The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
The town was soon deluged with mendacious literature, and smothered with huge posters:
'Vote for Adam Sweater!
The Working-man's Friend!'
'Vote for Sweater and Temperance Reform.'
'Vote for Sweater—Free Trade and Cheap Food,'
or
'Vote for D'Encloseland: Tariff Reform and Plenty of Work!'
This beautiful ideal—Plenty of Work—appealed strongly to the Tory workmen. All they desired for themselves and their children was 'Plenty of Work.' They marched about the streets singing their Marseillaise: 'Work, Boys, Work and be contented,' to the tune of 'Tramp, tramp, tramp the Boys are marching'; and at intervals as they tramped along they gave three cheers for Sir Graball, Tariff Reform, and Plenty of Work!
Both sides imported gangs of hired orators, who held forth every night at the corners of the principal streets and on the open spaces from portable platforms, motor cars and lorries. The Tories said that the Liberal Party in the House of Commons was composed principally of scoundrels and fools; the Liberals said the Tory Party were fools and scoundrels. A host of richly dressed canvassers descended upon Windley in carriages and motor cars, and begged for votes from the poverty-stricken working men who lived there.
One evening a Liberal demonstration was held at the cross roads on Windley hill. Notwithstanding the cold weather there was a great crowd of shabbily dressed people, many of whom had not had a really good meal for months. It was a clear night. The moon was at the full, and the scene was further illuminated by the fitful glare of several torches, stuck on the end of twelve-foot poles. The platform was a large lorry, and there were several speakers, including Adam Sweater himself and a real live Liberal Peer, Lord Ammenegg. This individual had made a considerable fortune in the grocery and provision line, and had been elevated to the peerage by the last Liberal Government on account of his services to the party.
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