequently Both Liberals and Conservatives was no longer dominated by a local occurs that motor cars are aim- were keen to provide ‘political those from legal backgrounds, lessly taken about by members education’ for the ever-grow- a development explored further council- of committees who are more ing number of voters. It was felt below. The Liberal Agent’s list of lor who desirous of having a motor ride that efforts at education between the agent’s essential attributes themselves than fetching vot- elections could reap greater in 1900 included not only ‘1. wanted to ers’.11 The election agent also rewards than activity during the Knowledge of Election Law needed to ensure that suitable election itself: recommending and Practice (including Reg- hire the election speakers, posters and ‘a vigorous Educational Cam- istration)’, but also ‘2. General pamphlets were selected. After paign’ of public meetings and political knowledge; 3. A fair traditional the establishment of the Liberal distribution of literature in the all-round education; 4. Tact; election Publication Department in 1887, constituencies, the agents’ jour- 5. Adaptability; 6. Readiness of the central party headquarters nal, the SCLA Quarterly, sug- speech.’9 ‘lambs’ supplied an increasing amount gested that ‘to send out loads of of election literature: at the 1906 literature during the excitement (gangs of election, 118 tons of literature of an election when the electors Constituency activities: were sent out, wrapped with are not in a frame of mind for electioneering rowdies), three tons of brown paper and 12 reading and studying it, cannot The culmination of the agent’s pointing ten hundredweight of string. surely be considered the most work came with the election However, locally produced elec- effective method of educating contest. While in some cases, out that tion material – sometimes with an electorate’.7 The distribution candidates chose to appoint a the agent as author – remained of leaflets and pamphlets was one local solicitor as their election this would essential. means of political education; agent, by the end of this period political lectures, meetings and it was more usual for the con- constitute debates formed another impor- stituency agent to manage the illegal The rise of the professional tant element. election campaign. The agent agent The agent’s role in this work had overall responsibility for the employ- The years between 1885 and 1910 was sometimes confined to candidate’s election accounts were significant ones for the Lib- practicalities: booking rooms and the employment of elec- ment. eral agents, for it was during this

Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006  hidden workers of the party period that they made concerted major towns such as Manches- As the professional organisers – a Welsh efforts to establish themselves ter and were the branch of the Liberal agents’ as a profession. Before 1885, the pioneers of professional organi- work of association was not established typical agent was a solicitor, sation after 1867, for the Second until 1903, but here Conserva- who handled the work of reg- Reform Act greatly increased local party tive organisation was similarly istration and electioneering on the demands of registration and weak. While large urban con- a part-time basis alongside his organisation in these large bor- organi- stituencies were among the first legal practice. After 1885, these oughs. The Manchester Liber- sation to appoint full-time agents, rural solicitor agents were increas- als’ decision to appoint Green county seats where traditional ingly being replaced by profes- may have been influenced by expanded, landed influences remained sional agents, who undertook the Conservatives’ appointment strong were slower to adopt pro- the work of party organisation of a professional agent in 1870. the employ- fessional organisation. However, full time. There were a variety The organisational activities there were signs of change even of factors underlying this transi- and electoral position of oppo- ment of a here: in Mid-Northampton- tion. With the enlarged elector- nents were certainly important full-time shire, influenced by the Spencer ate after 1885, registration work factors in deciding how much interest, a professional agent was was a growing burden, mak- effort should be put into Lib- profes- appointed in 1903 to replace the ing it less easy for solicitors to eral organisation. In 1890, the local solicitor who had previ- undertake this on a part-time Stretford Liberal Association sional ously handled Liberal affairs.16 basis. By placing limits on the announced its decision to devote In addition to these regional amounts which candidates could more resources to registration agent variations, the employment of spend at elections, the 1883 Cor- work in response to renewed rather than agents fluctuated with the party’s rupt Practices Act also boosted Conservative activity: ‘either