A 'PISTLE TO "PRENDY"

NZ Truth, Issue 131, 21 December 1907, Page 8

A 'PISTLE TO " PRENDY"

r^EjRTAINING TO THE POPPENSES. 'Z * ■ ; N ,« "' , r ' " ■ AN OPEN LETTER TO [ v MR. BEftßßt fCHAEL PRENDERGAST, M:Q_i| 0-0 v.V Leader of the- Labor -Party; V iJir THE STATE PARLIAMENT OF VICTORFA, is.itcfe'Hie Propriety of Professedly andsßnrslyl . "Pecuiriaiy Relations witA Publican*Poppens'"Wife. . I

7*oi*r*nfry r v Perpend, while, as. a friend; jC propound ;unto thee, thou "pre'ux. sans p.eur et sans reprb.ehe," a. few plain propositions con«erning the propriety of your proceedings wtth the wife of poor Pop--spehs the publican. Since I first? kh£w. yon m Sydney, over twenty l yeafcs &go, you have made marvellous '■progress'/; You were even then ..champibriihg't&e.cause of the people as^an ..agitator; 1 fbr the unemployed at the/ jQu'eWs Statue at the.tdp' of Kins--m CQmp&ny with , P&wers, which his name was George,, >a_sn_l the notorious "Tichborne'.' •Smith." Flowers, if I remember j-ei'ghtlyi w/as a partner .. of yours. -in .'running a sort of private Labor '."Bui-eati or Registry Office which didmot succeed ; which, perhaps, cx/"plains why you^ and Flowers took; [rtoyhe "stump" and to taking up; •collections for the destitute, in} '•shiny top-hat. . ' U j '• •_* ' * - •_ »" . \_ I rpind me well of these disinteres-. !ted doings on, behalf of poqr devils, -, almost as destitute, as yourself and ' jj*6ur painter partner. I have, good' reason to remember . those times -and,: } your tricks, because it was I who,' as a newspaper reporter, "narked your: •pitch," by ridiculing , ybu and Flow- ; «rs as paragon philanthropists. .1. recollect how I mocked at Mowers and j-tus- nail-can hat, his flash attire, , and,: 'fat, well-groomed figure ; the heavy {-^old chain, pendant across his por- = iltentous paunch, and tho 'Mr rings on-; riiis fine; white taper fingers. I also Criticised the collections .and the dubious distribution of cas-h by Flowers and Smith so. severely that m putting; "in an a-ppeirahce at the Sta; ItUe one day I was by some, <pf the satellites -of these Saviours of Society, arid had to run for my life. But I h^ad^the: satisfaction of bursting up tliat sordid, shekel-snaring show. - '*'••• * • • Sooh after this Flowers^ your part•ner, disappeared, and, later, was-, found drowned;, .Old 'JBrnith took -himself off to England.' ,«n a tramp ship, and duly died m v *he workhouse. * - but - you, Prendy, pame to Victoria, and took to' poi*--/ffcicg.. In a political sense you have l»rosߣr_-4 so ainazingly ;,thai you, the • •Id-time Sydney stumpnirator at the • V^Stta-too" are to-dayi leader, of His ftJajpsty's Opposition m the Victor&a Parliament, with the prize oV :ipe Preffl-iership m. sight. Pushful 'F'ready,. why wilt thou jeopardise #_* splendid political prospect by* $&&&*_% thy pecuniacy credit on hemiX of piiblican Poppens' beautiful •frfts, Wihioai thou host platonically jriaced m a pub. ?v Was there ever !.M>fO£e seen, .such an edifying exhibiSseii.ef ; pure platonic admiration -on .fjle part of. a, patriotic for W publican's wife, $r. any other man's wife ?' No never. 'And you may be-. Jieve mo: or not, Prendy, as- you* elease, thp ., public, nQ more, than: 900 X Poppens himself; put .a _pai*ticle . v«s faith m professions. QfHpte&bMsm•«n the part of politicians .who ' run? arfter other men's A wives, be they i .i^autif ul "or homely ;?,be they.*, named SEpielia Poppens, CecSUa Gosf^ns, or. Dphelia . Scfoggins; .WbatJs' ih a.-. ;name \\ The beautiful wife of a bilkled Boniface under any riamfc wouldtt jseein ,sy7eet, to a platonic p;oliMcian-| i/^ho 'plays ;• the part, of- 'financial^ ffrien<fr and goes bail for her by.