Russel Ward on Staniforth Smith

Abstract

Russel Ward claimed that Miles ‘Staniforth Smith, a radical Protectionist, who later joined the Labor Party, was perhaps the most rabidly racist member of either House’ 1 of the first parliament. It has gone unchallenged in the literature, a case of sans aucun doubte. 2 This article inquiries into the strength of the claim by first drawing on newspaper reporting and finds that Ward had drawn a longbow. In sum, the article provides an important lesson on taking statements at face value and allowing them to become historical fact.