There was a striking scene at the Fulham guardians meeting yesterday afternoon, when Mr. William Morris appeared, in his blue serge suit, blue shirt, and slouch hat, at the head of several hundred unemployed men from Hammersmith. The deputation filled up the approaches to the board room, and a score of them were selected to enter the chamber.
The first speaker was Mr. Touzzeau Parris, who was a Progressive candidate at the last County Council election. He stated that the registry of unemployed which the Hammersmith Vestry had opened had 600 names entered in it in six weeks; 90 per cent. of these names were of unskilled laborers. Yet there had been no applications by employers for workmen. In addition to those who registered, there were the skilled workmen, masons, bricklayers, carpenters, and painters, and the women. A large proportion of those who registered had lived eight and ten years in the parish. They did not blame the guardians, because they were simply acting as their predecessors did, but for 300 years the law had laid it down that the guardians should find work for the destitute.
In cases of distress the guardians ought to counsider, not the character of the applicants, but their destitution, and they ought not to make general rules forcing every man into the bouse. They ought to find work for these men, to hire land and put them on it. "We want to see a ghost of a chance that those who do the work of the world,” said Mr. Parris, "who have been brought, probably through speculation, to their present position, should be supported by rates levied on those who have profited by that speculation."
Mr. William Morris warned the guardians that money given to help wages would bring them back to the state of the old poor law, but he urged that in such a large parish there were public works which were really waiting to be done. It was becoming more and more an absolute necessity to deal with the unemployed problem, and he could not help being a little ashamed that so little had been done to solve it since the days of Elizabeth. If the problem was not dealt with they could not be surprised if the unemployed should turn round and say "We will not starve; you force us into the ranks of crime.” Let them not shirk their responsibility to the law, but put aside precedent and face the problem as a reality. He did not disguise from himself that it would be a considerable trouble, and that mistakes would be made. But no country could be considered in a satisfactory condition so long as able-bodied men, willing and anxious to work, could not find work, owing to the manner in which affairs had been muddled.
In reply to questions Mr. Parris said the Act of Henry VIII was still in force. He thought that they might hire land, and at a small expense and risk set some of the destitute to work. Half the ne'er-do-weels were in that condition because they had never had a chance of steady and continuous work. “We want to make this world enjoyable for everybody, and it can't be enjoyable for you and me while these poor devils can't enjoy their lives,” added Mr. Parris.
A number of guardians made speeches complimenting the deputation on their method of advocacy and regretting that their hands were tied. Ultimately the matter was referred to the Relief Committee.
WILLIAM MORRIS'S APPEAL TO THE FULHAM GUARDIANS ON BEHALF OF THE UNEMPLOYED (as reported in the Morning Leader)
Morning Leader, Friday 26th January 1894 p.3
The Hammersmith Socialist Society had supported the 'Progressive' platform in elections to the Board of Guardians in December 1893 (following the Local Government Reform bill). The Platform won 8 places. May Morris stood as a candidate but was not elected.
Graham Seaman, March 2026.