A CAMBRIDGE “RAG.”

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8780, 6 April 1907, Page 4

A CAMBRIDGE “RAG.”

An almost incredible story appears in the London papers in the London papers about Mr Keir Hardie s stormy visit to Cambridge. A daring scheme was drawn up to kidnap the , Socialist leader, and to place a bogus Keir Hardie on the platform, who ' was to talk nonsense. With this . ( object one of the undergraduates was disguised as Mr Hardie. It was a very realistic disguise, but, unfortunately, it was so realistic that a number of the undergraduates mislook the bogus Hardie for the real one, and, despite his protests, seized him, looked him up m a room, and went in search of further fun The double escaped from Lis prison by means of a rope, but by this time he made himself known to the leaders • of the conspiracy. Meanwhile the ; real Hardie had arrived at the hall. The behaviour of a section of the undergraduates at the meeting w.s about as bad as it could be. The platform was bombarded with lumps ; of sugar and oranges, and vials of chemicals . were thrown about. A lotlle containing sulphuretted hydrogen was hurled through a window,, and caused a stampede. The appeals of the chairman and a police inspector for order had no more effect than Mr Hardie’s remarks, that it was easy | for twenty men to howl down one, . but there was not much honor in the | job, and that Labor looked to the i Universities for instruction in good mmners. It was not until the j Senior Proctor appeared on the plat- ! form, and appealed to “ the honor of the University,” that peace was : restored, and Mr Hardie was able to | apeak. At the first mention of the word Socialism, however, the disorder was renewed, and ultimately the platform party had to retire under afusilide of sugar. Altogether it was a disgraceful business, but Mr Hardie did not seem to mind it much. He told a Loudon interviewer that all the trouble was caused by some thirty undergraduates split up into three parties. “ The general body of the undergraduates t u'e were a large number of professes s present, too—were in no way to blame for the rowdyism, and scores of them came to me afterwards and expressed their regret at what had taken place. I believe the disturbers hoped that their tactics would lead to a town and gown row.” (Several of the undergraduates wrote to the Daily Mail'] nstifying the “ ragging ” of Mr Hardie. “ One of the Hooligans ” says the incident was “an expression of the abhorrence generally felt throughout the University of the man who could greet as friends and brothers the Zulu rebels.”