[Thomas Mann, trade unionist and communist.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both ‘Tom Mann’), as Secretary of London Reform Union, one endorsing a ‘scheme’ which will reduce the death rate; the other about ‘Douglas’ and a meeting of the Stepney Branch

See the entry for Thomas Mann in the Oxford DNB. From the papers of Arthur George Liddon Rogers (1864-1944), son and editor of the economist Thorold Rogers [James Edwin Thorold Rogers] (1823-1890), for information regarding whom see his entry in the Oxford DNB. The second letter in good condition, lightly aged and folded once; the first in fair condition, folded three times with a number of short closed tears along creases. Mann is writing in his capacity as Secretary of the London Reform Union (for whose ‘Object’ see the end of this entry). ONE: 12 May 1893. 2pp, 4to. He has ‘just returned from Hall’ to find Rogers’ letter ‘giving resolutions carried at last Fridays meeting of Stepney Branch of L. R. U. at wh[ich] I am very much surprised, as I had definatly [sic] fixed the evening for Stepney & the only reason for my not attending was the receipt of the enclosed wired from Douglas’. He explains that he has not received ‘the letter referred to in the wire’. He is ‘very sorry that any disappointment sh[oul]d have been caused the Branch’, and will be ‘glad to attend any meeting that they may think well to arrange’. He surmises that Douglas ‘is annoyed that he has been discharged from the Central Office, this was decided upon by the Finance Committee when a reorganisation of the Office was carried out by them’. TWO: 30 May 1893. 2pp, 4to. He apologises for the delay in sending on the promised item, which he had mislaid and only found that morning. ‘I am of opinion that the scheme is well worthy of adoption & believe that the deathrate would be materially reduced if applied all over London as already applied in part of Chelsea,’ He has been to Chelsea ‘to see the thing as applied & there is nothing unsightly in the whole thing’. He hopes to see him on the coming Friday. Both letters have the ornate illustrated letterhead of the London Reform Union, whose ambitious ‘OBJECT’ is stated in block capitals: ‘To reform the existing administration of the river, docks and wharves, the markets, water supply, means of lighting, locomotion, police, the city funds, hospitals and other charities, to disseminate knowledge concerning the unfavourable conditiosn under which vast numbers of the working population live owing to defective and insanitary dwellings and working accommodation, irregular and ill-paid labour, the competition of alien immigrants, the harshness of the poor law, the unjust incidence of taxation, the adulteration of food, and other grave disadvantages, and to obtain for London full powers of municipal government.’