Will Crooks.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1921, Page 3

Will Crooks.

—— LONDON, June 9 Short of burial in Westminster, Will Crooks in death had more honour than lias ever fallen to the lot <# a working man who has remained the working man. His lying in state in Bow Church in tlie midst of the people with whom he had lived throughout the whole of his career, which stretched “from workhouse to Westminster,” was a moving tribute to the lasting and universal

affection in which he was held hv Poplar. It is given to few to be able to move the English House of Commons to tears. Yet Will did that more than once, and it was just by the inimitable way be told the members of the sufferings of his people in Poplar. Of a physique never robust, Will never reallv recovered the strain of his recruiting campaign, for Labour man ns lie was, lie was the Government’s best ally in that work. One of his stories relates

how there was once a patriot who returned from a meeting where the praises of the Empire bad been chanted, an' himself began indistinctly to chant them. Then lie made inquiries for supper. “It ain’t ready,” said the “i ; sus.” Tlie patriot complained. “Well,” said the wife, “how could I fry the fish and’ mind the baby fooP You lay bold o’ your bit o’ the Empire while I fry the fish.” To-day Royalty and ragman, conservative and communist', nil unite to dp honour to his memory at his funeral.