Talk:Montague Miller
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Assessment comments
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Miller's anarchism is not given due weight here, he was a member of the Melbourne Anarchist Club. It is true that his politics moved around, and he was active with the Australian Labour party after the anarchist movement faded away. His sympathy for the Bolsheviks was shared by many anarchists up till about 1921.....and Miller died in 1920. Jeremytrewindixon 09:17, 8 September 2007 (UTC)
Link provided to Melbourne Anarchist Club, which refers to Miller's involvement. To the best of my knowledge no-one has ever doubted Miller's involvement at Eureka (although I understand that he tended to exaggerate his deeds in later years, as one does). So I don't see why we should say he only "claimed" to be involved. The National Dictionary of Biography uses that form of words but gives no reason. And Eureka's body count probably raises it above the "protest" level, although to be sure the meaning and importance of Eurekea continues to be disputed; (which arguably only serves to underscrore its ideological significance). I've changed the description to the more usual one of "uprising". Also it is a bit odd to describe Miller's "early" work as being with the ALP, as the ALP was founded in 1891 and Miller was born in 1839. So he was in his fifties when it was founded. In fact he became a pioneer of the ALP after the fading of the radical moment which brought anarchism to brief prominence. He wasn't one to waste his life on sterile purity. But the arrival of the IWW with its revolutionary pragmatism brought his wholehearted support. Jeremytrewindixon 06:52, 10 September 2007 (UTC)
Also what is the warrant for saying that there was a change in his outlook in his "later" years? I mean, he died in 1920. There was nothing unusual in 1920 about either anarchists or wobs being sympathetic to the Bolsheviks, the situatiion there had yet to play out. And Miller was certainly an anti-militarist but a "pacifist"? Some definition of terms may be rquired here. Jeremytrewindixon 06:58, 10 September 2007 (UTC)
I've added the famous poster to the article. There really are no intellectual property issues, I hope the wikipedia editors can see that. I tried to add the following important link: http://www.takver.com/history/monty_miller.htm , Annie Westbrook's obituary on Monty Miller, archived like so much else by Takver. I stuffed it up and have to go, but will post it here. Actaully just have posted it here, erm, time to go Jeremytrewindixon 06:39, 12 September 2007 (UTC)
Some further detail from Westbrook who seems to be better informed on detail than the ANU biographer. I've preferred her account that his wife predeceased him than the ANU account that hse survived him. Westbrook wold know and had no reason to mislead! Referencing a bit messy but will return. Need to refer to his writings. Jeremytrewindixon 08:23, 16 September 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Age
Miller can't have been at the same time (a) born in 1839, (b) gone to Balllarat to follow the goldrush as his friend Westbrook says (c) already been in Ballarat at the age of ten. Because gold was discovered at Ballarat in 1851. Since Miller seems on other grounds to have been vague about his birth year (see the poster on the article) I have judged that he (or Westbrook) most likely got the age he was at apprenticeship wrong. But there are other possibilities. so I've just deleted the refrrence to his age at apprenticeship. Jeremytrewindixon 04:51, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
