A Lancashire Miner in Sam Woods and the By-election of 1897

The Walthamstow by-election of 3 February 1897 was the most remarkable result of over seventy parliamentary contests during the 1895–1900 parliament. Sam Woods, a white-haired miner in his early fifties, unexpectedly became the first Liberal- Labour Member for Walthamstow. The Liberal press hailed the result as ‘the most astonishing political transformation of recent times’.1 However, The Times declared: ‘We had no notion that the crude, violent and round midnight on 3 Feb- Previous general election results: subversive Radicalism ruary 1897 the result of the 1892 of Mr Woods would Aparliamentary election for E. W. Byrne (Con) 6,115 the Walthamstow (South Western W. B. Whittingham (Lib) 4,965 find acceptance even Division of ) constituency was Con majority 1,150 announced at the old town hall in 1895 in a working-class Orford Road. The dramatic elec- E. W. Byrne (Con) 6,876 2 tion result was: A. H. Pollen (Lib) 4,523 constituency’. John Con majority 2,353 Shepherd tells the Sam Woods (Liberal-Labour) 6,518 Thomas Dewar (Cons.) 6,239 From 1886 to 1895 Waltham- story. Lib-Lab majority 279 stow returned Tory MPs, and the

24 Journal of Liberal History 90 Spring 2016 A Lancashire Miner in Walthamstow Sam Woods and the By-election of 1897

Liberal Party saw the constituency Walthamstow contained the two trade, with many skilled workers, as a hopeless cause. The first work- largest electorates in the country. engaged mainly in house construc- man to contest Walthamstow, Sam The South-Western Division with tion. Of the individual occupations Woods, was a former hewer from 19,846 adult male voters out of a represented in the local commu- Wigan and a complete stranger who total population of around 150,000 nity, the most numerous were had been adopted shortly before was a vast constituency which carpenters and joiners, printers, polling day. In the late nineteenth comprised Walthamstow, Ley- clerks and domestic servants. Out- century miners’ unions were the ton, , Harrow Green side their homes, women worked pioneers of labour representation, and Woodford and stretched from mainly in domestic service, dress- but their candidates stood only in in the west to Wan- making and the manufacture of mining constituencies. stead in the east, and in books, paper and stationery. There In 1897 Sam Woods’ campaign the north to Clapton in the south. were over 350 women schoolteach- manager, Herbert Samuel, wrote to Before 1850 there were fewer than ers and more than 250 female com- the former Prime Minister and Lib- 5,000 inhabitants in the rural parish mercial clerks in the town. By the eral leader William Gladstone for of Walthamstow, but by 1883 the turn of the century, at least seven- support. Samuel stressed ‘the great socialist writer, designer and crafts- teen trade unions had been estab- importance at the present moment man William Morris described lished in the district. While similar of a hearty alliance between the Walthamstow, his birthplace, as urban development took place party and the more sober section of ‘a suburban village on the edge of in nearby , the villadom Labour politicians’,3 a well-directed Epping Forest and once a pleas- of Woodford, with four times as reference to the long-established ant place enough, but now terribly many domestic servants per head links in Victorian politics between cocknified and choked up by the of population as Walthamstow, the Gladstonian Liberal Party and jerrybuilder’.5 retained its middle-class character.7 prominent trade union and labour In Walthamstow during 1871–1891 From 1886 to 1895 the Waltham- leaders. In this way, before the the population expanded dramati- stow Liberal Party found great advent of the modern Labour Party, cally from 11,092 to 95,131. The difficulties in persuading wealthy Sam Woods joined the small group estate developers and the Great Liberals to contest the constitu- of working-class MPs known as Eastern Railway Company created ency. To obtain help, Walthamstow ‘Lib-Labs’ who represented labour the new, predominantly working- Liberals approached party head- interests but were Liberals in class, suburb. The extension of the quarters in , but with little politics. railway to Walthamstow in 1870 success. Pressed by his local party, Nearly fifty years later, Her- and the G.E.R. Company’s promo- Courtenay Warner told Herbert bert (then Viscount) Samuel tion of workmen’s tickets and half Gladstone: ‘I am afraid this division recalled that ‘Woods knew as lit- fares in 1872 and 1885 attracted the is a forlorn hope. I shall