RAD162

The Aberdeen Shaver

The Shaver considers its view of the history of Reform in Aberdeen. It mentions some of the working class leaders, such as John Cant (a tanner), John Warden (schoolmaster) and John Davidson (writer and printer).

RAD163

North Aberdeen - the vacant chair

This political cartoon relates to the North Aberdeen by-election of 1896. Duncan Pirie, the Liberal candidate won by a majority of 430 votes over the Labour candidate.

RAD164

The Most Important Thing in the World

Originally delivered as a Socialist lecture, James Leatham's article looks forward to the establishment of a Co-operative Commonwealth. In a Co-operative Commonwealth, local bodies administer their own local services; railways, canals and mines are nationalized - run by the state, and the post office...

RAD165

An Eight Hours Day with Ten Hours Pay

This was the first of James Leatham's pamphlets. A committed socialist, he campaigned for the introduction of an eight hour day and six day week. In this pamphlet, he argues why this should be the case.

RAD166

The Last Speech of the Town's Officers

Song referring to Burgh Reform. It relates to the unelected, pre-1833 Aberdeen town council and corruption.

RAD167

To the Banffshire Voters

This song appeared in the Aberdeen Herald in October 1832, prior to the first general election after the First Reform Act. Colonel Gordon was elected.

RAD168

The Tory Account of the Aberdeenshire Voters

This song appeared in the Aberdeen Herald in October 1832, prior to the first general election after the First Reform Act. The song is an attack on the Aberdeenshire Tories and their candidate, Sir Michael Bruce.

RAD169

Should Women Have the Parliamentary Vote?

In this article, James Leatham considers why women should not have the vote. Socialists were not in agreement with women's suffrage.

RAD170

The Gateway Strathspey

James Scott Skinner (1843 - 1927) and James Leatham (1865 - 1945) were friendly and collaborated on more than one occasion. Skinner composed this dance tune as an advertisement for LEatham's periodical, The Gateway. He published The Gateway from 1912 until his death in 1945.

RAD171

The Only Way with the Land being the Socialist Way

In this pamphlet, Leatham argues that land should not be owned by individuals - wealthy capitalists. Instead, it should be under collective ownership and used for the good of all.

RAD172

The Ancient Hind

This pamphlet is one of James Leathams's early publications. In 1891 he was a committed Socialist, who spent any spare hours campaigning for social change. This monologue is written in the Aberdeenshire dialect in an attempt to win over potential recruits to the socialist cause. The plot concerns an...

RAD173

Letter from C M Grieve to James Leatham

This letter to Leatham is from Christopher Murray Grieve, better known as the writer Hugh McDermaid, who at this time was a Scottish Nationalist. The letter reads: Postponed sending p.o. [postal order] with intention of visiting you - but alas! Too often when I do that things get "snowed under". In...

RAD174

Letter from J. Ramsay MacDonald to James Leatham

Letter from Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald to James Leatham. Leatham and MacDonald had a long correspondence, mainly about political matters. Ramsay writes to thank Leatham for his support of the National Insurance Bill in a leader he wrote for the Worker. Mr Snowden was not a popular member of the...

RAD175

'Back on to our Socialism', An Open Letter to the Right...

In this open letter to his friend, Ramsay MacDonald, which he published in Gateway, Leatham points out that the government has not delivered the socialist promises made in 1918. As Leatham states at the end of the letter, ‘What we want is to stop the State being used for the benefit of a small number...

RAD176

Letter from J. Ramsay MacDonald to James Leatham

In this letter, J. Ramsay MacDonald tries to reassure James Leatham that in spite of what he [Leatham] might think, MacDonald and his colleagues do consider themselves to be members of the Labour party.