Reminiscences of Rotherham by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.

Reminiscences of Rotherham

by G. Gummer, J.P.

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PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION

With the exception of the election of 1874, when Messrs. Stanhope and Starkey defeated Leatham and Beaumont, Rotherham, from my earliest recollections and up to 1885, has returned Liberal members to the House of Commons For thirty one year’s, that is from 1885, when we were made the headquarters of a new Parliamentary division, to 1916, the Liberal Party dominated the political position, securing their candidates’ return to Parliament by large majorities. Looking back over those years one finds it difficult to acoount fully for the great change that has taken place. Whilst the town itself was Liberal, it could not claim to have a big majority, so that when the Representation of the People Act brought about a re-distribution of seats, and made Rotherham a Parliamentary Borough, and cut off several of the areas that were Liberal strongholds, leaving only Rawmarsh and Greasbro’ with Rotherham, from that date the influence of the Party began to wane. In 1916, owing to Mr. Pease (now Lord Gainford) resigning his seat, a vacancy was created, which the Liberal Party were anxious should be filled by a local man. Unfortunately there were few men in a position to spare the time necessary for such a position. Probably owing to this dearth of desirable local candidates. I was invited by the Party to offer myself to the electorate, which request, however, I felt compelled to decline. The following letter, which appeared in the Press at the time, fully expressed my view of the situation:

Park Mount, Rotherham
Dear Alderman Winter,
I have given a great deal of thought to your very kind request that I should consent to allow you, as president of the Liberal Federation to place my name before the Executive Council at their meeting to-night for selection as a candidate for the vacancy in the Parliamentary division, caused by the elevation of the Rt. Hon J. A. Pease, MP., to the House of Lords.

No man could wish for higher honour than to represent his native town in Parliament, and had my ambitions lain in that direction I should have been proud to have acceded to your request, and, if elected, done my best. I feel my duty lies here, doing the work in which you and I have been associated during the last thirty years. Besides, this constituency deserves a much better representative than I could possibly make. Its long and loyal support of Liberalism, and the prominence its former representatives have achieved, render it imperative that you should make a good choice on this occasion.

Again thanking you for your kindness, which I shall always remember, I remain, yours faithfully,
GEO. GUMMER.

ARTHUR RICHARDSON, M.P.

To provide a candidate I made one of a deputation of four to interview Sir Henry Lawrence, a Lloyd Georgian Liberal, and Mr. Arthur Richardson, a follower of Mr. Asquith. After our interview with these gentlemen, first at the headquarters of Mr. Lloyd George’s party, where we met Mr. Neil Primrose, the eldest son of Lord Rosebery, and later at Abingdon street, the Asquithian Liberals’ centre, we were equally divided as to their merits, Mr. W Hastings and myself favouring Sir Henry, whilst Ald. Winter and Mr. Eric Mason thought Mr. Arthur Richardson the more suitable candidate. Consequently both were invited to address the Liberal Two Hundred, and the choice fell on, Arthur Richardson, who had formerly represented one of the divisions in Nottingham, and was a practised platform speaker. As had been foreshadowed no opposition was forthcoming, and he was returned unopposed. The attitude he adopted in the House of Commons and a vote he gave against the Government caused dissatisftion to that section of the Party who would have preferred to see Sir Henry Lawrence representing them. Small as the cloud appeared at the time, it grew as the months rolled by, until Mr. Richardson recognising the danger of the growing opposition to himself, thought it desirable to acquaint the Liberal Executive of his intention of seeking a fresh seat at the next election. next »

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