During the last twelve months I have seen the hope expressed in your paper, often very earnestly, for some well-thought-out method of dealing with the Unemployment Problem, which should be not palliative and temporary merely, but should go to the root of the matter, and thus be a permanent remedy.

    I have thought and written on this question for nearly 20 years, and have several times advocated the method explained in the accompanying "tract," but, apparently, without making any impression on either Radicals, the Labour Party, or Socialists. I cannot doubt that you, at least, do earnestly wish for such a definite, well-thought-out scheme, and will give it the careful consideration it deserves.

    I therefore enclose you two copies of my tract in the hope that you will place them in the hands of two of your most able writers or contributors--one, say, a Radical, the other a Socialist--but both men of earnestness and logical capacity, who will examine the scheme fairly and carefully, and either express their view of its merits as compared with any other scheme yet proposed, or even hinted at.

    Any real and important objections that may be made, after a full and fair examination, I shall be quite ready to reply to.

    I beg you, however, not to allow the publication in your paper of any mere quibbles, or mere jokes, as to what may be thought may possibly happen. The subject is far too serious to be thus treated. Nor will I reply to the general assertion that such schemes have been tried and have failed, without details given showing such attempts to be identical with mine. Let the criticism be founded on real, not supposed, facts.

Alfred Russel Wallace.