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The Summer Schools and Other Educational Activities of the British Liberal Party*
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2013
Extract
The summer school was first adapted for political purposes in Great Britain by the Fabian Society early in the present century. In the period before the World War, the only other political organization that sponsored summer schools—and in this case only intermittently—was the Independent Labor party. The Liberal party, beginning with the establishment of the Liberal Summer School in 1921, was the first major party to take up the idea. Neither the Fabian nor the Liberal summer school was founded as part of the official organization of the respective parent bodies; both, in their inception, were spontaneous movements initiated by enthusiastic members of the rank and file. The Fabian Summer School, however, soon became an integral part of the organization of the Fabian Society, while the Liberal Summer School has remained throughout its existence an auxiliary party organization.
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- Foreign Governments and Politics
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- Copyright © American Political Science Association 1937
References
1 See Starr, Joseph R., “The Summer Schools and Other Educational Activities of British Socialist Groups,” in this Review, Vol. 30, pp. 956–974 (October, 1936)Google Scholar.
2 See Laski, H. J., The State in Theory and Practice (New York, Viking Press, 1935)Google Scholar.
3 See the expression of this opinion by two leaders of the summer school movement, as follows: Simon, E. D., “The Liberal Summer School,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 130, pp. 298–303 (September, 1926)Google Scholar, and Vol. 136, pp. 273–279 (September, 1929); Muir, Ramsay, “The Latest Liberal Split,” London Nation, Vol. 40, p. 584 (January 29, 1927)Google Scholar, and “The Liberal Summer School and the Problems of Industry,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 132, pp. 282–289 (September, 1927)Google Scholar. See also Hilton Young, “The Disorganization of Liberalism,” ibid., Vol. 119, pp. 442–450 (April, 1921); A. G. G., , “The Spirit of Liberalism,” London Nation, Vol. 33, p. 513 (July 21, 1923)Google Scholar.
4 See, as an early analysis to this effect, Spender, Harold, “The War and the Parties,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 113, pp. 135–143 (February, 1918)Google Scholar.
5 See Muir, Ramsay, Liberalism and Industry (London, Constable, 1920)Google Scholar, and especially the preface of the American edition (Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin, 1921); Nicholson, A. P., The Real Men in Public Life: Forces and Factors in the State (London, Collins, 1928), p. 264Google Scholar; Simon, E. D., “The Liberal Summer School,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 130, pp. 298–303 (September, 1926), at p. 299Google Scholar.
6 See editorial comment in the Manchester Guardian, August 3, 1923.
7 See Ramsay Muir's account of the origin of the Liberal Summer School in the Weekly Westminster, August 2, 1924.
8 Accounts of the first Liberal Summer School were written by special correspondents, who attended the meetings, of the London Times (issues of September 2, 26, and 28, 1921) and of the Manchester Guardian (issues of September 28, 30, and October 1, 1921). Philip Guedalla's recollections of the school may be found in the Weekly Westminster, August 2, 1924.
9 On the 1922 session, see the Federation News (organ of the Women's National Liberal Federation), No. 13 (March, 1922); London Times, March 10, August 2, 3, 5, 10, 1922; Manchester Guardian, August 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 1922; Liberal Magazine, Vol. 30, pp. 230–231, 454–461, 577–616 (April, July, September, 1922)Google Scholar; Weekly Westminster, August 2, 1924; Simon, E. D., “The Liberal Summer School,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 130, pp. 298–303 (September, 1926), at pp. 299–300Google Scholar.
10 Essays in Liberalism (London, Collings, 1922)Google Scholar.
11 On the 1923 session, see London Times, June 12, August 4, 9, 10, 1923; Manchester Guardian, August 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 1923; Barbara Bliss, “The Liberal Summer School,” Federation News, No. 28 (October, 1923); London Nation, Vol. 33, pp. 590–592, 597–612 (August 11, 1923); Liberal Magazine, Vol. 31, pp. 534–535 (September, 1923), Vol. 32, p. 414 (July, 1924). In 1923, the Daily News began to publish some of the most important papers read at the summer school as pamphlets in what was called “The New Way Series.” In the next four years, fifteen pamphlets on a variety of subjects were published.
12 On the 1924 session, see London Times, May 13, July 31, August 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 1924; Manchester Guardian, July 30, 31, August 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1924; Weekly Westminster, July 26, August 9, 1924; London Nation, Vol. 35, p. 580 (August 9, 1924); Liberal Magazine, Vol. 32, p. 521 (September, 1924).
