BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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Relations remained uneasy in Birmingham as late as 1894 when
Churchill offered Chamberlain the services of the Primrose League as a
means of promoting an upcoming Unionist meeting to be held in the town
hall.24
Chamberlain replied by emphasizing the ability of his own men
to generate large public attendances.
He refused the services offered
with the icy observation, "I feared some of my people might retain
their old prejudices against the Primrose League."25
Conservative politicians throughout the country made
conscientious efforts to comply with the dictates of Conservative party
leadership and achieved the electoral
successes of 1886, 1895, and 1900
as a result of their compliance.
Frictions, however, remained,
particularly at the grass roots level, until at least the twentieth
century and possibly as late as the First World War.
As John A.
Bridges noted with regard to local politics,
"an annoying thing about
the Alliance was that it never approached a fusion, and rarely grew
into friendship."26
Efforts were periodically made by Habitations to recruit
workers, particularly those individuals engaged in industrial or
artisanal occupations.27
Despite attempts to attract a broader base of
24
Churchill to Chamberlain, 26 March 1894, Joseph Chamberlain
Papers, JC5/14/49.
25 Chamberlain to Churchill, 27 March 1894, Churchill Papers,
RCHL xxxi/4481.
169.
26 John A. Bridges, Reminiscences of A Country Politician, p.
27 Thus, Huddersfield Habitation extended membership to the
Working Men's Association in the borough at the nominal cost of four
pence per individual. Huddersfield Habitation Minutes, 26 February
1886. Speakers addressing Whitehaven Habitation focused on the
benefits of "sound progressive legislation" which would improve the