Russel Ward on Staniforth Smith: The most rabidly racist member of the first Australian Parliament

Abstract

<p>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' of the first parliament. It has gone unchallenged in the literature, a case of <i>sans aucun doubte</i>. 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.</p>