working-class origin. The Pankhursts had first met Hardie in 1888, at the
International Labour Conference held in London where the confident, elegant
and assured Emmeline probably ‘dazzled’ the man known for his outspoken
support for trade unionism and socialism – and for his cloth cap.^13 The acquain-
tance was renewed the following year at the Paris International Socialist
Congress. Emmeline and Richard were delighted when, three years later, Hardie
was elected to parliament as a ‘Labour’ candidate for the constituency of West
Ham South; his success was one of many influences that led to the creation of
the Independent Labour Party (ILP) in Bradford in January 1893. When the ILP
fought, and lost, its maiden parliamentary by-election at Attercliffe in July 1894,
with Frank Smith as the candidate, Emmeline and Richard were amongst the
campaigners alongside Keir Hardie, Tom Mann, Enid Stacey, Tom Taylor and
James Murray of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association.^14 ‘I am afraid you are
attempting far too much for your health’, warned Ursula Bright.^15 Although
tired from the campaigning, the idealist Emmeline was caught up in the enthu-
siasm of the developing socialist movement, seeing it as a means for ‘righting
every political and social wrong’.^16 She decided to join the ILP hoping that it
would be a vehicle for improving the many disadvantages suffered by poor
women and, in particular, that it would advocate the parliamentary vote for her
sex.^17 Much to the disappointment of Ursula Bright, president of the Lancashire
and Cheshire Union of the Women’s Liberal Association, Emmeline thought
about resigning from this organisation, of which she was an executive member.
‘Must you leave the L. and C. U.?’, Ursula Bright pleaded in early July 1894.
‘These continual splits among women weaken us & you all seemed to be
working so beautifully together for the meeting [at the Free Trade Hall].’ She
continued, ‘You see how badly the L.P. were beaten at Attercliffe. They have not
the sympathy of their own class. Theremustbe something wrong in their modes
of working. They aretooviolent and contemptuous of other people’s methods.’^18
Ignoring the warnings of her older friend, Emmeline joined the ILP but waited a
while before resigning from the Women’s Liberal Association, probably out of
affection for her. In the meantime, Emmeline’s local ILP branch unanimously
selected her as their candidate to stand for election to the Manchester School
Board.^19 Immediately on hearing the news, Harriot Stanton Blatch could not
restrain herself from offering a stream of practical advice. If she were standing for
the School Board elections, she wrote on 25 July from her home in Basingstoke,
she would cut the time devoted to sewing for girls in state elementary schools to
the smallest amount. ‘Working mothers will rise to the idea if you show how it is
a mere case of class legislation.’ Advocate drawing, geography and science for
both sexes, she urged, as well as the raising of the school leaving age. ‘Canvass,
canvass ... it brings surer success than public meetings.’^20 Whether Emmeline
followed such advice we do not know, but she was unsuccessful in the ensuing
November election although she topped the poll amongst the three ILP candi-
dates, receiving 26,644 votes compared to 20,939 for J. Harker and 20,939 for J.
Stewart.^21 Two months previously, she had finally resigned from the Lancashire
SOCIALIST AND PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE