The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-16
That Is tho Record Of william
Crooks Just Elected.
WAS GIVEN A BIG MAJORITY.
In Ills Platform Ne Advccatss EnfrlnchIss-
msnt Of Women and Creation ola
Ministry Of Industry.

London. March 1s-ons of the poiitA.
cal surprises OF the week was the elec-
ton OF William Crooks, a poor cooper
and formerly an inmate Of the poorhouse.
to the seat In parliament vacated by
Lord Charles Bsrssford, who had to ieavs
to take command of the Channel squad
ron.
Mr. CROOKS was elected from the Wool
wtch division OF London by a majority
OF s,22s votes. He was the candidate OF
the labor party. He defeated Geoffrey
Drase. the Unionist candidate.
Mr.. Crooks victory is largely due to
his powerful personality. for his oppo-
nents poi1ed their annual vote. This
fact Is proved by the number Of votes
cast In all previous elections the total
vote, OF woolwich has never exceeded
1o5oo. but the returns on Tuesday show
ed that 14,e00 votes had been cast
This means that $500 persons who had
heretofore been too indifferent to vote
had come out for the popular labor can
didate. In the campaign Mr.. Crooks
made many speeches. and he has a style
OF oratory that appeals to the masses.
He put his platform so clearly before his
constituents and so eloquently pleaded
that his principles be given chance that
he invariably carried his audiences with
HIM.
His platform briefly was as follows:
Direct employment, trade union rates,
temperance. housing of the poor, enfran-
chisement OF women, religious freedom.
equal opportunities for the children.
improvement OF the port OF London. "A
minister OF industry with seat in the
cabinet, and useful organized work for
the unemployed.
Irony and humor were potent factors
in Mr.. Crooks speeches. He referred
to Mr.. Drage as 'outsocializing the So
ciahsts," and speaking OF him as stud
ent OF labor problems. cried out: Yes
he sits In a drawing-room thinking over
them"
Mr.. Crooks had pamphlets OF his life
circulated previous TO speaking. These
pamphlets gave some OF his strenuous ex-
periences. lie was described as ser
want OF the people" Electors were re-
minded that because OF his sound wo 'k
under the Poor law he had been invitet
by Mr.. Chaplin TO take office as gov
ernment representative on the asylums
board: that he had been useful member
of the county council, and mayor OF Pop
lar. and that despite these successes. he
still remained poor. and that his wife was
mot above cleaning her own doorstep In
the morning. although she took part In
1
as mayoress OF Poplar
Mr.. Crooks is 90 years old. and he
stil works at his trade, as a cooper. He
labors hard In his shop all day and at
tends political meetings at night. He
neither drinks nor smokes.
His father died when he was nine years
old. The family was wretchedy poor,
and with his mother, brothers and sis
ters, he was ordered TO the Poplar poor
house. He remained there for several
months. At the age OF II he was ap-
prenticed to a cooper. He did not think
he had sufficient independence. threw up
his job and tramped from London to
Liverpool in search of work.
Even at that time, when he was In
the greatest poverty, he worked hard to
help the dock workers win their great
strike. He found work at his old trade
and earned a good living at IT,
Mr.. Crooks big majority was something
OF a surprise TO the Labor party itself.
IL did not realize Its own strength. Many
OF the conservative papers OF London
speak with apprehension OF the growing
power OF the labor vote. as exemplihed
in Mr.. Crooks overwhelming victory.
dismissed Woolwich Arsenal workmen Is
regarded al a great personal triumph. He
urged that II was the duty OF the govern
ment TO keep the arsenal workmen en-
ployed continually.
II is interesting 10 note that Mr.. Crooks
Ia now chairman OF the Poplar board of
Guardians. the same body which sent him
TO the poorhouse years ago.