electoral fortunes. Liberal agents the importance of organisa- they must work on such a scale a part-time were said to have been ‘plunged tional work between elections. as affords hope of beating their into a sea of difficulty’ following Candidates could now employ opponents in the battle of revi- solicitor the party split over Home Rule only a limited number of paid sion, or cease operations of this in 1886: ‘many Agents disap- election workers, and paid can- nature altogether. Any interme- agent was peared as such – with their Asso- vassers were prohibited. Instead diate course can only lead to a desirable. ciations; and others held their candidates would have to rely waste of money and effort.’13 positions practically as Honorary on volunteer election workers. Financial considerations were Agents, unwilling to abandon Local party associations became often paramount in deciding the cause’.17 The ebb and flow increasingly important as a vehi- whether to employ a full-time of political activity between cle for recruiting and retaining agent. In London in particular, elections also influenced the the support of these volunteers. the Liberals were outstripped appointment of agents, not least The expansion of local govern- by their wealthier Conserva- because the presence of a candi- ment during this period – county tive rivals when it came to party date within a constituency could councils were established in 1888 organisation. In 1893, the Met- have a significant effect on local and parish and district councils ropolitan Conservative Agents’ party funds. Following defeat in in 1894 – also meant a growing Association could muster thirty- 1900, some associations econo- number of local election con- four members, heavily out- mised by dispensing with their tests, at which the agent could numbering the mere handful of agents. Conversely, there was a provide valuable assistance to Liberal agents in London. Even flurry of appointments in antici- candidates. As the work of local by July 1905, with significant pation of the 1906 election: the party organisation expanded, efforts from party headquarters and Lib- the employment of a full-time to improve organisation in prep- eral agents reported in July 1905 professional agent rather than aration for the 1906 election, that ‘qualified Agents have been a part-time solicitor agent was there were only fifteen members appointed in almost every con- desirable. of the Liberal agents’ association stituency’.18 The growth of the The pace of change varied covering London’s sixty-two Labour Party presented another from constituency to constitu- seats.14 Yet while some Con- potential influence on Liberal ency. While some constituencies servative strongholds were left activity. Barnard Castle found employed full-time non-solici- unchallenged by the Liberals, itself without a Liberal agent in tor agents even before 1885 – the elsewhere agents helped to keep 1903 when Arthur Henderson Manchester Liberal Association the party flag flying. ‘No agent resigned after seven years’ serv- appointed Benjamin Green, a has a lonelier furrow to plough ice to contest, successfully, the former publisher and bookseller, than he’ was the Liberal Agent’s seat for Labour. However, the as its agent in 1874 – others were verdict on William Finnemore, embryonic nature of Labour still relying on the part-time working in ‘politically pagan’ organisation in most constituen- services of solicitors as late as Birmingham.15 Conversely, some cies meant that this was not yet a 1910. It was unsurprising that areas of Liberal strength lacked major concern for the Liberals.

 Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 hidden workers of the party

While there was there- taken into account. Neverthe- inaugural meeting was held in fore a great deal of diversity in less, it was felt that an effective London, the LSAA’s member- the appointment of agents, the agent could have a decisive influ- ship had a northern bias, and it overall trend was towards the ence. The Liberal Agent’s declara- seems likely that it was estab- employment of full-time pro- tion that the 1905 North Dorset lished in response to the North fessionals. By 1898, the Liberal by-election ‘was won by Beer’ of England Conservative Agents’ agents’ associations had a total of need not have alarmed Liberal Association, founded in 1871.25 243 members, representing over temperance sympathisers: Mr Amongst its earliest activities half of all English constituencies. Beer was the Liberal agent.23 was the publication of guidelines By 1906, this had increased to 321 However, the agents recog- for members on how to manage members, including some Welsh nised that there were occasions elections under the restrictions agents. Despite this increase, the when even their best endeavours laid down by the 1883 Corrupt Liberals were still outstripped by would be to little avail. They Practices Act. From 1889, agents’ their Conservative rivals. In 