The Origins of British Bolshevism by Challinor Raymond;

Author:Challinor, Raymond;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2019-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

7 SOCIALISTS IN TRANSITION

The First World War had an immense impact on British society. Socialist organisations were transformed by the heat of conflict, and greater unity and disunity came simultaneously into being. The unity stemmed from an unparalleled persecution which tended to make real left-wingers forget doctrinal differences and become brothers in misfortune. Comradeship grew and mutual help was given, regardless of political affiliation. Old animosities and distrust were swept aside by socialists who realised that the fundamentals they agreed upon, opposition to the war and the need for industrial militancy, were of more importance than those that divided them. Reinforcing this attitude was an appreciation of the fact that the tensions created by world war would probably produce glittering opportunities. No longer need socialists remain spectators, commenting on events from the sidelines; they now had a chance to mould events and have a say in the writing of history. Yet, if this was to be done, they had to learn to cooperate with each other in the struggle for the common goal.

The greater disunity arose because, by action and utterance, Labour politicians revealed that they did not share this common goal. The meaning of Social Democracy was spelt out in practice: support for the war, speeches at recruiting rallies, endorsement of the government’s harsh industrial code, persecution of left-wingers. When Labour leaders actually joined the government, becoming personally responsible for anti-working-class measures, it merely served to emphasise their role. Arthur Henderson’s hostile reception at the Glasgow meeting, described in the last chapter, was indicative of this growing distrust. Besides being responsible for keeping wages down and strike-breaking, as a member of the inner cabinet Henderson had direct complicity in the brutal way the British government crushed the Easter Uprising in 1916. When news reached Parliament that the army had summarily executed James Connolly, Arthur Henderson led Labour MPs in spontaneous applause.1

Two trade union officials, George Barnes, of the Engineers, and William Brace, of the Miners, also belonged to the Coalition government. At the Home Office, Brace helped in the enforcement of repressive industrial regulations as well as the employment of agents provocateurs and spies. But it was in rather another fashion that Brace drew attention to himself, as the Sunday Chronicle pointed out:

Who is the greatest ‘swell’ in the House of Commons? Who wears the most carefully cut overcoat, the most shiny silk hat (and at the most jaunty angle), and who walks with the most subdued consciousness of the fact that he is shiny and well-dressed and that no speck is ever upon his clothes? His name is William Brace, a miner. He worked down on the coal-face when a boy. Now, although not in the cabinet, he is a Minister, a member of the Government, and he adorns the Treasury Bench.2

Doubtless workers, more worried about the effect of rising prices upon the pay packets, were unimpressed by Brace’s sartorial splendour.

From the outset of the war, the Socialist Labour Party had much graver matters to concern itself with than the cut of a minister’s overcoat.

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