do what I tle of Walthamstow as Waltham- skilled artisans and clerks who set- can for the candidate they choose stow knew of coalmines’.4 How tled in the town with their families, though I should not like to stand Sam Woods became the Member but commuted to London. Many myself’.8 for Walthamstow provides a fas- worked in the City, the financial Prospective Liberal candidates cinating insight into the politics centre of the world at this time.6 were not encouraged by the bitter and society of the town during its The major estate developer in internal party feuding surround- important period of urban develop- Walthamstow was Thomas Cour- ing the political activities of J. J. ment in the late nineteenth century. tenay Theydon Warner, one of the McSheedy, an Irish Radical and largest landowners in the locality, schoolmaster, who had first earned whose Warner Estate Company his reputation as the stormy petrel The Walthamstow built large parts of the town, start- of Walthamstow in his campaign constituency ing in the 1880s in the St James Left: Sam Woods to reform the Walthamstow Paro- In 1897 the Essex county con- Street district. The most impor- (10 May 1846 – 23 chial Charities.9 McSheedy became stituencies of Romford and tant industry was the building November 1915) the leader of the local Radical and

Journal of Liberal History 90 Spring 2016 25 a lancashire miner in walthamstow: sam woods and the by-election of 1897

Progressive Association, an alliance union and labour politics in Lanca- electoral organisation. He quickly of working men and small-scale shire, becoming the respected local prepared a short biography of Sam businessmen, which gained increas- miners’ agent at Ashton-in-Maker- Woods for distribution in the con- ing influence within the local Lib- field, and then the first president of stituency.16 Woods had entered the eral Party. Elected to the new urban the Lancashire Miners Federation mine at the age of seven and had district council with five other Rad- and vice-president of the Miners worked at every mining occupa- icals in 1894, McSheedy’s activities Federation of Great Britain. From tion for twenty years. Largely self- were publicised in his own news- 1892 to 1895 Woods was the MP educated, he had gained a first-class paper, the Walthamstow Reporter. for the Ince Division of Lancashire certificate in mining management. McSheedyism aroused demonstra- and had held his part-time TUC A Baptist convert, he had been a tions of great passion and hostility. post since 1894. In politics, he was student for the ministry, but was But the Progressives enjoyed strong a loyal Gladstonian Liberal, as the unable to take up his place. Instead, support in the new working-class Liberal Chief Whip had informed Woods’ direct experience of the areas, such as St James Street and Gladstone: hazardous conditions of mining life High Street wards; and the chang- formed the basis of his long trade ing social composition of the con- Mr Woods is the agent for the union and political career. In terms stituency was an important factor in Lancashire Miners Association of background, social position and the by-election of 1897. and has the support of the Lib- political views, the two candidates eral Party in the division. He has made a striking contrast. Woods found it necessary to declare on was a labour leader of humble ori- The by-election of 1897 Home Rule and I have a written gins, deep religious convictions The vacancy at Walthamstow was assurance that on all questions and strong temperance beliefs. caused by the appointment of the other than those specifically The wealthy Thomas (later Baron) Tory MP, E. W. Byrne, QC, to the affecting labour he will support Dewar was twenty years younger, Bench of the Chancery Division of the Liberal Party’.13 owned a string of thoroughbred the High Court of Justice. The local racehorses (including the Derby Conservative Association soon At this time many local Lib- favourite) and his own Rocket chose Thomas Dewar, a wealthy eral associations, dominated by coach. On the ‘Drink v Temper- director of Dewar’s Whisky, as middle-class elites, were hos- ance’ issue, the Director of Dewar’s their candidate; whereas the Liberal tile to working-class candidates. Whisky had publicly denounced Party in Walthamstow received the The Walthamstow Liberal Party prohibition systems and in the elec- demoralising reply from London included amongst its leadership tion enjoyed the support of his busi- that the party managers had com- two local magnates, Edward North ness rivals. mitted their resources instead to Buxton, who