1896, wasted little time contemplat- meetings became a regular fix- the Conservative agents’ associa- ing the lessons of the ‘khaki’ ture at the NLF’s annual confer- tions had an estimated member- election in 1900, for as William ences, and it was around this date ship of just over 300, while in Lord, agent for , argued, that their organisation adopted 1902, there were said to be 400 ‘the tide of jingo passion had a new title: the National Asso- Conservative agents in England been so overwhelming that all ciation of Liberal Secretaries and and Wales.19 minor issues were submerged’. Agents (NALSA). In addition to It is worth assessing how Reading ‘solemn homilies’ on its national gatherings at NLF much impact the appointment how things might be better done conferences, the NALSA had of professional agents had. The in future ‘would be as idle as it district branches which organ- agent’s registration work clearly would have been for the gen- ised regular meetings. had the potential to make an eration following Noah’s flood In 1893, a significant develop- important contribution to elec- The Lib- to have met in solemn conclave ment occurred, with the emer- toral success, altering the politi- for the purpose of discussing the gence of a rival to the NALSA. cal make-up of the electorate eral merits and demerits of umbrellas The Society of Certificated which would go to the poll. Agent’s and waterproofs as a precaution Liberal Agents (SCLA) was This was particularly significant against another deluge’.24 founded as a breakaway move- given the large number of con- declara- Whether or not the Liberals ment from the NALSA. The key stituencies with small majorities. achieved electoral success at par- reason for the split was the belief Prior to the 1900 election, thirty tion that liamentary level, the presence among the SCLA’s founders that Liberal and forty-five Unionist of a professional agent within a agents should hold certificates seats were held with majorities the 1905 constituency could have a sig- of proficiency. Agents would of under 200.20 The Liberal Pub- North Dor- nificant impact in stimulating have to qualify for these certifi- lication Department declared in Liberal organisational efforts cates either through experience 1896 that ‘systematic neglect’ of set by-elec- between general elections, be or by passing an examination. registration by the Liberals had this through registration, politi- The SCLA’s honorary secretary, ‘repeatedly been responsible for tion ‘was cal education, social activities Fred Nash, observed that ‘it was adverse results’.21 Yet registration or local government election the necessity for a real practical efforts alone were not necessar- won by contests. test to keep out interlopers and ily enough to tip the balance. Beer’ need duffers that compelled the for- While Liberal neglect of reg- mation of a new society’.26 In istration for five years prior to not have Professional organisation February 1894, the SCLA held the 1898 by-election Like many other occupational its first examination, with two was clearly a significant factor alarmed groups at this time, the Liberal separate papers, Registration, in their defeat, the Liberal Agent agents established their own and Elections. In addition to estimated that even with regis- Liberal organisations as part of their technical questions on registra- tration work, the Conservative temper- efforts to achieve professional tion and election law, candidates majority would still have been status. The education and train- were asked more wide-ranging around 200.22 ance sym- ing of members was a key con- questions on electioneering. The As the agents were aware, cern. The first Liberal agents’ following question provides one organisation – whether before pathisers: association was established example: the election or during the con- just before the major electoral test itself – was only one possi- Mr Beer reforms of 1883–85. The Liberal A Bye-Election is announced ble factor in the election result. was the Secretaries and Agents Asso- in a constituency where there The candidate’s personal appeal, ciation (LSAA) was founded in is little or no organisation and the strength of the opposition Liberal 1882, at a meeting held under the a heavy majority against the and the particular issues being auspices of the National Liberal Liberal Party. You are the near- ­campaigned on all had to be agent. Federation (NLF). Although its est Certificated Agent, and you

Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006  hidden workers of the party