^ut-' ;|ting her into a snug -pub*, and then^ icarefuyv. counts the takisbgs m. the. |lbill just to. save her jthe trouble,, labile the other poor, oißcarded devil] .lias gone off to Aiperica*'! \ 'j * •"■'_-*' *,- By the. way, Prendy,, permit-me to> stemark, by way of pertinent parentJthesis, that- although) I knewi : «that, your po;l,itical creuUt was fairly, '.good m the ledger of public opinion H 9L was really not aware that you ha<J /bagged so. inuoh boodle/ as to enable $you to finance other men's wives in)'.to pubs. But possiM'y it. , was not on (the credit, of your bank balance that > -iihe brewers and brokers and other; 'capitalists with whom ,y?ou seem. to> .have suoh close and cordial' relations,^ accepted you as a guarantee for. Pop-* .'pens' wife. If it was not that, then^ jiwhatwasit'? It seems to me that; ifthe confiflfence of these-brewers and.; /fcrokers m you was based upohi Vsrounds more political than pecun--;fiary ; whereby hangs a tale that vmayr have to be told. But .what sont .of a guarantee or bond, Prendy, wast i&t that you entered into Svith fehese; fbrewers and^ brokers on behailf of; igpor Poppens' wife , ; . arid behind pool?! /iPbpperis' bJatck 1 T'h4;primary and vit-i \»l provision of the bond was tha# jithe guafajitee of this woman should; 1-fcOld gtfod only so long as her. hus-. ilrand* was not permitted to live ins, jand be with his lawful wifevin thejj /pub j. into which you had put her.. *■* * > ' s OH, Prendy, Prendv. put yourd^i 5n poor Poppens' place. Give paude 1 : but for a brief moment to your pl?ijtonie philanthrophy, and say, wkjit your feelings would be m sucfliia scandalous set of compromising cflrjcumstanoes.' How would you ba«iWke(ly to act, if, on ' your return, like ithat. of poor Poppens, from ay far d'duntry, you found a married G&orge iMichael man had put .your wife Snto a pub., behind the bar ; of whichy you found her financial friend calmly counting the takings m the till, your ttwo grown-up daughters standing oy all the while, seeing the place of you, their pater, . filled by a political f*;rendergast' of your particular platonic sort l i sM afraid, Prendy, that you would v have done something moi;e deadly that Poppens declares he did Jo you, by plunging your head into' the horse trough outside the pub. Had he, Poppens, done by Prendergast as prendergast appears to have done b^ Poppens, 1 verily believe that Prendjergast would,

"more%Hibernico," have poppedipPoppens off. * _ * ■ ■• M. : •tJnderstand me, Prendy, 'I'm - not•accusing you of, or even suggesting, •'•'crim. con." m your relations with poor Poppens' wife ; I'm merely, pointing • out the impropriety of your conduct m thus 'busying yourself m the' affairs of another man's .wife. You "are a n^arried man, and should' .find enough to do m, looking after iy_Q)i_z, own .wife, and, :hbme. : If you did. •-your whole duty at home, you .would' ■ha vie no time to go galivanting about after another man's wife. or. money to spare ; .putting her into a pub. I ani aware 'of your solemn asseverations of the purely platonic nature pf.. your relations with poor Poppens' wife. Such protestations, supported as they are, by poor Poppens' wife, , may be^accepted for /.what they are .considered h'y sane people to be worth. A newspaper is not the pro-; per place m which to appraise the' Rvalue of. Such astounding, not to. say amusing, asseverations. A . court of -law is the crucible m which..t heir: value can be best tested. This could: he easily, , readily , and thoroughly dbrie" by .'a, suit for divorce on the part bf one or more of the parties, directly .'. affected and interested fn vjsur ..purely '.platonic relations, poor iPbppens' .wife; extending, as I 'im credibly iiofor-mM, over a period of no less; than tep. long years. Or their value .might, be tested by a criminal action, fpr libel,, or a civil action for defamation against "Truth." --•- * * * I'm. given, to understand that .you* 1 ?are are. seriously thinking of yourself instituting, .or, of advising Door Pop;pens' wife to.