had been the local During his campaign, Woods another by-election in neighbour- MP briefly in 1885 and was a direc- advocated a broad Lib-Lab pro- ing Romford.10 There the Conserv- tor of the brewers, gramme. He told the electors: atives had held the seat for eleven Truman Hanbury and Buxton, years. In Walthamstow, Arnold and Thomas Courtenay They- I strongly favour such demo- Hills, the millionaire owner of the don Warner MP. Both men lived cratic proposals as the aboli- Thames Iron Works and Shipbuild- in the constituency, were active in tion of the power of the House ing Company, came forward briefly Victorian politics and took a pro- of Lords to veto legislation, the as an independent opponent in the gressive line on labour matters. Payment of Members, One Man Temperance cause.11 The situa- In these circumstances, with an Nearly fifty One Vote, a thorough Regis- tion altered unexpectedly when, at increased working-class elector- tration reform, and the control the City Liberal Club on 23 Janu- ate, the local political climate was years later, by the Irish people of their own ary, Sam Woods, Secretary of the favourable for a labour candidate in domestic affairs. I also heartily Parliamentary Committee of the Walthamstow.14 Herbert support the taxation of Ground Trades Union Congress, was finally Woods’s election costs (nearly values, a radical reform of the persuaded to accept the Liberal £1,400) had to be met entirely from (then Vis- Land Laws as affecting both nomination. However, Woods did Liberal sources including help from urban and rural land, the estab- not owe his last-minute selection to a local businessman, John (later Sir count) Sam- lishment of a complete system of the Liberal Whips in London, nor John) Roberts of Salway House, Secondary Education open to all to his Lancashire miners. A twenty- the benefactor of the Jubilee Hos- uel recalled classes, and any measures which six-year-old party worker, Herbert pital in Woodford and a stalwart would improve the housing of (later Viscount) Samuel, after visit- of the local Liberal Party.15 Once that ‘Woods the people.17 ing the constituency, took a differ- the Liberal Chief Whip’s office in knew as little ent view from his Liberal chiefs and London endorsed Woods’s candi- In particular, Woods attacked the decided to fight the by-election. He dature, Herbert Samuel remained of Waltham- Tory government’s controversial secured Woods as the candidate and in the constituency to manage the grant proposals of 1897 to assist arranged the finance and election campaign. stow as the Church schools rather than the workers.12 Board schools since, in Waltham- The Liberals in Walthamstow Waltham- stow, nearly twenty thousand chil- had always sought rich, middle- The candidates and the dren attended twenty-six local class local men as their candidates, election campaign stow knew of Board schools compared to fewer whereas Sam Woods had made Samuel found that the Waltham- than two thousand pupils in the his reputation as a pioneer in trade stow Liberals lacked an effective coalmines’. four denominational schools. He

26 Journal of Liberal History 90 Spring 2016 a lancashire miner in walthamstow: sam woods and the by-election of 1897 was well known as an advocate of Sam Woods’ the legal eight-hour day and had electon campaigned steadily in parliament address for the for the miners on this issue, as well by-election as the nationalisation of mining royalties, land and railways. These were radical proposals, rather than socialist measures, which would have then won sympathy with some advanced Liberals. How- ever, Samuel completely suppressed these references to nationalisation in Woods’ manifesto to assuage any fears which middle-class voters in the constituency might possess about a workman candidate.18 Thomas Dewar appealed to the electorate on the Tory govern- ment’s policies, especially in impe- rial and foreign affairs, advocating increases in military expenditure to protect British colonies and ship- ping. In domestic politics, he was in favour of conciliation courts in industrial relations, opposed alien immigration and cautiously defended the Tory education proposals. Though the Walthamstow by- election took place in mid-winter, with a similar Conservative versus Liberal contest in neighbouring Romford, the two largest con- stituencies in the country attracted a great deal of attention in the national and local press. The Lon- don Radical newspaper, The Star, the government’s foreign policy in John Burns, popularly known as vigorously championed the Liberal Egypt. He concluded: ‘I am going the ‘ Bruiser’, owing to cause with waspish attacks on the very much for the Government, his rumbustious political style, and Tory candidates in Romford and because although in power only a as the most famous working-class Walthamstow. In Walthamstow the short time, they have brought back leader in London in the late Victo- Liberal Party hurriedly organised a the prestige of the empire, a pres- rian period.19 vigorous campaign lasting just over tige it enjoys only when a Conserv- On the Saturday, three days a week during which Sam Woods ative government is in power.’ before polling, Burns who had addressed over forty meetings. Electioneering started each ‘lungs of leather and throat of brass’ On Tuesday 25 January, he offi- morning with the distribution of addressed an immense crowd on cially opened his campaign with literature outside the railway sta- Markhouse Common, a tradi- meetings in Leyton and at the tions as early as five o’clock. The tional gathering-place for election Workmen’s Hall in the High Street, wintry weather, sometimes includ- hustings and open-air meetings in Walthamstow. There, in a forth- ing blizzards, did not deter large Walthamstow. In all, Sam Woods right speech, the Liberal candidate crowds at the outdoor gatherings spoke at thirteen meetings that day, announced his programme of trade and packed audiences at the indoor including a visit to the Great East- union and labour reforms. Besides evening meetings. The Waltham- ern Railway Company’s works at attacking the government’s Educa- stow Liberal Party received help Stratford. In the evening, the for- tion Bill, Woods declared in favour from organisations such as the mer miner ventured into upper- of votes for women, the nationali- Essex United Temperance Coun- class, Tory Woodford to address sation of railways and the munici- cil, the Poplar Labour League and a meeting at the Wilfred Lawson palisation of water supplies, though local women’s groups. The very Temperance Hotel. he opposed compulsory vaccina- few references in the local press do On Monday 1 February polling tion. Three days before, Dewar not give a full and accurate picture took place in Romford, which was commenced campaigning with a of the part women played in local regarded as a safe Tory seat, though splendid drive through the constit- politics. A bevy of Labour MPs The Star had revealed that the Con- uency in a four-in-hand. At his first and prominent trade union lead- servative candidate, Louis Sinclair, meeting at Leyton Town Hall he ers joined local Liberal politicians had only recently become a natu- presented himself as a commercial to speak in support of Sam Woods. ralised British citizen. In Waltham- man and patriot who approved of Most active was the Battersea MP, stow, despite awful weather, a

Journal of Liberal History 90 Spring 2016 27 a lancashire miner in walthamstow: sam woods and the by-election of 1897 large Liberal meeting at the Victo- by the Liberal camp in general.21 1) and is reprinted with the kind permis- ria Hall in Hoe Street heard John Instead Sam Woods’ resound- sion of the editor and the author. Burns challenge Dewar’s support ing win, achieved with a 64 per for home industries by demon- cent turnout of the electorate, was 1 The Speaker, 6 Feb. 1897. strating, to the amusement of the attributed in part to the weakness 2 The Times, 4 Feb. 1897. audience, that ashtrays advertis- of Dewar’s campaign, which alien- 3 Samuel to Gladstone, 23 Jan. 1897. ing Dewar’s whisky were ‘made in ated the temperance vote, and the Gladstone Papers B.L. Add Mss, Japan’. The next day in the Victoria voters’ dislike of the Tory educa- 44,525, f. 64. Hall Dewar responded to Burns’s tion proposals. Herbert Samuel 4 Viscount Samuel, Memoirs (1945), p. taunts by stating that he had placed believed that the popular enthu- 27. far more contracts for ashtrays and siasm for the workman candidate 5 E. P. Thompson, William Morris, similar goods with British firms was a decisive factor. As a labour Revolutionary to Romantic (1955), p. 16. than with those abroad. In ending leader of notable religious and tem- 6 R. Wall, The History of the Develop- his campaign, the Tory candidate perance beliefs, Sam Woods was ment of Walthamstow, unpublished revealed that he was against the able to unite the Liberal and Labour M.Phil. thesis (University of Lon- payment of MPs, a popular demand vote in Walthamstow at the time don, 1968). in working-class politics. In what of general hostility to the Con- 7 P.P., 1902 CXVII Census of Eng- was regarded as a strong Tory seat, servative government. While