The valour of discretion
THE SOUTHEND S.D.F. PREFERS TO APE BRER RABBIT.
Is our January number we referred to and answered certain charges made against the Socialist Party of Great Britain by Mr. Doody, speaking for the Southend Branch of the Social Democratic Federation. These charges were the only answer Mr. Doody appears to have been able to make to questions touching the confusing and unsatisfactory tactics of the S.D.F., which were put to him at a public meeting by our Comrade Rogers. As we were, without difficulty, able to shew, the charges were as devoid of foundation as the allegation that Mr. Doody fully understands the only logical position a Socialist Party can adopt. But as Mr. Doody proceeded to challenge our Comrade Fitzgerald to public debate (in an exuberance doubtless born of the knowledge that Fitzgerald was many miles away), we were content to leave the further presentation of our case in justification of our opposition to the S.D.F. and all other similar capitalist adjuncts in the hands of Fitzgerald, confident of his ability to supply those inhabitants of Southend interested in the matter with all the evidence they might require.
Since then, we have been endeavouring to induce the Southend S.D.F. to give effect to the challenge their champion threw out. We publish the correspondence below from which it will be seen that after much hesitation, they elected to deprive Southend of the pleasure of hearing a local character—as we understand Mr. Doody is—attempt to demolish our case. We can only assume that having some not unnatural misapprehension on this score, they sought to stave off possible catastrophe (and us) by proposing to transfer the discussion from Southend to London. But we are always glad of the opportunity a debate offers to vindicate our position to the working class, and we accepted the changed venue. Since when we can get no further communication from them.
This seems to be a case of a challenge in haste repented at leisure and we ask the workers of Southend where we are pleased to know THE SOCIALIST STANDARD has a very good circulation—to observe what manner of men our opponents are and what manner of method they pursue.
The point that Mr. Doody issued the challenge is, it will be seen, disputed, but as our Comrade Rogers sends details of the incidents leading up to the challenge and has a clear recollection of the whole matter, there seems little doubt that Mr. Doody’s memory is faulty. However, the point is probably in the minds ot the audience of the meeting referred to, and need not be laboured.
la. Caledonian Road, London, N.
December 27th, 1905.
Dear Comrade,
We are informed by our member Miss Laura Rogers, that a member of the Southend Branch of the Social Democratic Federation, viz., Mr. Thomas Doody, has publicly expressed his desire to meet our comrade John Fitzgerald in public debate and I shall, therefore, feel obliged if you will inform me as soon as possible, as I understand that you are the Secretary of the Southend Branch of the S.D.F., what proposals you have to make with respect to the challenge.
—Yours fraternally.
R. H. Kent. Asst. Sec.
Mr. S. Howard.
Point Loma, Cromer Road. Southend-on-Sea.
la, Caledonian Road, London, N.
January 17th, 1906.
Dear Comrade,
Will you kindly favor us with an early reply to our letter of the 27th December last, respecting the public, challenge issued by your Mr. Thomas Doody to debate with our Comrade Fitzgerald. ——Yours fraternally.
R. H. Kent. Asst. Sec.
Mr. S. Howard.Point Loma, Cromer Road. Southend-on-Sea.
Point Loma, Cromer Road, Sonthend-on-Sea.
Jan’y 20th, 1906.
R.H. Kent,
Assist. Sec’y.
The Socialist Party of Great Britain.
Dear Comrade,
In reply to your letter dated the 17th inst. (to hand last night), I wrote a letter to your office on the 18th inst., but not having your letter of the 27th ulto. before me, I inadvertently addressed it to “Miss Kate Hawkins” as Assistant Sec.! However, the following is a copy of it :—
“I much regret the delay in acknowledging the receipt of your letter of some days ago, with reference to a proposed debate. The question put to Mr. T. Doody by your Miss L. Rogers was, ‘Are yon prepared to defend the tactics of the S.D.F.,’ to which the reply ‘ Yes’ was given; and I am instructed to inform you that he is prepared to do so at any time, and anywhere, in London“.
Yours fraternally,
S. Howard,
Branch Sec. S.D.F.
la, Caledonian Road, London, N.
24th January, 1906.
Mr. S. Howard,
Secretary,
Southend Branch, Social-Democratic Federation,
Point Loma, Cromer Road,
Southend-on-Sea.
Dear Comrade.
I am directed by the Executive Committee to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 20th inst., and in doing so to express their very great surprise at the attempt to change the venue of the proposed debate from Southend to London. They instruct me to point out that the challenge arose out of a public meeting held at Southend under the auspicies of the Southend Branch of the Social-Democratic Federation, and was accepted, by Mr. T. Doody who, we presume, was your accredited representative at that meeting.
My Executive, therefore, see no reason why the debate should not be held in Southend, and they suggest that it would not be fair to the members of the public who were present at your meeting when the challenge was given and accepted, if they were deprived of the opportunity of hearing the differences between us fully discussed.
I am accordingly instructed to make the following definite proposals to you: —
That the, debate between Mr. T. Doody, representing the Southend Branch of the Social-Democratic Federation, and our comrade J. Fitzgerald, representing the Executive Committee of this Party, should be held in a public hall at Southend at as early a date as can conveniently be arranged:
That admission to the meeting shall be free : that it shall be well advertised by means of posters and handbills ; and that the total expense shall be borne equally between yourselves and this Party.
Kindly favour me with an early reply, so that arrangements can be made without delay.
Yours fraternally,
R. H. Kent,
Asst. Sec.
Social-Democratic Federation,
Southend-on-Sea Branch,
Southehurch Road.
Feb. 1st, 1900.
Dear Comrade,
Your letter of the 24th ulto. received, and the same shall be laid before my Branch on the 7th inst.
Yours fraternally,
S. Howard,
Branch Sec.
Social-Democratic Federation,
Southend-on-Sea Branch,
Southehurch Road. Sunday,
Feb. 18th, 1906.
The Secretary,
Socialist Party of Great Britain.
Comrade,
I reply to your communication of the 24th January. I am instructed to say that my Committee do not see that any good can be gained by having a debate here. Your Party has no branch, and under all the circumstances, if the debate is to take place, it must, as stated in a previous letter to you, be somewhere in London where you have a branch or branches.
Yours fraternally,
P. Pro Branch Committee,
J. Adams.
la. Caledonian Road, London, N.
24th Feb., 1906.
Mr. J. Adams,
Southrnd-on-Sea Branch.
Social Democratic Federation, Southchurch Road,
Southend-on-Sea.
Dear Comrade,
Your letter of the 18th inst. was laid before the Executive Committee on Tuesday last, and in reply I am instructed to inform you that the correspondence will be published.
I am further directed to state that the E.C. accepts your offer to debate in London, also your offer to debate in Southend as soon as a branch of this Party is formed in Southend.
Please let us know the dates on which your Mr. Doody could come to London, in order that arrangements may be made for the debate here.
Yours fraternally,
C. Lehane,
General Secretary.