< institute, .legal proceedings against this paper for libel. If ihe . purely platonic nature of your relations ; with, poor -Poppens' wife should prevent you proceeding m person,, Prendy, surely a mere sense of .. gratitude .on the part of .. poor Poppens' wife -fbr George Michael's devotion, would , make her, willing to .do for- George Michael what George Michael may not be willing to do himself, viz., bring an action against "Truth." In mentioning this matter, Mr George Michael, I'm only telling you what has been told to mo:, about your desire to prove the truth of your protestations of pure platonism towards poor Poppens' wife in.' a court of law. before a judge and jury. I neither desire Jior .demand to enter the legal lists '^against you merely, to enable you to 'demonstrate the disinterestedness of your devotion to the bouncing, bux- N om , beautiful wife of poor Poppens . .•The more your relations with": poor Poppens' ' wife, tlie better for yoiv oh,, thou punctilious, prudish, philanthropic, pub-promoting* Prendy ; the better for .poor Poppens' wife ; and the better for poor Poppen's hinraelf. If -Poppens is prepared to . swallow tlie platonic pill , and if others equally "interested m • the character of -your relations with poor Ppppens' wife can swallow a •similiar bolus ofi bunkum, neither I toor .the public need trouble t0,,, present them. Platonism has often been preached m romances as • a panacea for marital misunderstandings^ and why should it not prove a panacea for' the same miseries m real » life ! *.-' '•*'-' *>■ Putting aside t f or * the present, this ■panacea of I . palladium, or whatever, ■else you like- to calKit, of platonism, I want to -call you to a true sense of the scandalous nature of your "relations with poor Poppens' .wife, ; viewed from the standpoint of .yodr 'political position, and m the light of public opinion. ;You, Mr ■George Michael, Prendergast, are not a private individual, but a public personage.. As a member of Parliament,. Leader of the Labor Party, and of the Opposition, you are- the their, presumptive to the first position m the land-— the Premiership. In the important position you occupy m the public eye, it. behoves you to be cautious m your • conduct, and circumspect m ; your .devoticpi to. the fair °ex. It is 'neither se'emlv nor decorEus for a political leader to go about after other men's •drives, arid, parading his platonic .demotion to a publican's wife by, putSting her into a. pub. and -guaranteeling, her maintenance therein so long »as, her husband is not allowed to jlive there with her. And what sort jof a figure does the prospective Preimier ofthe country cut counting the •■cash' m the till ? A .dignified part, ttp^'/be^^iire, r f,9V. a future .Premier, to rt>lay,..th4t,of a. barman or. a, potman ibehind the bar of the .pub. m which •he has placed poor Popp«i,s' wife. jfe this, dthe way, Prendy, dn which a leader of Social Democracy the lie to the slander that the ij.Labor .Party design to destroy the .sanction of the maarriage tie, and to i degrade the decencies of domestic life ? , No, no, Prendy, platonism won't wash as a valid excuse for your foolish finessing with, and fabled financing of poor Poppens' wife. George Michael will have to take a pull on his platonic self-; or Prendergast will probably, get such a pull from public opinion as toill compel his Party to pull him out of the leader 1 ship. Labor Leaders, who do their duties to theii* parties and their own wives, ' ought to have neither tiirie, money, nor inclination to go gadding after publicans' wives and guaranteeing them m pubs. Besides, the public dori't, can.'t, and won't believe that your cash balance aft your bankers enabi'ed you to give a jjenuine cash, guarantee for anybody to antf considerable 'amount. The brewers and the brokers with whom you negotiated on behalf of poor Poppens' wife must, therefore, have based their confidence m your o-uarante'e on your' political p.osition and pros-