the land and Wales (1901), County of Essex the Conservatives had undertaken Liberal Party in the country was in Houses and Population. little canvassing and organised turmoil in the 1890s, the new MP’s 8 Warner to Gladstone (n.d. 1887?). fewer meetings. Dewar was not unexpected victory owed much to Viscount Gladstone Papers B.L. Add considered a good public speaker the success of the local Progressive Mss 46,044, f. 77. and was on weak ground in defend- alliance in the constituency. A few 9 John Shepherd, ‘McShecdy, James ing unpopular Tory measures. weeks later in the local elections, Joseph (1852–1923) Schoolmaster, the Progressives, led by the fire- Journalist and Radical Councillor’, brand McSheedy, gained control of in J. Bellamy and J. Saville (eds.), Polling day the district council. Dictionary of Labour Biography, vol. 8 Polling in Walthamstow took place In 1897 Sam Woods’ impres- (forthcoming). on Wednesday 3 February. Heavy sive triumph represented a swing 10 Walthamstow Central Liberal and snowfall the previous evening of over 11 per cent, but he was Radical Association, Minutes, 15 Jan. turned every street into a quagmire defeated in the ‘khaki’ election of 1897, Vestry House Museum. and most workers left the town 1900 and retired a few years later. 11 Walthamstow and Leyton and Chingford before the polling booths opened The Labour Party did not con- As a labour Guardian, 22 Jan. 1897. at 8 a.m. Consequently polling test a parliamentary election in 12 Samuel to Clara Samuel, 31 Jan. 1897, was slow until the early evening, Walthamstow until after the First leader of Samuel Papers. A/156. though in the afternoon - World War. From 1897 to 1900 Sam 13 Morley to Gladstone, 1 Nov. 1890, ford result, where the Conservative Woods had the unusual distinc- notable reli- Gladstone Papers, B.L. Add Mss majority was reduced to only 125, tion of being the town’s first Labour 44,254. ff. 124–138. became known in the town. In the MP, many years before the cel- gious and 14 John Shepherd, The Lib-Labs and Eng- evening the Great Eastern Rail- ebrated figures of Valentine (later lish Working-Class Politics, 1874–1906, way Company brought the voters Baron) McEntee and Clement (later temper- unpublished Ph.D. thesis (University home to Walthamstow, in some Earl) Attlee. of London, 1980), chapter vi. cases very near to the close of poll- ance beliefs, 15 Diary, 2 July 1900, Viscount Glad- ing at 8 p.m. The correspondent of Professor John Shepherd is now Visit- stone Papers, B.L. Add Mss 46,483 ff. the Manchester Guardian described ing Professor of Modern British His- Sam Woods 138–139; The Essex Review, XXVII what happened: tory at the University of Huddersfield. (Jan. 1918), pp. 44–45. Sam Woods is also mentioned in his was able to 16 Mr Sam Woods the Liberal and Labour The scene at St. James Street article ‘Labour and parliament: the Lib- Candidate …, Samuel Papers A/155 station as eight o’clock drew Labs as the first working-class MPs, unite the (II). near beggars description. Here 1885–1906’, in Eugenio F. Biagini and 17 For the election campaign, see The the arrivals were principally Alastair Reid (eds) Currents of Radi- Liberal and Star, 30 Jan. 1897; Daily News, 29 Jan. working men and this ward calism: Popular Radicalism, organ- 1897; Walthamstow Whip, 30 Jan. and 6 and adjoining High Street were ised labour and party politics in Labour vote Feb. 1897; Leyton Express and Indepen- great strongholds of Mr Woods. Britain, 1850–1914 (Cambridge Uni- in Waltham- dent, 20 Jan. 1897; The Times, 4 Feb. Wagonette, cart, pony carriage, versity Press, 1991). 1897. vans; everything that could run stow at the 18 Samuel to Gladstone, 23 Jan. 1897, on wheels was there to await the The author would like to thank Mr Reg Gladstone Papers B.L. Add Mss supporters of Mr Woods and a Jones (Sam Woods’ great-nephew) and time of gen- 44,252, ff. 63–70. willing crowd of helpers – all his family in Wigan, and the staff of the 19 K. D. Brown, John Burns (1977). shouting at the top of their voices Vestry House Museum, Walthamstow eral hostil- 20 Manchester Guardian, 5 Feb. 1897. – directed the voters as they came Public Library, British Library and 21 Diary, 3 Feb. 1897, John Burns out to the vehicles for the differ- House of Lords Record Office for their ity to the papers, B.L. Add Mss 46,315. ent polling stations …’20 assistance during the research. Conservative John Burns had noted in his diary This article originally appeared in the ‘victory doubtful’, a view shared Essex Journal (Spring 1987 Vol. 22 No government.

28 Journal of Liberal History 90 Spring 2016