From Crow-Scaring to Westminster: An AutobiographyEdwards, George, Sir
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From Crow-Scaring to Westminster: An Autobiography
Edwards, George, Sir
George Edwards, 1850-1933
P.S.--I cannot hope to get round before polling day to every town
and village, but I do beg every working man and woman to go to the
poll and vote _against_ the _waste_ of the _Government_ and the
high cost of living. It is the only lesson to which they will
listen.
I kept to my programme all through the campaign. One amusing tribute was
paid to me at one of my opponent's (Mr. Batty's) meetings by one of his
supporters, Major Kennedy, who said I was as good a fellow as ever
walked. But he was anxious about me for, if I was elected, I should feel
so out of place having to wear a frock coat and silk top hat. Another
amusing thing happened. One of the lady canvassers for my opponent,
anxious to enhance the cause of her candidate, said I was a dear old
man, but it would be cruel to send me to Parliament at my age. All this,
however, although not intended, was to my interest and, as the election
day drew near, our people became more enthusiastic and my opponents
began to realize that they had not got so easy a job as they had
anticipated. The Independent Liberals kept encouraging their supporters
by declaring they were sure they were winning; in fact, the night before
the poll one of their speakers declared at Watton that they had won.
They counted their chickens before they were hatched. The night before
the poll our meetings were attended by hundreds and speakers flocked to
our platform. At Attleborough we had Mr. J. Mills, M.P., and other local
speakers. Mr. W. S. Royce, M.P., Lord Kimberley and Mr. Smith, M.P.,
were at Wymondham, and held the fort until I arrived. My old friend and
constant companion during the contest, Mr. G. E. Hewitt, J.P., C.C.,
accompanied me to my meetings. I spoke with him at three meetings. We
made our way to Great Hockham and addressed a large meeting there, and
then on to Attleborough, where we met with a tremendous reception. In
this place at the General Election I could scarcely get a hearing.
My opponent, Mr. Batty, was also holding a meeting at the same place,
but out of respect for me, on my arrival he adjourned his meeting until
I had spoken and left the meeting and came and stood amongst my
audience. Having spoken there I made my way to Wymondham. On arriving at
the town I was met by the band of the Discharged Soldiers' and Sailors'
Federation and a large number of my supporters, who played me up to the
Fairland, the place of meeting, where there were upwards of 1,500 people
waiting to receive me, and I was given a wonderful reception.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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