pects rather than on your present pecuniary resources. This is not a pleasant or proper position for a Socialist and Democratic leader , to .place himself. In a sense if makes him personally and politically the bond-slave of plutocratic political opponents, who may he interested m obstructing certain social, industrial and economic reforms, demanded by Democracy. Probably these plutish pals, of yours would look to the friend of poor Pop pens' wife to help them m defeating the will of the People m return for the >elp they. gave politician Prendergast m put-ting-.poorPoppens'' wife -into a pub. ** * ■ r A"na\ here, again, Prendy, I would .•iiave you perpend, while I propound 'further to you son the political pro-' •prieties,; I- don't say, -.that'. you ever; have, or ever would, stoop to serve .the sinister ends of your plutocratic pals .who served you by. putting poor Poppens' wife into a pub. (You know and I know .that you know -that I know, and that all the world knows,* Mint: these plutish friends of .yours•did not put poor Poppens' wife into a .pub. merely. to please poor Poppens ; or for any platonic feelings for poor Poppens' wife. No, no, Prendy, you know that these plutocrats are no such philanthropists. What they did do. was done to please, and,. possibly, to politically propitiate Prendergast, the Leader of the ' Labor Party. And do such complaisant capitalists serve Prendergast for naught ? Not much, by a long chalk. They expect their "quid pro quo" from you, Prendy. And what return can you make them lj .It can't he made m cash. , Shall it then be rendered m the shape of subservient service m Parliament ? Perish <the thought. But, Prendy, consider upon what thin' political ice you are skating when you are thus 'coquetting, with confederated capital ! * * * Let's not dwell upon this disagreeable phase of the predicament 'm which your platonic philanthropy m putting poor Poppens' wife into a 'pub. has placed you as a politician. A Labor ' Leader aud'^ a prospective Premier ought, like Caesar's -wife, to be above suspicion; but when, like Caesar's wife, he becomes suspected, like Caesar's wife, he's done for, and must be put away. The People's cause, is. above the politician ; and when the leader of that cause goes to its enemies for help to put poqj: Poppens' wife into a pub. he is perilously near tlie edge of the political preoipice of discredit and disgrace. Already, your reckless disregard of what is due to your public position as a leader of men, and to your private position as a husband of your own good wife, is beginning to work prejudice, to your party and to thrb*^ suspicion on your well-known reputation as a faithful husband and fond father. .I've no desire to dwell unduly on this aspect of your asinine antics ; hut I must, m order to he frank, and fair with you as well as with 1 the- public, mention one other matter, which may not be overlooked, as it probably shows which way the social wind is blowing. * *.-_#. As a public man, Prendv. you have very properly pushed your wife prominently forward m movements for the moral improvement and social uplifting^ of the masses. You are a .great champion of Women's Rights, Preiretiy, and probably would, if you could, put them all into pubs., as you did poor Poppens' wife, from feelings of pure platonic philanthropy. The wife of ,such a paragon political philanthropist as the pecuniary patron of poor Poppens' wife, can be, and ought to he, if morally fit and mentally capable, of great* help to her husband. Your wife, the public arc pleased to believe and to know, has been a loyal and loving spouse m the domestic circle, arid a tower, of sentimental strength to you m the social sphere. She : has done all that a good woman .and loving wife can do, or dare do, to sustain m public your prestige as a professed, if not a professional, patriot and philanthropist. In every charitable concern arid benevolent movement initiated and carried *>ut m North Melbourne and elsewhere she has well played the part of your better half. For "the sake of your wife the public has pardoned some peculiar political pranks of yours, both' m and out of Parliament. But will the good wife and helpmate' be any longer 'able to shield, from criticism and censure a husband who runs' after poor Poppens' wife m order to put her into a pub ? * * * Even now the world of women are beginning, to talk about Prendergast and the Poppenses, and to give Mrs Poppens' platonic patron and philanthropic, protector particular. 