are appointed to manage the the SCLA’s seven founders all 321 members in England and Election, and are authorised to had close connections with the Wales.29 spend any sum not exceeding central party organisation. Wil- This high membership figure the maximum. Indicate your liam Woodings, secretary to the reflected the society’s usefulness plan of campaign.27 NLF’s Registration and Elec- to its members. The SCALA and tions Department, and William its predecessors aimed to provide Passing either the Registration Allard, secretary to the Home professional education for all or the Elections paper entitled Counties Liberal Federation, members, not just new entrants an agent to become a Fellow both worked at party headquar- to the profession. To this end, of the SCLA. The alternative ters. The other five – Edwin regular meetings were held at means of qualifying as a Fel- Perry ( Liberal Federa- both national and regional level. low was five years’ full-time tion), J. H. Linforth (Leeds), The topics discussed ranged from experience as an agent. Those Fred Nash (Colchester), George the technicalities of registration not meeting either requirement Docwra (Coventry) and John and election law to the practical- could join at the lower grade Skinner (Sheffield) – were all ities of election campaigning and of Associate. In contrast, the experienced agents, who had party organisation. For example, NALSA neither held examina- served as district agents for the at their meeting at the 1898 NLF tions nor issued certificates to NLF in 1890–91.28 conference, NALSA members its members. In holding exami- However, once the initial considered ‘Bazaars as a means nations, the SCLA was clearly acrimony surrounding the of raising funds for Liberal Asso- emulating the Conservative SCLA’s formation had subsided, ciation Work’, before debating agents: the National Society of the two organisations coexisted the merits of ‘The Scottish Reg- Conservative Agents had held peaceably. Indeed there was istration System’. its first examination in1892 . cooperation on several matters. Agents could give each other This division among the Lib- In September 1895, the SCLA the benefit of their experience: eral agents saw heated debates established its own professional in 1899, Thomas Newbould at the 1894 NLF conference, journal, the SCLA Quarterly. advised NALSA members which saw the SCLA’s formal With the fifth issue, in July who wished to use the ‘magic launch. William Lord, agent for 1896, this was renamed the William lantern’ to show slides dur- Burnley, echoed the thoughts of Liberal Agent, and became the Lord, ing political lectures that they many NALSA members when official organ of both societies. should avoid using acetylene he declared that ‘there was an Green’s death in January 1896 agent for gas in their lanterns, due to its indefinable thing about an agent removed a key opponent of the smell and its explosive proper- which you could not exam- SCLA. Analysis of the member- Burnley, ties. Agents’ meetings provided ine’. While agents did require ship lists reveals that there was an invaluable opportunity for knowledge of registration and considerable overlap between echoed the informal discussion with fellow election law, they needed other the two bodies: in 1898, two- thoughts professionals. Amos White- qualities, such as tact, adapt- thirds of the SCLA’s members head, agent for Darlington, ability, and determination. The also belonged to the NALSA, of many suggested that ‘an hour’s chat manner in which the SCLA was while nearly a third of the with a brother’ on a legal or founded also aroused anger. NALSA’s members belonged to NALSA organisational point could be The society came about as the the SCLA. This undoubtedly more useful than ‘a day’s read- result of a NALSA sub-commit- facilitated the amalgamation members ing up’. Links between agents tee established to consider the of the two societies, a prospect when he were also fostered through the question of issuing certificates first raised in December 1899, Liberal Agent, which in addi- of proficiency. In establishing when the NALSA appointed declared tion to its technical and educa- a new organisation, the sub- a committee to consider the tional content carried reports of committee members had clearly question of issuing proficiency that ‘there agents’ meetings and included exceeded their remit. The certificates. Once concerns biographies and other news NALSA’s president, Benjamin about safeguarding the value of was an about agents. Professional soli- Green, recently retired as agent certificates had been resolved, indefinable darity was given an additional for Manchester, complained with the decision to retain strict boost with the establishment of that agents in London and the requirements for those wishing thing about an agents’ benevolent fund in North had not been consulted to qualify as Fellows, the two 1900.30 about the scheme. It appears societies formally merged in an agent that regional loyalties fuelled the July 1901. The united body took divisions on this question. While the title of the Society of Cer- which you The professional agents’ those who supported Green’s tificated and Associated Liberal could not backgrounds attack on the SCLA came largely Agents (SCALA). By 1906, the One important question is who from the North of England, SCALA could boast a total of examine’. the members of the profession

