"IMPENITENT IMPUDENT"

NZ Truth, Issue 743, 13 September 1919, Page 5

"IMPENITENT IMPUDENT"

Col. Wedgwood's Conversion

A SOLDIER AND A MAN.

A Strong Stalwart of British Democracy.

Colonel J. C. Wedgwood, one of the members of the British House of Commons, who fought all through the war, is as brave as a politician as he proved himself to be as a soldier. He was elected as a Radical for Newcas-tle-under-Lyme, and up to the outbreak of war had been a fearless and independent champion of the toilers. Though sitting with the Liberals, his vote and support m the House was always with Labor. On his return from the war after the signing of the armistice, he was again elected for Newcastle, and became one of the most aggressive opponents ... of the Coalition Government. Shortly afterwaTds he applied for admission to the Labor party, having first become a member of the I.L.P. and CONFESSED HIS FAITH m the necessity and efficiency of Socialism. The reactionary members of the Liberal Association of Newcastle-under-Lyme thought' that having been returned as a Liberal, and having gone over to Labor, he ought to resign his seat and contest it as a Socialist, or that otherwise He could not fairly claim to be representing those who had elected him. Colonel Wedgwood replied that had he stood as a Liberal and had he been elected distinctly as a Liberal he would have followed the course indicated by the objectors. However, he had stood as an independent champion of the people, and the oppressed people at that, as the following excerpt from his election address, issued on November 11, 1918, goes to prove: Personal and Party.— lt must be that you of Newcastle have often m the past regretted that you returned , me to Parliament. There have been tiding times. But you have given me a free hand such as few constituencies allow to their members tuencies allow pto their members; I am both grateful and appreciative. I think you trust me because you know I want nothing for myself. In politics I am tied to no party and am In debt to no man. I come . before you 1 now the same impenitent independent Radical that you first elected m 1906; older and wiser perhaps, possibly with less confidence op success — I hope with fewer enemies — but with the same f. Ideals,' and' with* an even better proved determination to fight against injustice to the end. Spoken like a man! "Truth" knows that m the Liberal Party m God's Own! there are several front rank' members whose hearts are with the people m their struggle for justice. Let them follow the lead of Colonel Wedgwood; do as he has done, take their courage m both hands, and "go and Oq likewise." If they do they will certainly be happier men after next genei-al election.