WCP1459

Author’s draft (WCP1459.1238)

[1]

Private

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne.

August 18th. 1911

To the Rt. Hon. David Lloyd George1

Dear Mr. Lloyd George

I rejoice to see the news in the papers this morning2 because it gives you and Mr. Asquith3 your greatm opportunity to do a great and beneficial work at once. Only strong and bold men could do it successfully: you two are both, strong and bold. It The work is, to take over the entire management of the whole of the national Railways, in the interest of [2] the entire community, whose guardians you (the Government) are.

Proclaim, at once in the name of the Sovereign, that the Railway-directors have proved themselves wholly incompetent to be trusted with the great monopoly of transport they have enjoyed for over 70 years: which they have used, not for the public good, but, primarily of as a money-making business; and in so doing have reduced are weakening our complex social organism with to anarchy; and the nation with to the[sic] [3] brink of famine, and perhaps civil war.

Proclaim, that, henceforth, all Railway directors are servants of the Government, and must strictly obey orders or be instantly dismissed.

Proclaim, that all the demands of the employer’s (and they are not [2 illeg words] who are [2 illeg words] reasonable) so far set forth are complied with henceforth for 12 months during which period the wholesystem will be thoroughly and impartially enquired into, in the interests of (1) of the public safety and convenience;— (2) of the well-being and contentment of all [4] the grades of workers, which is are essential for factors of the public safety;— and (3) for the security of the shareholders

& others who are pecuniarily interested, and who will, from henceforth now, become creditors of the Government.

Proclaim a complete amnesty for all engaged in the strike, and trust to the gratitude of the British electors of all parties and of the House of Commons to confirm your action. and

We want [illeg] There need be no question of buying the Railways. The Government takes over their Management in the equal interest of all concerned.

Yours very sincerely and admiringly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

1
David Lloyd George, later 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor (1863-1945). British politician. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer (1908-1915) and later Minister of Munitions (1915-1916), Secretary of State for War (1916) and Prime Minister (1916-1922)
2
On 17 August 1911 the executives of the four railway Trade Unions declared a national strike (the first national rail strike) after the rail companies refused to meet them and negotiate. The Unions had been compelled to consider this from 15 August after strikes in Liverpool, Manchester and elsewhere earlier in the month. On 18 August The Times reported that ‘last evening the unions issued telegrams to all their branches ordering the men to cease work immediately. The thousands of men on strike were promptly joined by many thousands more’ (p. 6). The strike resulted in a riot in Llanelli which ended in the death of two men on 19 August. The strike was called off on 19 August when the train companies agreed to meet with the Trade Unions.
3
Herbert Henry Asquith, later 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (1852-1928). British politician. Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916.

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Author’s draft (WCP1459.1238)]

For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon

Revision history

Transcribed by Lester, Ahren [2013-02-18] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-02-18]

Please cite as “WCP1459,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 30 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1459