10 Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 hidden workers of the party were, if agents were no longer At the individuals for whom agency as ‘the skeleton – the bones on drawn predominantly from the was their first career. In1906 , the which the flesh and blood of ranks of solicitors. The biog- NLF’s Liberal Agent proudly reported the party are built’, expressing raphies published in the Lib- on ‘A Trio of young Certificated admiration for their ‘devotion eral Agent revealed that agents 1899 con- Liberal Agents’, Oliver Linforth, and intelligence’.34 However, came from a wide range of Norman Rivers and Walter for the agents, it appeared that backgrounds, from agricultural ference, Belcher. All three were sons of there was a gap between party labourers to journalists, from the NLF agents, and began their train- conference rhetoric and the day- teachers to factory workers. ing by assisting in their fathers’ to-day reality of their situation Other previous occupations fol- President, offices from a young age: Rivers in the constituencies. There lowed by Liberal agents included gained his first experience of by- were regular complaints that the a draper, a jewellery manufac- Robert election work aged just twelve. salaries which agents received turer, a corn merchant, a coach- Rivers and Belcher then went were not in keeping with their builder, a cabinet-maker, an Spence on to train in the offices of other professional skills, responsibili- engineer, a joiner, an auctioneer Watson, experienced agents, following ties and aspirations: the Liberal and a miner. which Rivers became agent for Agent protested that ‘for the sal- A common path into the declared Mid-Northamptonshire, while ary of an inferior foreman they agents’ profession was to begin by Belcher, aged twenty-one, was expect a man to live and dress as undertaking voluntary work for that ‘no appointed as agent for Eccles. a gentleman [and] … to know the local Liberal Party – canvass- After three years assisting his all the intricacies of a most intri- ing voters at elections or serving one had father in Leeds and Pudsey, cate branch of law’.35 The fact on local committees. One exam- rendered Linforth temporarily left the that solicitors continued to be ple is provided by David Hirst, a profession to work in South appointed as election agents, in Halifax carpet-weaver. Born in more serv- Africa, first as the representa- some cases over the head of the 1851, Hirst worked in the mills tive of a Leeds cycle manufac- local professional agent, also from the age of eight. In 1875, he ices to the turer, then serving as a volunteer provoked anger. A further griev- joined the Halifax Liberal Asso- in the Boer War. However, ance was the lack of job security ciation, and subsequently played Liberal on his return to England in which agents faced. The trio of an active role, serving as a ward Party than 1903, he took up political work young agents recorded by the representative on the executive once more, and like Rivers and Liberal Agent in 1906 provided a committee, speaking at meet- the agents Belcher, he passed the SCALA case in point: Linforth had just ings, and collecting subscrip- examination.32 While these men lost his position as agent for Ash- tions. When the Liberal agent, had’. followed in their fathers’ foot- ford after only fifteen months, Mr Brook, was taken ill during steps to join the agents’ profes- following the Liberal candi- the registration court proceed- sion, one leading Liberal agent, date’s defeat, while Rivers had ings in 1893, Hirst was fetched Fred Nash, urged that his own been dismissed despite securing from the mill to take his place. sons should not enter the agents’ a large Liberal majority in his On Brook’s retirement in 1895, ranks, because ‘the “plums” in constituency, because the MP Hirst was appointed as agent, that profession are too few’.33 wished to give the agent’s post to quitting his former occupation a relative. after thirty-five years’ service. It is worth noting that Con- A. K. Durham, who worked in The agent’s status servative agents at this time were an accountant’s office, assisted Nash’s comments touched on an voicing similar concerns about at the 1883 Newcastle by-elec- issue which was a recurrent con- status, pay and employment tion which saw John Morley cern for the professional agents: conditions. However, for Liberal elected as Liberal MP. In 1884, the agent’s status. For the agents, agents, the problem appeared Durham served as secretary to this was closely bound up with particularly acute because of the annual temperance festival the question of their pay and the party’s weakened financial held on Newcastle town moor, their employment conditions. position in the aftermath of the a three-day event attended by At party conferences, agents Home Rule split in 1886. Lord over 100,000 people. Follow- were lauded by leading party Rosebery himself