WCP2727

[1]

Sutton Coldfield

Jan. 13. [19]09.

My dear Wallace,

Thank you for your letter.

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 equally 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. Walkes 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 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 chance, as I say[,] of pressing any social views.

I sent a paper to W.J.Stead 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

<G>.b. [Surname illeg.] [signature]

per F.C.<J>

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