William
Clarke,
the son of a prosperous businessman, was born in Norwich
in 1852. He worked for his father after leaving school but in 1872
he entered Cambridge University. Clarke
became a Unitarian and after graduating
became a journalist for the Nonconformist
press.
While working in London he attended meetings of the New
Fellowship where he met Isabella Ford, Henry
Hyde Champion, Hubert Bland, Havelock
Ellis, Edward Pease and Frank
Podmore.
In 1884 several members of the New Fellowship, including Clarke,
joined the Fabian Society. Clarke was not
very active at first but in 1888 he joined the Fabian's executive
committee and contributed the article, the Industrial
Basis of Socialism,
to the book Essays
in Fabian Socialism,
that was edited by George Bernard Shaw in
1889.
Clarke
disagreed with the decision by the Fabian Society
to support the Boer War and as a result
left the organisation. He also left his position as staff reporter
on the Daily
Chronicle
over this issue. He continued to contribute articles to the Spectator
and the Economist until his death
from diabetes on 9th May, 1901.
(1)
Edward
Pease, The History of the Fabian Society (1918)
Fabian
Essays, the work of seven writers (George Bernard Shaw, Annie
Besant, Sydney Olivier, Sydney Webb, William Clarke, Hubert Bland,
Graham Wallas) all of them far above the average in ability, some
of them possessing individuality now recognised as exceptional is
a book and not a collection of essays. Bernard Shaw was the editor,
and those who have worked with him know that he does not take lightly
his editorial duties. He corrects his own writings elaborately and
repeatedly, and he does as much for everything which comes into his
care.
None of us at that time were sufficiently experienced in the business
of authorship to appreciate the astonishing success of the venture.
In a month the whole edition of 1,000 copies was exhausted. With the
exception of Mrs. Besant, whose fame was still equivocal, not one
of the authors had published any book of importance, held any public
office, or was known to the public beyond the circles of London political
agitators.
William Clarke in explaining the Industrial Basis of Socialism
assumed that the industry would be rapidly dominated by trusts - then
a phenomenon - with results, the crushing out of all other forms of
industrial organisation.
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