Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevA POLITICIAN’S FIRST SPEECH
During tho election, a meeting having been arranged to take place at Brampton, David Winter and I undertook to keep it going until Mr. Acland, who had several other meetings to address, arrived. We were accompanied by the son of the candidate, a young boy of 12 or 13 years of age. Half an hour, then an hour and more went past the time appointed. No candidate had arrived. Both Winter and I had exhausted our knowledge of current political subjects and were at our wits’ end to know what to do next. None of the villagers present was able to help us, and neither of us could sing a comic song or tell funny tales. We both looked at the boy, and in desperation determined to put him up. telling him to say something about his father and his home life. To our surprise and gratification, he spoke with a quiet assurance that promised well for his future, captivating the audience by his manner. His father arrived during this little scene, and was astonished to find his son budding out as a politician, a profession he has since followed with great distinction. I wonder whether Francis Dyke Acland, late Secretary of State. ever looks back on that incident in the old country barn, with its paraffin oil lamps and an audience of under fifty simple village folk listening to the first political speech he ever made. An incident of a similar kind occurred during Sir William Holland’s campaign. At a meeting held in the Miners’ Institute, Parkgate, Sir William was announced to speak, and whilst waiting his appearance we exhausted all our available speakers and were sorely put to it to keep the meeting going. On the platform was Major Harley, a son-in- law of Sir William’s, home on sick leave, having been wounded at Atbara. We provailed upon him to help, which he did with great effect. So pleased were we with his efforts that we lost no time in informing Sir William, who, however, was much perturbed about it, inasmuch as the Army Regulations do not permit of its officers taking part in elections. Fortunately, the Major heard no more about it.BUSY MEN
If you want a thing doing, hunt out the men who have done the most for their own and the general good, and you will generally find in the overworked class, the almost-driven to-death men, who spend their lives in ceaseless activities from morn to nigh, - the men you want. If you scan the lists of the leaders in any social, political, or philanthropic movement you invariably find public men at the head. These are the men who find time while the mere trifler, whose occupation is doing nothing, will tell you he has been unable to reply to your letter or even to call upon you. From experience I find that persons crowded with business are always found capable of doing a little more, and they can be relied upon with more assurance in their busiest periods than the idle man. This was distinctly evident in the 1885 and 1886 general elections, and, in fact, during the whole of the time Mr.Acland represented the division. Both David Winter and I were busy men, with growing businesses to attend to, and other duties of a political or social character to supervise. In the first election, although Mr. H. H. Hickmott was the appointed agent, receiving a handsome fee for his services, David Winter and I, acting as honorary secretaries, did the bulk of the work. From the day of Mr. Acland’s arrival in Rotherham to his departure in 1901, it was our pleasure to be in close touch with him, and in every election to take a prominent part. The Christmas after the election of 1885 saw the pair of us at a dinner given by Mr. H. H. Hickmott. In the dining room we were shown a handsome and valuable souvenir of the election, which had been sent by our Member. Mr. Acland, to our host. We looked at each other, our eyes being more eloquent than words. This will be letter understood when I explain - that our souvenir of the great occasion had reached us a few days before, in the form of a Christmas card. To those who have much shall be given. next »
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