WCP2727

[1] ¹

Sutton Coldfield

Jan. 13. 09.

My dear Wallace

Thank you for your letter.²

I entirely agree with you as regards the great desirability of present remedies being such as will harmonise with, & facilitate, the ultimate ideal Socialism securing to all equality of economic opportunity. And I only wish that I had the chance of furthering this [2] object by my pen. But unfortunately I know no organ of the Press, except 'Light', which will print any, even the shortest letter sent by me. I have e.g. tried the D. News repeatedly, but always in vain.

I wonder whether T. F. Walker³ of Birmingham could or would assist. I know he is a zealous & sincere Land Nationaliser, but whether he accepts the whole of Socialism I don't know.

[3]I have long held, & when formerly I used to write in the 'Bradford Labour Echo' I used to maintain, that the true opportunity for introducing the thin end of the socialistic wedge would be when some autumn or winter there was ^were an extra number of people lacking employment; & I showed step by step exactly in which way, by constitutional means actions taken at that time must necessarily be followed by the gradual introduction of the rest of the wedge. [4] Since, however, that paper came to an end I have had no ch chance, as I say of pressing any social views.

I sent a paper to W. T. Stead⁴ recently dealing with the subject on which I feel strongly hoping he would put it in the 'Review of Reviews', but he was not wholly in agreement for one thing. If however you could get his ear & his co-operation on this point which is, as you say of prime importance at present, the help you would get would be of the greatest possible value.

[5] I only wish I could do something myself[.]

Sincerely yours | E. D. Girdlestone⁵ [signature]

per F. C.g.

P. S. I suppose you are still in the throes of passing Dr Spruce's⁶ papers through the Press.