'ell, with a big H. What women are thinking and saying about .. you and the part you have played •m the Poppens' pub., you. can learn from statements published In Melbourne "Truth." There is a statement made by Mrs Macdonald, whom you well know as the best friend your wife has m the world. You will observe, Prendy, that Mrs Mac, shrewd Scot as she is, while failing to censure you, does not hesitate to tell you what she thinks you ought to do, and what she will or will not do unless you do as she thinks •you ought to do, viz., take legal action again. "Truth." No doubt, a good 'many other good women, whose good opinion and goodwill are worth having, will agree with good Mrs Mac. * * * Without more prolixity, or wishing to pile on the agony, permit me, Prendy, to ask you what you propose doing m these premises ? Will .you be guided hy the advice of Mrs Mac, and forthwith proceed against ".Truth" for poking fun at the purely platonic nature of your relations with poor Poppens' wife ? Before deciding on so momentous a matter, however, perhaps you had better consult your friend, the "Dear Little Doctor." Although Dr. Maloney lias not been successful m bis attempt to >keep Prendy and the Poppenses out of the paper, he may be more successful m persuadiiniff you to the prudent course of keeping out of court. Judges and juries 'are apt to smile cynically at the professed platonism of married George Michael men who go after other men's wives, and pecuniarily protect them by putting them into pubs, out* of feelings of pure philanthropy. The tricks and contrivances that carry a politician through m Parliament and on tho platform, won't stand the strain of crossexamination m the witness-box. But, as I've already remarked, PrentTy, perhaps poor Poppens' wife may be

* i .. ..- able to help you m the matter .of these threatened legal - proceedings against •'-'Truth." Think over it, Prendy; hut, for the sake of the Sacred Cause, as the Dear Little Doctor would say, don't do anything rash that you may, hereafter, have reason to regret having done. * * * Meanwhile, Prendy, let .us. part m peace. Believe me, most gallant George and magnanimous Michael, that I have bnly dealt by thee as thou didst aforetime deal with me. when thou wert pealing forth . thine own praises m the "Tocsin," and ringing forth the faults and failings of better, men than thou ever wert, will be, or ever knew how to be. The "Tocsin" no .longer peals forth thy praises, "Prendy" ; but "Truth", is is still a&live.to tell the public all about thee and thy platonic relations with poor Poppens' wife. Ta ta, "Prendy"-; and m taking leave of thee, I would again plead with thee to take a pull on thy platonic self, and give poor Poppens a better show by being good enough to he pleased to condescend, most gracious George, *- and moral magnanimous Michael, to give or get permission for poor Poppens to live with his wife m the pub. into which you have put her. * * ' % ... In the belief th&t you will, if you oan, and can if you will, do this bit of bare justice to poor Poppens for the sake of poor Poppens' wife, and that you will cease to count the cash m the till for Mrs Poppens, and permit poor Poppens to play the part of brewer's bum behind the bar m future, I will subscribe myself m all sincerity, Your Faithful Friend, JOHN NORTON. •POSTSCRIPTUM : prendy, for purpose of facilitating process of service of any ;writ you may see fit to issue against me, I have to inform '.you that my Melbourne solicitor is Mr Marshall Lyle, of Sun Buildings, Bourke and Queen-streets, who will he pleas.od to accept and acknowledge service of process on my behalf. And, Prendy, please excuse my suggesting that, perhaps, you might communicate the purport of this postscript to poor. Poppens' wife should she decide to act on your advice and play the part of - poor puss to the monkey of the fable m pulling the nuts out of the fire for her platonic Prendy, by commencing proceedings for libel against "Truth." Old White Hart Hotel, Spring-street, Melbourne, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 1907*