13 On the 1925 session, see London Times, July 30, 31, August 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1925; Manchester Guardian, July 29, 30, 31, August 1, 3, 4, 5, 1925; Weekly Westminster, August 8, 1925; Liberal Magazine, Vol. 33, p. 540 (September, 1925). On the 1926 session, see London Times, April 3, June 15, July 9, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 1926; Manchester Guardian, July 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 1926; Westminster Gazette, July 31, 1926; London Nation, Vol. 39, pp. 434–435 (July 17, 1926); Liberal Magazine, Vol. 34, pp. 463–466, 520–523 (August, September, 1926). On the 1927 session, see London Times, March 29, June 29, July 29, August 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1927; Manchester Guardian, July 29, 30, August 1, 2, 3, 5, 1927; Liberal Magazine, Vol. 35, p. 445 (July, 1927); Liberal Women's News, No. 68 (September, 1927); New Statesman, Vol. 29, p. 500 (July 30, 1927)Google Scholar.
14 On the 1928 session, see London Times, August 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1928; Manchester Guardian, August 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1928.
15 Weekly Westminster, May 17, 24, 31, July 19,1924; May 23, 30, June 6, July 18, 1925.
16 See Forward View (organ of the National League of Young Liberals), Vol. 1, No. 5 (May, 1927).
17 Simon, E. D., “The Liberal Summer School,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 136, pp. 273–279 (September, 1929), at p. 279Google Scholar.
18 See the annual announcements of the sessions and Ramsay Muir's account of how the programs are constructed, Weekly Westminster, August 9, 1924.
19 Weekly Westminster, August 2, 1924.
20 See editorial comment on the relation between the summer school and the party, Manchester Guardian, August 2, 1928.
21 London Times, March 29, 1927.
22 See the records of the 1924 session for comments on the late C. F. G. Masterman's departure from the “summer school manner” in his speech on “Unemployment and Security of Livelihood.”
23 See the remarks of Ramsay Muir in the Weekly Westminster, August 2 and 9, 1924. Probably the most important papers of this class were the following, which were presented as part of the 1923 program: Sir William Beveridge, “Insurance for All and Everything,” New Way Series, No. 7; A. D. McNair, “The Problem of the Coal Mines,” ibid., No. 8. It has been repeatedly claimed that the former of these papers influenced the policy of the Conservative government of 1924, and that the latter was the germ of the report of the royal commission on the coal industry in 1926; see Ramsay Muir, Weekly Westminster, August 2, 1924, and “The Liberal Summer School and the Problems of Industry,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 132, pp. 282–289 (September, 1927)Google Scholar; E. D. Simon, “The Liberal Summer School,” ibid., Vol. 130, pp. 298–303 (September, 1926); and editorial comment in the London Nation, Vol. 39, pp. 434–435Google Scholar.
24 Weekly Westminster, August 2, 1924; Simon, E. D., “The Liberal Summer School,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 136, pp. 273–279 (September, 1929), at p. 274Google Scholar; Liberal Year-Book (1925 and 1926); Forward View, Vol. 3, No. 32 (September, 1929).
25 The subjects of the questionnaires were the drink problem, trade-union policy, inheritance, fair wages and family allowances, population problems, and the organization of industry. See the Liberal Magazine, Vol. 33, pp. 584–585, 625–327, 695–696, 755–757 (October, November, December, 1925)Google Scholar; Vol. 34, pp. 57–58 (January, 1926); Liberal Women's News, No. 47 (October, 1925), No. 48 (November, 1925), No. 51 (February, 1926); Weekly Westminster, August 8, October 3, 17, and all issues until the last of this paper (January 30, 1926).
26 See a summary of the results of the first questionnaire in the London Times, July 13, 1926. At least two of the papers read at the 1926 session of the Liberal Summer School—that of Lord Meston on the drink trade and that of H. D. Henderson on inheritance taxes—utilized the results of these inquiries.
27 Coal and Power: The Report of an Enquiry Presided Over by the Right Hon. D. Lloyd George (London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1924)Google Scholar.
28 Muir, Ramsay, “The Liberal Party,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 130, pp. 6–13 (July, 1926)Google Scholar, at p. 9; National Liberal Federation, Proceedings in Connection with the 43rd Annual Meeting … 1926, pp. 14–15Google Scholar.
29 The Land and the Nation: Rural Report of the Liberal Land Committee,1923–1925 (London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1925)Google Scholar; Towns and the Land: Urban Report of the Liberal Land Committee, 1923–1925 (London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1925)Google Scholar.
30 National Liberal Federation, Proceedings in Connection with the 43rd Annual Meeting … 1926, pp. 11–12Google Scholar.
31 Ibid., pp. 43–47; Land Policy Proposals as Adopted at the Liberal Conference Held in the Kingsway Hall, London … February 17th, 18th, and 19th, 1926 (London, Liberal Publication Department, 1926)Google Scholar.
32 On the administrative organization and procedure of the Liberal Industrial Inquiry, see the preface to its report; Muir, Ramsay, “The Liberal Summer School and the Problems of Industry,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 132, pp. 282–289 (September, 1927)Google Scholar, at p. 287; London Times, January 29, 1927.
