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| Women's Clarion call for socialism | Women's Clarion call for socialism |
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| The Clarion newspaper was founded in Manchester by the journalist Robert Blatchford with his friends after he had walked out of his well-paid job on Edward Hulton's Sunday Chronicle where he wrote under the pen-name Nunquam Dormio (I never sleep). Blatchford had become a socialist after seeing the slum conditions in the city, but Hulton refused to publish his pieces on the subject. The first issue of The Clarion was published on 12 December 1891 from offices in the City Building, which still stands opposite the Co-operative Bank. | The Clarion newspaper was founded in Manchester by the journalist Robert Blatchford with his friends after he had walked out of his well-paid job on Edward Hulton's Sunday Chronicle where he wrote under the pen-name Nunquam Dormio (I never sleep). Blatchford had become a socialist after seeing the slum conditions in the city, but Hulton refused to publish his pieces on the subject. The first issue of The Clarion was published on 12 December 1891 from offices in the City Building, which still stands opposite the Co-operative Bank. |
| Blatchford came to Socialism because he saw it as a practical solution to the poverty and misery he had personally witnessed. He later wrote: | Blatchford came to Socialism because he saw it as a practical solution to the poverty and misery he had personally witnessed. He later wrote: |
| I have never read a page of Marx. I got the idea of collective ownership from H.M. Hyndman; the rest of my Socialism I thought out myself. English Socialism is not German: it is English. English Socialism is not Marxian; It is humanitarian. It does not depend upon any theory of "economic justice" but upon humanity and common sense. | I have never read a page of Marx. I got the idea of collective ownership from H.M. Hyndman; the rest of my Socialism I thought out myself. English Socialism is not German: it is English. English Socialism is not Marxian; It is humanitarian. It does not depend upon any theory of "economic justice" but upon humanity and common sense. |
| It was a gamble, but many of Blatchford's readers followed him to the new venture and The Clarion soon became a welcome weekly visitor to thousands of households, attracting a fierce loyalty from its readers. It was never a dry-as-dust theoretical journal, but a jovial mix of news, comment, short stories, songs and poetry. | It was a gamble, but many of Blatchford's readers followed him to the new venture and The Clarion soon became a welcome weekly visitor to thousands of households, attracting a fierce loyalty from its readers. It was never a dry-as-dust theoretical journal, but a jovial mix of news, comment, short stories, songs and poetry. |
| As George R Taylor put in his book Leaders Of Socialism, Past and Present, published in 1910: | As George R Taylor put in his book Leaders Of Socialism, Past and Present, published in 1910: |
| Robert Blatchford...can manufacture Socialists more quickly then anyone else. Tipton Limited sells more tea than any other firm, Bever sells more soap; one factory makes more boots; another most chairs. Mr Blatchford and The Clarion make more Socialists than any rival establishment. | Robert Blatchford...can manufacture Socialists more quickly then anyone else. Tipton Limited sells more tea than any other firm, Bever sells more soap; one factory makes more boots; another most chairs. Mr Blatchford and The Clarion make more Socialists than any rival establishment. |
The paper's enterprising readers set up a social network of societies, including the Clarion Cycling Club (which is still going), Vocal Unions, the Clarion Fellowship, Clarion Handicraft Clubs, Clarion Scouts, Rambling Clubs and Cinderella Clubs (which arranged events for children). In 1908 the Clarion Café was opened at 50a Market Street, Manchester, which lasted until the 1930s. | The paper's enterprising readers set up a social network of societies, including the Clarion Cycling Club (which is still going), Vocal Unions, the Clarion Fellowship, Clarion Handicraft Clubs, Clarion Scouts, Rambling Clubs and Cinderella Clubs (which arranged events for children). In 1908 the Clarion Café was opened at 50a Market Street, Manchester, which lasted until the 1930s. |
| The Clarion also had a women's column from almost the start, written firstly by Eleanor Keeling and then from October 1895 by Julia Dawson. Dawson wrote one of the few Clarion pamphlets authored by a woman, Why Women Want Socialism. Her vision of socialism was one that still placed the women at the heart of the home: | The Clarion also had a women's column from almost the start, written firstly by Eleanor Keeling and then from October 1895 by Julia Dawson. Dawson wrote one of the few Clarion pamphlets authored by a woman, Why Women Want Socialism. Her vision of socialism was one that still placed the women at the heart of the home: |
| Women will be able to keep their children in their homes, instead of sending them into the workhouse to be fed, in the factory to lose their childhood, or in the army to fight. For Socialism will have no need for the workhouse, since there will be no paupers. No need for child-earnings since adults will earn enough. No need to fight and kill, since one of the strongest planks in its platform is International Peace…Food will all be wholesome and pure. No adulterated flour to make the bread heavy after a hard day's baking. No lack of nourishment to rob woman of strength, and give them invalids to nurse. | Women will be able to keep their children in their homes, instead of sending them into the workhouse to be fed, in the factory to lose their childhood, or in the army to fight. For Socialism will have no need for the workhouse, since there will be no paupers. No need for child-earnings since adults will earn enough. No need to fight and kill, since one of the strongest planks in its platform is International Peace…Food will all be wholesome and pure. No adulterated flour to make the bread heavy after a hard day's baking. No lack of nourishment to rob woman of strength, and give them invalids to nurse. |