declared at the ing this demonstration of his figures for the vital role they 1896 NLF conference that ‘the organisational prowess, it was played within the party organi- great want of the age is a want of suggested that Durham apply for sation. At the NLF’s 1899 confer- funds. I do not seek to parade the the Newcastle agent’s post, and ence, the NLF President, Robert poverty of the Liberal Party … he was duly appointed.31 Spence Watson, declared that but we have lost almost entirely While the majority of agents ‘no one had rendered more serv- the great and wealthy of the during this period moved ices to the Liberal Party than the earth’.36 Given that the agent’s into political work from other agents had’, while Campbell- salary represented a sizeable ­professions, there were some Bannerman described the agents proportion of local association

Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 11 hidden workers of the party

expenditure, it is clear that this wage by milking cows, sewing Edwin Perry, lets, pamphlets &c., by personal had significant implications for canvas bags and bookkeeping secretary to the distribution or by post ‘ [and] all the agents. in the evenings. A move to Bir- Devon Liberal necessary work in regard to the Federation 38 How much then could a mingham to enter the coal trade and one of the Registration of Voters’. It was Liberal agent expect to earn? brought him into contact with founders of the little wonder that some agents Annual salaries varied from con- Francis Schnadhorst of the NLF, SCLA, presiding chose to leave the profession in stituency to constituency, with and in 1882 he became agent for over the opening the hopes of greater remunera- the financial position of the local Handsworth. By the time of of the municipal tion and job security. In 1897, tramway as Mayor association obviously affecting his death in 1906, he had risen of Exeter in 1905. the Liberal Agent reported that the sums on offer. At the top end through the ranks to become Doncaster’s agent was leaving for of the scale, the Manchester Lib- one of the leading members of the better-paid position of clerk eral Federation in 1903 offered a the profession.37 to Worksop District Council, salary of £500 to its new agent, At the opposite end of the scale while Dartford’s agent was quit- Fred Burn. This was, however, from Burn and Nash, however, ting to become secretary to the exceptional, with the more usual many agents were far less well Dartford School Board.39 The salary range being between £150 rewarded. In 1903, the Liberal varying levels of pay on offer and £300. Yet even at this level, agency for Holmfirth was adver- also contributed to relatively it was clear that the agents’ pro- tised at a salary of two pounds a high levels of mobility within fession provided an opportunity week (£104 annually), for which the profession, as agents sought for advancement, particularly the agent was expected to work to secure what Nash deemed to given the relatively humble a forty-eight-hour week, with be the ‘plums’ of the profession. backgrounds from which many his duties including ‘the col- Burn beat around eighty other agents came. Fred Nash provides lection of subscriptions, visita- applicants for the Manchester a good example: having left tion of all parts of the Division, agency in 1903.40 school aged twelve to earn 4d. assisting in arrangements for Despite these concerns about a day bird-scaring, he then went public and committee meetings, pay and related questions, it is on to become an office boy, advising local secretaries and clear that the agent’s status was supplementing his 4s. weekly other Liberals, circulating leaf- improving during this period.

12 Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 hidden workers of the party

Many agents became men of Dr Kathryn Rix is a Fellow and p. 110. standing within their constitu- College Lecturer in History at New 18 Liberal Agent, 41 ( July 1905), Hall, Cambridge. She is currently pp. 40–41. encies, involved not only with 19 For detailed calculations on the the political work for which they preparing a book entitled Politics membership of Liberal and Con- were employed, but with a wide and Professionalisation: The servative agents’ associations, see range of social, philanthropic, Party Agent and Electoral Cul- K. Rix, ‘The party agent and Eng- sporting and educational activi- ture in England, 1880–1910, to lish electoral culture, 1880–1906’ be published in the Royal Historical (unpublished PhD thesis, University ties. While agent for Colches- of Cambridge, 2001), pp. 126–28. ter, Nash served as secretary to Society’s Studies inHistory series. 