WCP3532

Letter (WCP3532.3424)

[1]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone,

Wimborne,

Dorset

May 3rd 1912

Dear Mr. Upton Sinclair

I think such a "League" as you suggest is wanted, and I hope it will succeed. Later, if you get, say, 1000 members, I will join you, but I can do very little now, either financially or by personal assistance, as I have already all I can do in my ever-increasing correspondence. [2]

Should you, or any one who fully shares your views on Social Reform be able at any time to call on me, I might make some useful suggestions, or at all events discuss them. Things, at legite[?] seem moving. The Railway strike — the Coal-strike, and even the "Titanic" disaster, must open peoples' [3] eyes, and prove to them 1st. — that they are absolutely dependent for their very lives on the humblest of the workers they so much despise:- and, 2nd. — that the "Captains of Industry" they are so proud of, & without whose wisdom in organisation! They think the workers can do nothing are such gross burglers [sic] that they cannot safe-guard the property or the lives of themselves & their fellow-[4] capitalists! A committee of Stokers & Stewards could not possibly have so grossly blundered as did the owners & the Captain of the "Titanic".

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP3532.3424)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Benny, Ruth [2014-02-07] Transcription checked by Benny, Ruth [2014-03-17] Transcription checked by Sherwood, Danni [2020-08-10]

Published letter (WCP3532.3652)

[1]1 [p. 105]

Old Orchard,

Broadstone, Dorset

May 3, 1912

Dear Mr. Upton Sinclair:

I think such a "League" as you suggest is wanted, and I hope it will succeed. Later, if you get, say 1,000 members, I will join you, but I can do very little now, either financially or by personal assistance, as I have already all I can do in my ever-increasing correspondence.

Should you, or any one who fully shares your views on Social Reform be able at any time to call on me, I might make some useful suggestions, or at all events discuss them. Things, at length, seem moving. The Railway strike—the Coal strike, and even the Titanic disaster, must open peoples’ eyes, and prove to them 1st—that they are absolutely dependent for their very lives on the humblest of the workers they so much despise; and, 2nd—that the "Captains of Industry" they are so proud of, and without whose wisdom in organization! they think the workers can do nothing, are such gross bunglers that they cannot safeguard the property or the lives of themselves and their fellow capitalists! A committee of Stokers and Stewards could not possibly have so grossly blundered as did the owners and the Captain of the Titanic.

Yours very truly,

Alfred R. Wallace

1
Editor Charles H. Smith’s Note: A letter to Upton Sinclair, printed on page 105 of his My Lifetime in Letters, from 1960. On page 106 Sinclair writes "Written at the age of 89 in a firm clear hand by the eminent scientist... He is referring to the proposed International League which Frederik van Eeden and I were attempting to organize to stave off the impending war."

Editorial information

Status: Draft transcription [Published letter (WCP3532.3652)]

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

Revision history

Transcribed by Smith, Charles Hyde [2012-01-20] Transcription checked by Catchpole, Caroline [2013-01-15]

Please cite as “WCP3532,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP3532