| In February 1896 Dawson told her readers that she wanted to organise a Clarion Van tour over the summer. A horse-drawn van had already been offered and would be sent out on the road with two or three women on board, stopping in towns and villages to hold meetings and distribute Socialist literature. She appealed for women to come forward as speakers and for donations to fund the venture. These appeals were successful and in June the Clarion Van set off from Liverpool. The speakers on the first tour included Caroline Martyn, Sarah Reddish and Ada Nield. | In February 1896 Dawson told her readers that she wanted to organise a Clarion Van tour over the summer. A horse-drawn van had already been offered and would be sent out on the road with two or three women on board, stopping in towns and villages to hold meetings and distribute Socialist literature. She appealed for women to come forward as speakers and for donations to fund the venture. These appeals were successful and in June the Clarion Van set off from Liverpool. The speakers on the first tour included Caroline Martyn, Sarah Reddish and Ada Nield. |
| Ada Nield had worked as tailoress in a factory in Crewe and publicised the conditions there in a series of letters to the local newspaper, under the pen-name 'Crewe Factory Girl.' They attracted the attention of the local Independent Labour Party, and also Robert Blatchford, who reprinted them in The Clarion. After revealing her identity at a stormy meeting in the factory, Nield was sacked. She then became an organiser for the ILP, before taking part in the Clarion Van tour. | Ada Nield had worked as tailoress in a factory in Crewe and publicised the conditions there in a series of letters to the local newspaper, under the pen-name 'Crewe Factory Girl.' They attracted the attention of the local Independent Labour Party, and also Robert Blatchford, who reprinted them in The Clarion. After revealing her identity at a stormy meeting in the factory, Nield was sacked. She then became an organiser for the ILP, before taking part in the Clarion Van tour. |
| The Van toured Cheshire and Staffordshire and then went north, finishing up on Tyneside after 15 weeks of hard campaigning. On the way the women had addressed thousands of people. The venture was judged a great success and repeated in following years. By 1914 the number of Clarion Vans had risen to six. | The Van toured Cheshire and Staffordshire and then went north, finishing up on Tyneside after 15 weeks of hard campaigning. On the way the women had addressed thousands of people. The venture was judged a great success and repeated in following years. By 1914 the number of Clarion Vans had risen to six. |
| The Clarion movement fractured in 1914 when Robert Blatchford supported the war. He had already incensed many of readers in 1899 when he supported the Boer war. Now he turned on his former comrades, some of whom were imprisoned for their conscientious objection to the slaughter. | The Clarion movement fractured in 1914 when Robert Blatchford supported the war. He had already incensed many of readers in 1899 when he supported the Boer war. Now he turned on his former comrades, some of whom were imprisoned for their conscientious objection to the slaughter. |
| Colin Coates later reflected: | Colin Coates later reflected: |
| We could not equate Socialism, as we had understood it, with the organised killing of others of our own class. This attitude aroused Blatchford to a pitch of patriotic fervour which caused him to abuse and vilify such of us as had failed to drop our Socialism for a narrow nationalism. | We could not equate Socialism, as we had understood it, with the organised killing of others of our own class. This attitude aroused Blatchford to a pitch of patriotic fervour which caused him to abuse and vilify such of us as had failed to drop our Socialism for a narrow nationalism. |
| The paper struggled on after the war but it was never the same. The Labour party was now a growing electoral force, prepared to enter government on a pragmatic basis, whilst on its left the newly formed Communist party was attracting young idealists. The paper became monthly in 1927 and finally disappeared in 1934, its heyday long past. Blatchford himself died in 1943 and now slept at last. | The paper struggled on after the war but it was never the same. The Labour party was now a growing electoral force, prepared to enter government on a pragmatic basis, whilst on its left the newly formed Communist party was attracting young idealists. The paper became monthly in 1927 and finally disappeared in 1934, its heyday long past. Blatchford himself died in 1943 and now slept at last. |
| Michael Herbert's book Up Then Brave Women: Manchester Radical Women 1819-1919 was published on 15 October and is on sale at the Peoples History Museum, Working Class Movement Library and Rochdale Pioneers Museum. | Michael Herbert's book Up Then Brave Women: Manchester Radical Women 1819-1919 was published on 15 October and is on sale at the Peoples History Museum, Working Class Movement Library and Rochdale Pioneers Museum. |
| He will be leading a walk exploring the history of Manchester's radical women on Saturday 20 October, starting at 11.30 am from the Robert Owen statue, Corporation Street, Manchester. More information Red Flag Walks. Email: redflagwalks@gmail.com | He will be leading a walk exploring the history of Manchester's radical women on Saturday 20 October, starting at 11.30 am from the Robert Owen statue, Corporation Street, Manchester. More information Red Flag Walks. Email: redflagwalks@gmail.com |
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