RAD108

Local Statistics 1868

Some electoral related statistics for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in 1868.

RAD129

Excerpts from An Appeal for Scotland to The Parliament...

These excerpts suggest that some changes should be made with regard to Scotland and its political provisions and its voting rights. The writer suggests that Scotland should have its own Secretary of State and that the franchise should be lowered to £5 from £10.

RAD131

The Franchise Bill Demonstration at Aberdeen

This pamphlet, compiled from a selection of local papers, gives a description of the full proceedings of the demonstration. Included are lists of the groups represented and names of marshals. There is an account of the procession, which gives the names of the trades that were represented in the procession...

RAD132

The Reform Demonstration in Aberdeen. Description of...

The 1884 Reform Demonstration, organised by the Trades' Unions, was the largest demonstration to have taken place in Aberdeen since 1832. It was held as part of a campaign to equalize the county and burgh franchises. At this time, there were different qualifications, counties and burghs did not have...

RAD133

Reform Demonstration at Montrose

This page illustrates that in 1884, meetings, speeches and demonstrations in support of Reform were held all over the north east of Scotland. In 1884, radicals were trying to obtain the same right to vote in the counties as in the burghs.

RAD135

Address to the Working Classes by the Aberdeen Working...

In these pages, the Aberdeen Working Men's Association requests that readers should unite to demand the right to vote for all. They believed that this would be the most effective method of bring about an improvement in the conditions of the working classes.

RAD136

On Democracy

Professor John Stuart Blackie opposed the 1867 Reform Bill as he believed it to be 'purely democratic' and wished to see changes in the methods of representation of the people. A course of action (eg elections), should not be determined by the vote of the mindless majority. Blackie would have liked the...

RAD139

Remarks on the Bothie System and Feeing Markets

A description of conditions for farm workers in the nineteenth century. The writer also suggests some possibilities for improvement.

RAD141

Essay on the condition of the agricultural population,...

This essay on the condition of farm servants in the mid nineteenth century has been written from a farmer's point of view. The farmer sees the servants as 'mere living agricultural machines' and feels that they would benefit from moral and spiritual education. The essay provides the reader with a good...

RAD142

The Aberdeen Labour Elector

This page from the Aberdeen Labour Elector shows how the Labour Party in Aberdeen analysed the Town Council - which members could, and which could not be relied upon to support them. The second last paragraph on the right hand column refers to the Eight Hour Day question and the Ploughman's Union.

RAD153

Sir Thomas Blaikie

The Blaikie Family were important players in Aberdeen Town Council. Sir Thomas Blaikie was Lord Provost on more than one occasion.

RAD156

The Working-Man's Newspaper

The Working-Man's Newspaper was a short-lived publication of the 1870s which was owned by workers. In the editorial to the first number, the editorial board pointed out that the philosophy of the publication was to support the working class to the best of its ability. They stated that their politics...

RAD157

The Working-Man's Newspaper

The Working-Man's Newspaper first appeared in November 1873. It was run by a co-operative and hoped to become a successful medium of information for the working class. Unfortunately, they ran into printing problems by the second issue, which was printed in Glasgow. This proved too costly a method of...

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.

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.