34/35/Spring/Summer 2002
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Journal of Issue 34/35 / Spring/Summer 2002 / £5.00 Liberal DemocratHISTORY The suffragette revolt Dr J. Graham Jones Lloyd George and the Suffragettes at Llanystumdwy Paul Mulvey The Single-Taxers and the Future of Liberalism, 1906–14 Thomas Babington Macaulay ‘Let us open to them the door of the House of Commons’ On Jewish disabilities John Davies Keeper of the Liberal Flame Biography of Ivor Davies Dr J. Graham Jones Grimond’s Rival Biography of Roderic Bowen MP Liberal Democrat History Group Issue 34/35: Spring/Summer 2002 Journal of Liberal Democrat History The Journal of Liberal Democrat History is published quarterly by the Liberal Democrat History Group. 3 Lloyd George and the Suffragettes at ISSN 1463-6557 Llanystumdwy Editor: Duncan Brack Assistant Editor: Alison Smith Dr J. Graham Jones chronicles Lloyd George’s problems with the suffragettes Biographies Editor: Robert Ingham Reviews Editor: Sam Crooks 11 The Single-Taxers and the Future of Patrons Liberalism, 1906–1914 Dr Eugenio Biagini; Professor Michael Freeden; Professor Earl Russell; Professor John Vincent Paul Mulvey tells the story of the Liberal Party and the Land Tax movement Editorial Board Dr Malcolm Baines; Dr Roy Douglas; Dr Barry 15 Archives: University of Bristol Doyle; Dr David Dutton; Professor David Gowland; Dr Richard Grayson; Dr Michael Hart; Liberal archive sources at the University of Bristol Library; by M. T. Richardson Peter Hellyer; Ian Hunter; Dr J. Graham Jones; Tony Little; Professor Ian Machin; Dr Mark Pack; 17 Macaulay on Jewish Disabilities Dr John Powell; Iain Sharpe Editorial/Correspondence Tony Little introduces Thomas Babington Macaulay’s speech of 17 April 1833 Contributions to the Journal – letters, articles, and book reviews – are invited. The Journal is a 22 Keeper of the Liberal Flame refereed publication; all articles submitted will be reviewed. Contributions should be sent to: The life and political career of Ivor Davies, by John Davies Duncan Brack (Editor) 38 Salford Road, London SW2 4BQ 26 Grimond’s Rival email: [email protected] All articles copyright © their authors. Dr J. Graham Jones recounts the life and career of Roderic Bowen MP Advertisements 34 Report: Speeches and Speech-makers Adverts are welcome; please contact the Editor for rates. with Roy Jenkins, Max Atkinson and Paddy Ashdown; report by Duncan Brack Subscriptions/Membership 38 Report: Public Services or State An annual subscription to the Journal of Liberal Democrat History costs £10.00 (£5.00 unwaged Services? – the Liberal Legacy rate). This includes membership of the History Group unless you inform us otherwise. with Professor Peter Marsh and Dr Graham Davis; report by Neil Stockley Overseas subscribers should add £5.00; or, a special three-year rate is available for 40 Reviews £40.00 total. Cheques (payable to ‘Liberal Democrat History Duncan Brack and Tony Little (eds): Great Liberal Speeches, reviewed by Conrad Group’) should be sent to: Russell; Eugenio Biagini: Gladstone, reviewed by Tony Little; Richard Grayson: Patrick Mitchell Liberals, International Relations and Appeasement, reviewed by Ian Hunter; Peter 6 Palfrey Place, London SW8 1PA; Kilfoyle: Left Behind, reviewed by Chris Rennard; David Cecil: The Young email: [email protected] Melbourne & Lord M, reviewed by David Nolan; Antony Lentin: Lloyd George and the Lost Peace, reviewed by David Dutton Cover design concept: Lynne Featherstone Why a double issue? Published by the Liberal Democrat History Group, Readers will notice that this issue of the Journal is a double issue, 34/35 (spring/summer 2002), c/o 38 Salford Road, London SW2 4BQ containing approximately twice the material of a normal issue. The delay in producing number 33 (the special issue on Liberals and Ireland) meant that we were faced with either producing three Printed by Kall-Kwik, issues in six months or doubling up on one of them, and decided to adopt the latter course. Normal 426 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5TF service will be resumed from issue 36, due out in September. June 2002 2 Journal of Liberal Democrat History 34/35 Spring/Summer 2002 Suffragettes Dr J. Graham Jones re-examines the reopening by Lloyd George in September 1912 of the village institute at his native Llanystumdwy, when the proceedings were blighted by constant suffragette interruptions. LloydLloyd GeorgeGeorge andand thethe SuffragettesSuffragettes atat LlanystumdwyLlanystumdwy mong the Lloyd George correspondence asserted that the hair of one of the disturbers was acquired by the National Library of Wales actually pulled off in handfulls by the crowd. I was A from the third Earl Lloyd-George of close by at the time and saw what did take place. Dwyfor in is a single stray letter, dated Oc- The hat of the woman was taken off, and handfulls tober , from Evan William Evans (–), a of hair did come off with it. A friend of mine native of Dolgellau, a prominent