FABIAN TRACTS

This paper has been submitted by 

Miriam Yevick
Retired Assoc. Prof of Mathematics
Rutgers, The State University
22 Pelham Street
Princeton N.J. 08540
gandmyevick@rcn.com 


"The first duty is to educate the people to understand what their present position 
is and what the future might be"  
William Morris, Member of the Fabian Society

The Fabian Society was a British progressive organization

In 1884 the first founders Frank Podmore and Edward Pease were quickly joined
by George Bernard Shaw and Sidney Webb.

Eminent members were among others: the designer William Morris, the writer H.G. Wells, 
the psychologist and political scientist Graham Wallas, the colonial expert Sydney 
Haldane, the Theosophist Annie Besant and many others

The Fabians were opposed to the revolutionary theories of Marxism and anarchism, 
holding that social reforms and socialistic "permeation" of existing political 
institutions would bring about the natural development of socialism.

Their labor committee evolved into the Labor Party. 

They built up the London School of Economics and founded, the magazine 
The New Statesman.

The group achieved wide recognition with the publication of the Fabian Essays (1889)
and maintained their influence through the Fabian Tracts 

The range of topics dealt with in these tracts is quite remarkable, and the whole 
collection make worthwhile reading for both historians and modern political, social, 
and economic theorists.

TITLES OF SOME FABIAN TRACTS

Nr 1. 	Why are the Many Poor? (W.L. Phillips) 1884
Nr. 3. 	To Provident Landlords and Capitalists. A Suggestion and a Warning.
	(G.B.Shaw) 1885
Nr. 8.	Facts for Londoners (S.Webb) 1889
Nr. 10.	Figures for Londoners (S.Webb) 1889
Nr. 11. The Workers Political Programme (S.Webb) 1990
Nr. 17.	Reform of the Poor Law (S.Webb) 1890	
Nr. 23.	The Case for an Eight Hours Bill(S.Webb) 1891
Nr. 24 	Questions for Parliamentary Candidates 
Nr. 25.	Questions for School Board Candidates (S.Webb) 1891
Nr 30. The Unearned Increment (S.Webb) 1891 
Nr.36. The Scandal of London's Markets (S.Webb) 1891
Nr. 37	A Labour Policy for Public Authorities (S.Webb) 1891
Nr. 39. A Democratic Budget (J.I,Oakeshott) 1892
Nr. 43. Vote! Vote! Vote! (G.B.Shaw) 1892
Nr. 47. The Unemployed (John Burns) 1893
Nr. 48. Eight Hours by Law (H.W. Macrosty) 1893
Nr. 49. A Plan of Campaign for Labor (G.B.Shaw) 1894
Nr. 50. Sweating: Its Cause and Remedy (H.W. Macrosty) 1894
Nr. 55. The Workers' School Board Programme (J.W.Martin)  1894
Nr. 69.	The Difficulties of Individualism (S.Webb) 1896
Nr. 73.	The Case for State Pensions in Old Age (G.Turner) 1896
Nr. 79.	A Word of Remembrance and Caution to the Rich (J.Woolman) 1897 	
Nr. 83.	State Arbitration and the Living Wage (W.H.Macrosty) 1899
Nr. 84.	The Economics of Direct Employment (S.Webb) 1897
Nr. 88. The Growth of Monopoly in English Industry (W.H.Macrosty) 1899
Nr. 89.	Old Age Pensions at Work (J.Bullock) 1899
Nr. 101.The House Famine and How to Relieve It (C.Edwardsu.a.) 1900 
Nr. 104.How Trade Unions Benefit Workmen (E.R.Pease) 1900
Nr. 106.The Education Muddle and the Way Out (S.Webb) 1901
Nr. 116. Fabianism and the Fiscal Question: an Alternative Policy (G.B.Shaw) 1904
Nr. 119. Public Control of Electric Power and Transit. (S.G.Hbson) 1905
Nr. 120. After Bread, Education. (H.Bland) 1905
Nr. 121. Public Service versus Private Expenditure. (O.Lodge) 1905
Nr. 130  Homework and Sweating: The Causes and Remedies
Nr. 235 The Limitations of the Expert (H.J.Laski) 1931
Nr.236 A New Reform Bill (S.Webb) 1931

Close to 3 million of these tracts were distributed in the three decades after
their inception. 

Their publication was accompanied by numerous public lectures in evening schools, 
in libraries, in Union Halls, in the open. 

The proposals of the Fabians in contrast with that of other reformers contained
an immediate political and administrative applicability. 

The Fabians became in some sense a social science information service which 
provided the practical preconditions for social reform. 

A SUGGESTION

The topics which were addressed in the above tracts sadly appear to have regained 
relevance to the economic, social and political conditions which have evolved in 
the U.S. since leaving the progressive track (The New Deal, The Great Society).

Emulating the Fabians is potentially an important undertaking for the Democrats 
who lack any kind of thought-through practical plan of action, accessible to 
an understanding in the general public. 

What is needed is a "Brain Trust" of the kind F.D.R. put together to plan the New
Deal. 

To achieve this, a collection of American Fabian Tracts based on serious research
would be invaluable. 

Perhaps some of us, scholars, students, scientists, artists and writers might emulate
the Fabians in their ability to reach a large public as a collective effort. 

We could undertake to write such short pamphlets combining history, current research
and proposed action to be disseminated in cheap printed form as well as on the web 
and other public venues such as town meetings. 

(The Simple Facts about Health Care; A Look at our Federal Budget; Are Untamed Market
Forces and the Pursuit of Profit the Best for the Public Good?; Saving Energy by 
Redesigning our Public Transportation System; Supplying Decent Housing  to all
Americans etc. etc.)  

Perhaps such tracts could be made the basis of undergraduate thesis. 

The social interactions of the Fabians were marked by a spirit of tolerance and fun. 

Their work was most impressive in setting a direction for the body politic. 

A similar imaginative  effort by committed liberals can look forward to "supplying
intelligent direction and giving potency to a new progressive thought wave." 
(H.Bland, Fabian)

A quite complete collection of the Fabian Tracts can be found in The Firestone
Library of Princeton University, Call Number HX531.F11 , sn89026836 or on 
Microfilm, MICROFILM 04418. 

I recommend the reading of Tract Number 39, A Democratic Budget, as a potential 
template for the writing of such.


Miriam Yevick
Retired Assoc. Prof of Mathematics
Rutgers, The State University
22 Pelham Street
Princeton N.J. 08540
gandmyevick@rcn.com 

Revised: S: 10:08 Wed 2006/06/07 Syd 2089
F: 10:50 Wed 2006/06/07 Syd 2089
Who: aer
Authorised: sgg
Created: 10:30 Wed 2006/06/07 Syd 2089
By: sgg
Revision: 2PAEAMA1 .001
Original Page: 3a4
Change date:
Who:
Authorised: