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532, °
Spender wrote to Lannbury begging for a Lib-Lab alliance
to stave off defeat, = "if we face the Government
with a divided front we shall, give an impression to the
whole world that they are stronger than they uro... io
there any possibility even at this eleventh hour that we
might work together 2l would admit that it I reaped
success you were mainly the reaper ***#
if an agreement
were possible some pledge of abetinance from other
fights might be given by the Liboralg'. Perhaps : r.
Herbert Gladstone would consent, but the time is no
ehort.. of course this is quite private` -I have not
spoken to my follows. But they will come round all right. "
This paved the way for" Lanabury'n candidature in 1900
which wan supported by the Liberals.
But few alliances of thia sort were possible.
Maddiaon in Sheffield would not accept help from I. L. P.
mombera from outside the locality and wrote "apart from
the war we occupy positions wbieh cannot bo harmontoed. "" C2)
He had also opposed the foundation of the Labour
Representation Committed.
(1) Lanebury MISS, Er. Lib, 'ol. Zä, Vol 1l Lotter 1877. -
1900: Spender to Lanmbury-lCth October 1899,
(2) B. J. Wilson MIS. M. D. 1? _, Haddiaon to 3:
ilcsoa 15th
September 1900.
(1