In January, 1908, the Committee’s Report was considered and adopted, the important item being the decision to send a circular to every member inviting promises to an election fund of at least L5,000, contributions to be spread over five years.  This ultimately resulted in promises amounting to L2637—­a much larger sum than the Society had ever had at its command—­and with this substantial fund in prospect the Society was in a position to begin the business of electioneering.

A favourable opportunity soon presented itself.  A vacancy at the little town of Taunton was not to be fought by the Liberals, while the Conservative candidate, the Hon. W. (now Viscount) Peel, was a London County Councillor, bitterly opposed even to the mild collectivism of the London Progressives, Frank Smith, a member both of the Society and the London County Council, was willing to fight, the Labour Party Executive cordially approved, and the members promptly paid up the first instalment of their promises.  The election cost L316, of which the Society paid L275, and although our candidate was beaten by 1976 votes to 1085, the result was not contrary to our anticipations.

During 1909 the Executive Committee resolved to run two candidates, both already nominated by the I.L.P., who willingly transferred to us the responsibility for their election expenses.  W. Stephen Sanders had been third on the poll out of six candidates who fought in 1906 for the two seats at Portsmouth, and as he had polled 8172 votes, more than either Conservative, it was reasonably hoped that the Liberals would leave one of the seats to him.  Harry Snell at Huddersfield was opposing both parties, but had a fair chance of winning.  At the General Election of January, 1910, neither of these candidates was successful, Sanders, opposed by Lord Charles Beresford with an irresistible shipbuilding programme, only obtaining 3529 votes, whilst at Huddersfield Snell was second on the poll, but 1472 behind the Liberal.  Elsewhere, however, the members of the Society did well, no less than eight securing seats, four for the Labour Party and four as Liberals.

In December, 1910, we won our first electoral victory.  Will Crooks had lost his seat at Woolwich in January by 295 votes.  It was decided to take over his candidature from the Coopers’ Union, a very small society which only nominally financed it, and also to support Harry Snell again at Huddersfield.  Will Crooks was victorious by 236 votes, but Harry Snell failed to reduce the Liberal majority.  Elsewhere members of the Society were very successful.  In all eight secured seats for the Labour Party and four for the Liberals, amongst the latter Mr. (now Sir) L.G.  Chiozza Money, then a member of the Executive Committee.

This brings the electoral record of the Society up to the present time, except that it should be mentioned that Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P., who became a member of the Society in 1912, was in 1915 both Secretary of the Labour Party Executive and Chairman of the party in the House of Commons, until he relinquished the latter position on joining the Coalition Cabinet as Minister for Education, being thus actually the first member of a Socialist society to attain Cabinet rank in this country during his membership.