BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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CHAPTER SEVEN
Local
Studies
We have a crude mass to instruct, and only simple tools
should be put into their hands. ... An urban elec­
torate of 300,000 must be dominated by the mass or the
poorest on the register. Divided into five--some one
or more of the districts will be under the influence of
the more intelligent, the various classes living in a
great measure apart. A caucus to manipulate a 300,000
constituency and to handle four or five members, is a
power that will be felt. Divide this by five each
independent they are simply committees of the old sort,
of no power beyond their own district and very jealous
of interference from extraneous influences. With
subdivision the caucus will be broken.
A.B. Forwood to the Marquis of
Salisbury, 20 October 1884
I
This chapter examines a number of disparate themes
characterizing the practices of the Primrose League at the local level.
The first of the points considered is the uniformity of Habitation
practices.
Given the size and scale of operations, this was one of the
most striking features of the organization.
Another theme considered
is the importance of the Corrupt Practices Act of 1883 in encouraging
the development of the Primrose League as an extra-parliamentary organ
serving the interests of the Conservative party.
In order to demonstrate both the continuity of operations and
the distinctive features of local organization, seven brief case
studies have been provided, several of which are based on records
obtained from County Record Offices.
Among the Habitations examined