journalist, editor picked up the hat, and I have it now in my posses- and publisher, and owner of the Dolgellau-based sion as well as a considerable quantity of the ‘hair’ printing office where Y Goleuad was produced. The said to have been plucked off. But will you allow Goleuad company assumed responsibility for the me to assure you that this woman did not on that publication of a number of local newspapers and occasion suffer the loss of any of her own hair! It journals and several substantial volumes. Evans was was false hair that was artfully inserted inside the himself an avid local historian and Calvinistic Meth- hat in such a way that it looked like natural hair, odist, and a diligent collector of manuscripts and and of course ‘it came off in handfulls’. I have been printed works. The former group now constitutes endeavouring to find out the name and address of the Frondirion Manuscripts in the custody of the the rightful owner of the hat and false hair, but so National Library. far I have failed. It was I think a very clever bit of The letter reads as follows: stage acting and it came off well! Yours sincerely The Suffragists at Llanystumdwy E. W. Evans Frondirion Dolgelley, Oct. , The letter casts further light on an occasion of con- siderable interest. The intensive suffragette campaign To the Right Hon D. Lloyd George MP to secure the enfranchisement of women was one of Dear Mr Lloyd George the most prominent political themes of the years im- mediately preceding the outbreak of the First World I find in to-day’s paper that questions are to be War. David Lloyd George, Liberal MP for the Caer- asked in the House of Commons on Monday about narfon Boroughs since , President of the Board the treatment of the Suffragists at Llanystumdwy. I of Trade, –, and subsequently Asquith’s radical was present at the meeting and was quite close to Chancellor of the Exchequer, was inevitably in a two of the women who disturbed the proceedings, pivotal position. Until about the end of the suf- and who were ejected. fragette campaign was strictly constitutional, rela- The reports published in many of the newspapers tively low-key, and generally keeping well within were greatly exaggerated. It has been repeatedly the law. From that point on, however, the techniques Journal of Liberal Democrat History 34/35 Spring/Summer 2002 3 of disruption ever more widely em- minutes) because of the incessant in- the whole House, temporarily blocking ployed by the Women’s Social and Po- terruptions by militant members of its progress. ‘Women Suffrage killed for litical Union (WSPU) brought their the WSPU lodged firmly (and some- this year – killed altogether as far as yes- demands increasingly into the public what menacingly) in front-row seats. terday’s Bill is concerned’, wrote Lloyd domain, while the eligibility of women During , fully preoccupied with George to William, ‘The suffragettes are to serve on town and county councils the preparation of the ‘People’s for the moment concentrating their from onwards gave the movement Budget’, Lloyd George was inevitably hate on Winston, although annoyed a powerful fillip. Moreover, the election more than happy to fall in with with me also.’ On several occasions of a relatively left-wing Liberal govern- Asquith’s delaying tactics as a number violent scenes ensued. ment under Campbell-Bannerman in of imprisoned suffragettes went on A revised Conciliation Bill was in- January raised real expectations of hunger strike, provoking the govern- troduced by a private member in the legislative change. It was estimated that ment to institute the highly publicised spring of , a measure which re- fully MPs in the new parliament, process of forcible feeding. moved the £ householder qualifica- drawn from all political parties, were By the beginning of the suf- tion of the previous bill. In May Lloyd pledged to the principle of women’s frage issue had attracted considerable George voted in favour of it, and in- suffrage, while the prime minister was public sympathy and support, and ap- deed seemed to endorse the revived himself a convert to the cause. Four preciable parliamentary backing. clamour in favour of ‘Votes for Women’ members of the new Liberal cabinet Asquith, however, refused to introduce at a time when he was fully preoccu- were said to be stalwart supporters of a women’s suffrage measure, and in the pied with his National Health Insur- the suffragette cause – Sir Edward Grey, January general election, the Liberals ance commitments. By the end of the Haldane, Birrell and Lloyd George. remained committed simply to carry- summer he had come to endorse a Other Liberal ministers were generally ing his nebulous pledge to give comprehensive reform of the franchise hostile, among them Asquith (the consideration to the franchise question on lines which he expounded insist- Chancellor of the Exchequer), Lord generally into the new parliament, not ently to the Liberal Chief Whip, the Loreburn (the Lord Chancellor), to any bolder initiative.