The History of the Fabian Society

The History of the Fabian Society

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Title: The History of the Fabian Society
Author: Edward R. Pease
Release Date: October 11, 2004 [EBook #13715]
Language: English
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The History of the
Fabian Society
By
Edward R. Pease
Secretary for Twenty-five Years
With Twelve Illustrations
NEW YORK E.P. DUTTON & COMPANY PUBLISHERS

Preface
The History of the Fabian Society will perhaps chiefly interest the

members, present and past, of the Society. But in so far as this book
describes the growth of Socialist theory in England, and the influence
of Socialism on the political thought of the last thirty years, I hope it
will appeal to a wider circle.
I have described in my book the care with which the Fabian Tracts have
been revised and edited by members of the Executive Committee. Two
of my colleagues, Sidney Webb and Bernard Shaw, have been good
enough to revise this volume in like manner, and I have to thank them
for innumerable corrections in style, countless suggestions of better
words and phrases, and a number of amplifications and additions, some
of which I have accepted without specific acknowledgment, whilst
others for one reason or another are to be found in notes; and I am
particularly grateful to Bernard Shaw for two valuable memoranda on
the history of Fabian Economics, and on Guild Socialism, which are
printed as an appendix.
The MS. or proofs have also been read by Mrs. Sidney Webb, Mrs.
Bernard Shaw, Sir Sydney Olivier, Graham Wallas, W. Stephen
Sanders, and R.C.K. Ensor, to each of whom my cordial thanks are due
for suggestions, additions, and corrections.
To Miss Bertha Newcombe I am obliged for permission to reproduce
the interesting sketch which forms the frontispiece.
E.R.P. THE PENDICLE, LIMPSFIELD, SURREY,
_January_, 1916.

Contents

Chapter I
The Sources of Fabian Socialism
The ideas of the early eighties--The epoch of Evolution--Sources of
Fabian ideas--Positivism--Henry George--John Stuart Mill--Robert
Owen--Karl Marx--The Democratic Federation--"The Christian
Socialist"--Thomas Davidson

Chapter II
The Foundations of the Society: 1883-4
Frank Podmore and Ghost-hunting--Thomas Davidson and his
circle--The preliminary meetings--The Fellowship of the New
Life--Formation of the Society--The career of the New Fellowship

Chapter III
The Early Days: 1884-6
The use of the word Socialism--Approval of the Democratic
Federation--Tract No. I--The Fabian Motto--Bernard Shaw joins--His
first Tract--The Industrial Remuneration Conference--Sidney Webb
and Sydney Olivier become members--Mrs. Annie Besant--Shaw's
second Tract--The Tory Gold controversy--"What Socialism Is"--The
Fabian Conference of 1886--Sidney Webb's first contribution, "The
Government Organisation of Unemployed Labour"

Chapter IV
The Formation of Fabian Policy: 1886-9
The factors of success; priority of date; the men who made it--The
controversy over policy--The Fabian Parliamentary League--"Facts for
Socialists"--The adoption of the Basis--The seven Essayists in
command--Lord Haldane--The "Essays" as Lectures--How to train for
Public Life--Fabians on the London School Board--"Facts for
Londoners"--Municipal Socialism--"The Eight Hours Bill"

Chapter V

"Fabian Essays" and the Lancashire Campaign: 1890-3
"Fabian Essays" published--Astonishing success--A new presentation
of Socialism--Reviewed after twenty-five years--Henry
Hutchinson--The Lancashire Campaign--Mrs. Besant
withdraws--"Fabian News"

Chapter VI
"To your tents, O Israel": 1894-1900
Progress of the Society--The Independent Labour Party--Local Fabian
Societies--University Fabian Societies--London Groups and Samuel
Butler--The first Fabian Conference--Tracts and Lectures--The 1892
Election Manifesto--The Newcastle Program--The Fair Wages
Policy--The "Fortnightly" article--The Intercepted Letter of 1906

Chapter VII
"Fabianism and the Empire": 1900-1
The Library and Book Boxes--Parish Councils--The Workmen's
Compensation Act--The Hutchinson Trust--The London School of
Economics--Educational Lectures--Electoral Policy--The controversy
over the South African War--The publication of "Fabianism and the
Empire"

Chapter VIII
Education: 1902-5, and the Labour Party: 1900-15
Housing--"The Education muddle and the way out"--Supporting the

Conservatives--The Education Acts of 1902 and 1903--Feeding School
Children--The Labour Representation Committee formed--The Fabian
Election Fund--Will Crooks elected in 1910--A Fabian Cabinet
Minister--Resignation of Graham Wallas--The younger generation:
H.W. Macrosty, J.F. Oakeshott, John W. Martin--Municipal Drink
Trade--Tariff Reform--The Decline of the Birth-rate

Chapter IX
The Episode of Mr. Wells: 1906-8
His lecture on administrative areas--"Faults of the Fabian"--The
Enquiry Committee--The Report, and the Reply--The real issue, Wells
v. Shaw--The women intervene--The Basis altered--The new
Executive--Mr. Wells withdraws--His work for Socialism--The writing
of Fabian Tracts

Chapter X
The Policy of Expansion: 1907-12
Statistics of growth--The psychology of the Recruit--Famous
Fabians--The Arts Group--The Nursery--The Women's
Group--Provincial Fabian Societies--University Fabian
Societies--London Groups revived--Annual Conferences--The Summer
School--The story of "Socialist Unity"--The