WHAT OF THE HARVEST? 269 



Agitator. For some nine years I did my duty to that company, 

 joined the United Carters' Trade Union and became a member of 

 its Executive Committee and did much spade work in the Trade 

 Union movement on the new order. 



" In 1908 I was selected as I.L.P. Organiser for Woolwich, 

 and for two years did some good work there for Political Labour 

 and Socialism. Taking advantage of the Tutorial Class then 

 being formed, I tried to make amends for early years in edu- 

 cation. I attended them regularly and have much to thank a 

 good friend, Rev. C. H. Grinling, for during that time. 



" My stay in Woolwich terminated in Dec. 1912, when I re- 

 moved to Nottingham where for some short time I was Secretary 

 of the local I.L.P. Eventually I was asked, through Mrs. Bruce 

 Glasier, to consider taking a post of organiser in the National 

 Agricultural Labourers' and Rural Workers' Union, which 

 eventually I accepted. One word about the rural workers' 

 child I must mention. I have five children. The two eldest 

 never had any chance beyond an Elementary school education. 

 The other three have passed or are passing through the Secondary 

 Schools, two now hold good positions as a result and the third 

 promises to eclipse them later on. The point I wish to empha- 

 sise 1S, GIVE THE CHILD OF THE RURAL WORKER AN EVEN CHANCE 

 WITH THE REST OF THE CHILDREN OF THE COUNTRY AND THEY 

 WILL MAKE GOOD IN AS MANY INSTANCES AS ANY OTHER CLASS. 



" My work amongst the Land Workers during the past 

 few years is an open book. In the early days I covered or vis- 

 ited no less than 17 counties in England and Wales. Eventually 

 I was put down in Lines, and Notts. At that time just one 

 branch with forty-three members existed in Lines, and none 

 whatever in Notts. To-day we have in the former county 

 about 228 real strong live branches of the Union with about 

 22,000 members, making it the premier county for numbers in 

 the country. We have also done well in the latter county and 

 still growing every week. 



" Our success I hold is due to several causes, but mainly to 

 two things outside of the militant propaganda carried on by our 

 numerous officers of the Union, helped by many enthusiasts 

 both inside and outside our own membership ranks. The two 

 causes are, (i) Education. (2) Economic Forces. The first 

 is far from complete, but, whereas I hold that one great cause of 

 our predecessor Joseph Arch's failure was the fact that at least 

 90 per cent, of the rural workers could neither read nor write, 

 to-day there are very few comparatively but can read a printed 

 document, even if they do not always grasp the meaning of what 

 they read. Give the coming generation in rural England better 

 means of education, and they will once again lead the world in 

 progress towards the Light. The other cause is the fact that 



