The anxiously awaited debate on Poplarism took place in the
House of Commons on Tuesday. The self- possession shown by Mr. Wheatley, the Minister of Health, who stood up to his critics and met attack by counter-attack, and was never at a loss for a sally, deserved the compliments of the House which it won. But, after all, Mr. Wheatley, in spite of his debating skill, did not touch the point. He was able, of course, to show that in rescinding the Mond rule, he was only stereotyping an accomplished fact, for the rule had never been applied. His defence, however, could have been convincing only if he had been able to show that he did not in effect, by his treatment of the Poplar deputa- tion, give a great deal of encouragement to the law- breaking Guardians. That, of course, he could not show and did not try to show, for the fact is that he did encourage Poplarism, and created consternation among those who know from bitter experience that profligacy in Poor Law Relief is the worst form of extravagance, because it not only demoralizes and devitalizes the recipients, but is cruelly unfair to the other workers who have to pay.
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