33 Britain's Industrial Future: Being the Report of the Liberal Industrial Inquiry (London, Benn, 1928)Google Scholar.
34 Muir, Ramsay, “Lïberalism and Industry,” Contemporary Review, Vol. 133, pp. 555–563 (May, 1928)Google Scholar.
35 National Liberal Federation, Industrial Policy Proposals Adopted at the Kings way Hall, Kingsway, London, W. C, on March 27th, 28th, and 29th, 1928 (London, 1928)Google Scholar.
36 Hodgson, J. Stuart, The Liberal Policy for Industry: A Shorter Version of “Britain's Industrial Future,” The Report of the Liberal Industrial Inquiry (London, Benn, 1928)Google Scholar; Fifty Points from the Liberal Industrial Report (London, reprinted from the Daily News and Westminster Gazette, 1928)Google Scholar.
37 We Can Conquer Unemployment: Mr. Lloyd George's Pledge (London, Cassell, 1929)Google Scholar. For favorable comment on this election pledge, see Keynes, J. M. and Henderson, H. D., Can Lloyd George Do It?: An Examination of the Liberal Pledge (London, Nation and Athenaeum, 1929)Google Scholar. See also How to Conquer Unemployment: Labor's Reply to Lloyd George (London, The Labor Party, 1929)Google Scholar. The Conservative government issued a reply to the Liberal proposals in a white paper with the title, “Memoranda on Certain Proposals Relating to Unemployment” (Pp. 54, Cmd. 3331), of which an extended summary is given in the London Times, May 13, 1929.
38 How to Tackle Unemployment: The Liberal Plans as Laid before the Government and the Nation (London, 1930)Google Scholar.
39 See the remarks of Muir, Ramsay in the Weekly Westminster, August 9, 1924Google Scholar, and of E. D. Simon at the 1924 session of the Liberal Summer School, as reported in the Manchester Guardian, July 31, 1924.
40 On the early sessions of the Welsh Liberal Summer School, see the Weekly Westminster, April 26, 1924, and November 7, 1925.
41 The writer was given information on the educational work centering in Manchester by the secretary of the Lancashire, Cheshire, and Northwestern Liberal Federation.
42 Forward View, Vol. 2, No. 23 (November, 1928)Google Scholar; Vol. 3, No. 33 (October, 1929); Vol. 4, No. 46 (November, 1930).
43 The writer was given information on the Scottish Liberal Summer School by its secretary.
44 But a political school in Liverpool during the winter of 1930–31 prepared a report on immigration and unemployment.
45 Weekly Westminster, August 2, 1924.
46 Federation News, Nos. 28 and 29 (October, November, 1923); Liberal Women's News, Nos. 34, 37, 42, 48 (May, October, 1924; March, November, 1925). The writer was given information on the educational activities of the Women's National Liberal Federation by its secretary.
47 National Liberal Federation, Proceedings in Connection with the 40th Annual Meeting …, 1923, p. 15Google Scholar; Ibid. (1924), p. 14; Weekly Westminster, November 17, December 22, 1923; November 15, December 13, 1924. The writer was given information on the activities of the Liberal Study Circles Union by its secretary.
48 Federation News, Nos. 23 and 24 (March, April, 1923); Liberal Women's News, No. 37 (October, 1924); Dodds, Elliott, “Our Job,” Forward View, Vol. 1, No. 2 (February, 1927)Google Scholar; F. C. Thornborough, “The Young Liberal Movement Since the War,” ibid., No. 4 (April, 1927). During the winter of 1926–27, study circles were reported in four branches of the National League of Young Liberals; in 1927–28, nine branches; in 1928–29, fourteen branches; in 1929–30, eight branches; in 1930–31, four branches. See the Forward View, passim. In addition, a number of branches conducted speakers' classes.
49 National Liberal Federation, Proceedings in Connection with the 42nd Annual Meeting … 1925, p. 12Google Scholar; F. C. Thornborough, as cited, note 48 supra.
50 National Liberal Federation, Proceedings in Connection with the 46th Annual Meeting … 1928, pp. 97–98Google Scholar.
51 Weekly Westminster, April 25, 1925; Forward View, Vol. 1, No. 1 (January, 1927).
52 Weekly Westminster, August 22, 1925; Manchester Guardian, August 3, 1925.
53 Forward View, Vol. 1, No. 1 (January, 1927).
54 See, as early examples, “A Report on Electoral and Constitutional Reform,” Forward View, Vol. 2, No. 13 (January, 1928)Google Scholar; “The Taxation of Inherited Wealth,” ibid., No. 14 (February, 1928); “The Housing of the People,” ibid., No. 15 (March, 1928); and a report on the reform of local government, ibid., Vol. 3, No. 27 (March, 1929).
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