From Crow-Scaring to Westminster: An AutobiographyEdwards, George, Sir
History
From Crow-Scaring to Westminster: An Autobiography
Edwards, George, Sir
George Edwards, 1850-1933
We have received urgent appeals to visit other counties, but the
committee up to the present have only permitted me to visit
Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, outside of Norfolk branches. In
these two counties have been formed:--Cambridgeshire: Friday
Bridge, Leverington and Wisbech St. Mary's. Lincolnshire: Gidney
Drove End, Gosberton, Holbeach, Sutton, Sutterton, Walpole St.
Andrews, Gedney Dyke, Sutton St. Edmunds and Billingborough. In
Norfolk we have made rapid progress during the year. We have been
called upon to place a large number of cases in our solicitor's
hands, which he has dealt with in a most able manner. In three
cases he was able to effect a settlement which put into our
members' pockets L236 12s. 6d. I think the Union ought to
congratulate itself that it has such an able advocate as Mr. Keefe.
Brethren, in closing my report, let me give you a note of warning.
We are on the eve of a great social upheaval, the greatest the
world has ever seen. It has already begun by the great Labour
unrest throughout the industrial world. It is a proof that the
workers are determined upon better conditions of labour. There is,
however, a great fear that the capitalist class will use every
means in their power to prevent the emancipation of the workers,
and to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Alas! how often have we in
the days of the past in our efforts to bind you together in the
bonds of unity had to exclaim, like the prophets of old, "who have
believed our report?" Our class has been contented for so long to
be blinded by the capitalist class and has put too much faith in
the political parties instead of thinking and acting for
themselves. This spirit of apathy and childlike dependence must
cease. You must think and act for yourselves and take an
intelligent interest in all the great social problems that affect
you as a class.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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