20 Daily Graphic, 20 September 1900, p. Colchester Football Club, and 10. helped establish the Pearson 1 Liberal Agent, 59 (January 1910), pp. 21 Liberal Publication Department, Charity Cup to raise money for 118–19. The Liberal Agent is held by County Registration (London: Lib- the University of Bristol Library, eral Publication Department, 1896), the local hospital. Other Lib- Special Collections. p. 1. eral agents were involved with 2 Liberal Agent, 32 (April 1903), 22 Liberal Agent, 13 ( July 1898), causes such as temperance and pp. 202–05. pp. 16–18. adult education. Agents also 3 T.A. Jenkins, Parliament, Party and 23 Liberal Agent, 40 (April 1905), p. 192. sought election to local office: Politics in Victorian Britain (Man- 24 Liberal Agent, 24 (April 1901), p. 7. chester: Manchester University 25 H. J. Hanham, Elections and Party Exeter’s mayor in 1905, when Press, 1996), p. 90. Management (Hassocks: Harvester he presided over the opening 4 The Tory, 59 (December 1897), Press, 1978 (2nd edn.)), pp. 241–42. of the municipal tramway, was p. 1598. 26 The Tory, 17 (June 1894), p. 407. Councillor Edwin Perry, one of 5 Liberal Agent, 60 (April 1910), 27 The Tory, 17 (June 1894), p. 405. the SCLA’s founders, agent for pp. 172–78. 28 Daily News, 13 February 1894, p. 5; 6 W. M. Crook to H. Gladstone, 7 Ashburton and secretary to the The Tory, 14 (March 1894), p. 303; November 1905, British Library, The Times, 16 February 1894, p. 4; Devon Liberal Federation. Perry Herbert Gladstone papers, Add. The Spectator, 17 February 1894, also served as a JP, as president of MS. 46024, f. 216. p. 227. Exeter’s Pleasant Sunday Asso- 7 SCLA Quarterly, 3 (March 1896), 29 Liberal Agent, 11 ( January 1898), ciation, and was involved with p. 5. pp. 58–67; ibid., 19 (January 1900), 41 8 Liberal Agent, 28 (April 1902), pp. p. 9; West Yorkshire Archive Serv- local schools and hospitals. The 22–31; ibid., 49 (July 1907), pp. 1–4; ice, Leeds, SCALA minute books, 5 outside activities in which agents ibid., 8 (April 1897), p. 20; ibid., 12 June 1907 (annual report). participated in their constituen- (April 1898), p. 45. 30 Liberal Agent, 12 (April 1898), pp. 23– cies were of service to them in 9 Liberal Agent, 19 ( January 1900), 24; ibid., 16 (April 1899), p. 40; ibid., their political work, bringing p. 40. 17 (July 1899), p. 31. 10 J. H. Linforth, Leaves from an Agent’s 31 Liberal Agent, 79 ( January 1915), them into contact with a broader Diary (Leeds: Wildblood & Ward, pp. 130–33; ibid., 51 (January 1908), section of the electorate, rather 1911), p. 88. pp. 71–73. than Liberal supporters alone. 11 Liberal Agent, 59 ( January 1910), 32 Liberal Agent, 43–44 (January–April Agents were able to gather local pp. 124, 128. 1906), pp. 139–41. knowledge which would be of 12 Liberal Publication Department, 33 Liberal Agent, 37 (July 1904), p. 4. General Election 1906, British Library, 34 NLF, Annual reports and council pro- use in their work of registration Herbert Gladstone papers, Add. ceedings, 1899, pp. 103, 106. and electioneering. MS. 46107, f. 145. 35 Liberal Agent, 16 (April 1899), p. 4. The period between 1885 and 13 Stockport Local Studies Library, B/ 36 NLF, Annual reports and council pro- 1910 was clearly a highly signifi- NN/2/7, Stockport Liberal Asso- ceedings, 1896, p. 127. cant one for the Liberal agents. ciation Minute Book, 26 February 37 Manchester Central Library, Man- 1890 [press cutting on the Stretford chester Liberal Federation minute It saw the agents establish them- Liberal Association]. book, 18 September 1903; Liberal selves as a profession, with their 14 Figures calculated from minute Agent, 25 (July 1901), p. 6; ibid., 37 own professional organisation, books of the Metropolitan Con- (July 1904), pp. 1–4. journal and examinations. Legal servative Agents’ Association (held 38 Liberal Agent, 31 ( January 1903), dominance of political agency in the British Library of Political and p. 117 Many Economic Science) and from Liberal 39 Liberal Agent, 10 (October 1897), had given way to a new group Agent, 41 (July 1905), pp. 48–51. On pp. 4, 56–57. of individuals who took on the agents party organisation in London, see 40 Conservative Agents’ Journal, 8 role of constituency agent as a also P. Thompson, Socialists, Liber- (October 1903), p. 104. On mobility full-time position. The varied became als and Labour: The Struggle for Lon- among agents, see Rix, ‘The party backgrounds from which these don 1885–1914 (London: Routledge & agent and English electoral culture, Kegan Paul, 1967), pp. 71–75. 1880–1906’, pp. 95–99. new agents came was indica- men of 15 Liberal Agent, 46 (October 1906), pp. 41 Liberal Agent, 57 ( July 1909), tive of the wider responsibili- 39–40. pp. 20–21. ties which the agent’s work now standing 16 J. Howarth, ‘The Liberal revival in entailed. Knowledge of registra- within their Northamptonshire, 1880–1895: A tion and election law was still case study in late 19th century elec- tions’, Historical Journal, 12: 1 (1969), essential, but agents also played constituen- p. 94; Liberal Agent, 43–44 ( Janu- a significant part in the work ary–April 1906), p. 140. of political education and party cies. 17 Liberal Agent, 35 ( January 1904), organisation.

Journal of Liberal History 52 Autumn 2006 13