Red Clydeside: A history of the labour movement in Glasgow 1910-1932

Cartoons

Cartoon depicting capitalists and landlords versus workers, 1909

published by Catholic Socialist Society

One of a series of six cartoons published in the booklet 'The Catholic Workingman' by John Wheatley and published by the Catholic Socialist Society. This society was formed in 1906 by John Wheatley with the aim of presenting the case for socialism within the large Irish-catholic community in Scotland. It sought to encourage catholics to examine the principles of socialism and to decide for themselves, without interference from the church, the merits or otherwise of socialism as a political creed.

The catholic hierarchy in Scotland was vehemently opposed to socialism, which it had denounced it from the pulpit as a form of atheism, and used its influence to prevent many catholics from joining or supporting socialist parties.

The Catholic Socialist Society played an important role in influencing many Irish-catholics to the socialist cause and in swaying this important electoral and large constituency away from liberalism to vote for the Independetn Labour Party.

Source: Gallacher Memorial Library, Glasgow Caledonian University Special Collections and Archives