BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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a source of popular support.
In January, 1885 Chief Whip in the House
of Commons, Akers-Douglas, wrote Churchill, presumably at the request
of Salisbury.
Akers-Douglas expressed his concern regarding the
impending resignation of Claude Hay, Organizing Secretary, proposing
that a strong man be chosen to succeed him.
Complementing the Primrose
League on its "excellent work in the Counties," Akers-Douglas indicated
the party's desire that the duties of the new Secretary be extended "to
take in the farmer & more-respectable labourer class," a course of
action which, he acknowledged, would "help us greatly."9
The newly appointed Chief Agent, Middleton, was charged by
Salisbury with the task of creating the Conservative response to the
Chamberlainite caucus.
The principal, though by no means the
exclusive, purveyors of the precepts of the new conservativism would be
the Primrose League.
Middleton's first contact with the League appears
to have been in March, 1885 when he wrote instructing the Council on
procedures relating to the canvassing of out-voters.
In April he was
invited to attend an executive meeting to advise members on the matter.
That same month, League statutes were altered to include Middleton and
Chief Conservative Whips in the Lords and Commons as ex officio members
of the Council. 10
The increasing incursions of Salisbury's lieutenants, Akers-
Douglas and Middleton, into the activities of the Primrose League
9 A. Akers-Douglas to Churchill, 31 January 1885; Churchill
Papers, RCHL iv/552.
10
Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 25
March 1885; 15 April 1885; 22 April 1885; 25 April 1885.