BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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practiced by Habitations. 26
By June of the following year, the Council
appeared to have reached agreement, devising what was, in effect, a
universal strategy for Habitations. All members who qualified as
voters were expected to register.
Wardens assigned to subdistricts
would be responsible for supervising registration and canvassing
activities associated with the local Habitation. They were also
charged with consulting voter lists posted annually on Church doors and
post office buildings during the month of August in order to ensure
that qualified members had placed their names on the rolls. 27
The Ruling Council
of the Habitation in the constituency where
the election was being held was responsible for determining the
candidate which best represented Primrose principles.
Habitations were
advised to plan the best means of assisting local
candidates before
elections.
The district under the Habitation's supervision was to be
parceled out "street by street, village by village, and hamlet by
hamlet" with active members distributed accordingly and assigned the
task of determining the names and politics of every voter, providing
conveyances where needed.28
Under the 1888 procedures, Habitations were instructed to
operate independently, although in harmony with local candidates and
Unionist associations. Assistance given to local political figures was
26
Ibid., 16 July 1887.
27
Primrose League Special Minute Book, 1886-1900, 18 June
1888; 26 June 1888.
1888.
2^
Primrose League Special Minute Book, 1886-1900, 18 June