Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevSOMETHING FOR NOTHING
At the next election in 1886, Mr. H. H. Hickmott having gone over to the Unionists, was not available to act as Liberal agent. This duty, therefore, fell upon my friend Winter. whilst I alone carried on the duties of honorary secretary, which, as stated, had been previously performed by both of us. A similar incident to that of 1885 occurred after the election, but in this ease I do not remember even receiving the Christmas greetings. Well may the Yorkshire- man say : When tha does owt for nowtDo it for thee sen.
I recall a municipal election in which I took the most prominent part for a candidate who was supposed to be one of the meanest men in Rotherham. Yet from him I received the only present I have ever had for voluntary service of this kind. It was only a bunch of grapes, but these I valued and appreciated as it token and evidence of the generous impulse that pre empted the sender to show his remembrance of those who had assisted in ensuring his success.
MR. ACLAND’S RETIREMENT
Unfortunate for Rotherham the state of Mr. Acland’s health compelled his retirement from Parliament in 1900. For once the whole division forgot their politics and freely expressed their sympathy. The Liberals, it a converzatione, presented him with a beautiful dressing case, containing solid silver and silver-mounted fittings, together with a suitable present for Mrs. Acland, as a small memento of their gratitude for the distinguished manner in which he had represented the constituency in Parliament. On this occasion - I was Mayor at the time - I broke the unwritten law that a Mayor should take no part in politics. In remembrance of the friendship existing between us, I risked an action being misunderstood, and felt after all that whilst expressing my own I was also expressing the town’s regret at this cutting short of a brilliant career, national as well as local in its character, and in thanking Mr. and Mrs.Acland for all the memories and happiness their association with Rotherhani had brought us.UNRECOGNISED
Some years after Mr. Acland’s retirement from parliamentary life, I met him and his son Francis whilst visiting the Ganton golf links. This happened in the smoke room at the club house. The pleasure I felt in seeing him again was immediately damped when I found he did not recognise me. I cannot describe my feelings. After the years of working on his behalf and the intimate association existing between us during his representation of the constituency, not to be known again seemed inexplicable. It was a difficult situation for me, only relieved when I said I hoped he had not forgotten Rotherlmam also. Explanations followed and everything satisfactorily.POLITICAL HUMOUR
After referring to these political events, a few light and humorous incidents may not be out of place. In the 1886 election, David Winter and I attended an open-air meeting in Kilnhurst, over which a well known manufacturer, of the name of Wilkinson presided. Arriving late, we found the chair man referring to the taxation of land values, a burning question at the time. When he spoke of the unearned 'excrement' of the land we expected a ripple of laughter from the audience, but fortunately the slip was not noticed. In a by-election in Derbyshire many years ago, one of the candidates happened to be an Italian. Announced to speak at a meeting in Glossop. he arrived late, and offered the usual apology, laying the blame on the M. S. and L Railway line or as he described it, the Mucky, Slow and Laxy line. A heckler in the audience having digested this apology, ventured to ask if Mr. Profumo had brought his hurdy-gurdy with him, to which he received the reply. 'I am expecting it by the next train. I am pleased, however, to find the monkey has arrived' . Sir William Holland, during his election campaigns, never missed the opportunity of sandwiching a few stories in his speeches. thus lightening what would otherwise have been on many occasion - a somewhat dull oration. One of his best related to Lord Aberdeen who, while walking in Princes street, Edinburgh, was run against by a drunken man. A policeman coming on the scene, said: 'Look here my man! You’ll need to notice where you are and behave yourself. Do you realise who you barged into ? - the Marquess of Aberdeen and Tamair. - 'Good Lord' exclaimed the man, 'Am I as bad as that? Are there two of them ?' Another good one was told about Lord Ramsay’s election at Liverpool. Ramsay had unfortunately had his pocket picked a few days before a meeting at which he said, 'The Conservatives have got their hands in your pockets. A man immediately called out, 'Has tha got thee watch back yet?' next »
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