Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2024 March 11

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March 11

Books about the post-WWI peace settlement by contemporary authors that were written during WWI?

Which books about the post-WWI peace settlement (predictions or proposals for it) were written by contemporary authors during WWI (in anticipation for the future, when WWI would have ended and there would need to be a crafting of the post-WWI peace settlement)? 172.56.186.238 (talk) 04:02, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

By far the most famous during-the-war statement about the principles of a future peace (though not a book) was Wilson's Fourteen Points, and the Wikipedia article has a lot about issues considered for a post-war settlement. Anyway, there was a limited ability to plan ahead, since it wasn't too clear that Germany was losing the war until the 1918 German spring offensive failed to land a knockout blow (just before that, Germany had removed Russia from the war in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk). AnonMoos (talk) 06:43, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Friedrich Naumann, Mitteleuropa (1915). — Kpalion^(talk) 11:26, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Thanks; got any other examples? List all of the other ones that you can think of, please. 172.56.186.104 (talk) 00:44, 12 March 2024 (UTC)

Although it was written after the peace was largely concluded, you might be interested in The Economic Consequences of the Peace. Matt's talk 16:50, 14 March 2024 (UTC)

You may find some of H. G. Wells's collections of essays and articles of interest, eg. In the Fourth Year, What is Coming?, War and the Future, The Idea of a League of Nations, etc. You should also look at the various nations published "War Aims", eg British War Aims by David Lloyd George. DuncanHill (talk) 17:17, 14 March 2024 (UTC)

Roman Dmowski, Problems of Central and Eastern Europe (1917). — Kpalion^(talk) 17:21, 14 March 2024 (UTC)

Write in candidates

In the few states that do not require registration of write in candidates, how do election officials know who the person is in the unlikely event they win? — THORNFIELD HALL ^(Talk) 07:37, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Are you using "states" as a synonym for "countries", or are you referring to subdivisions of a particular country? If the latter, which one out of the roughly 200 countries of the World? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 51.198.186.221 (talk) 08:53, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Not many of these roughly 200 countries of the World have (a) subdivisions referred to as "states"; (b) electoral systems regulated not nationally, but separately by these states; that (c) include, specifically, systems that allow write-in candidates.  --Lambiam 11:19, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

True, but for those of us without these facts pertaining to all countries at our fingertips, are we expected to check them for all 200, or to wait for the Querant to tell us which they meant? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 51.198.186.221 (talk) 23:18, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Experience tells me that the majority of people on the refdesk asking questions about unspecified countries mean the US. USAns are far more likely than most people to forget that the world is larger than their home country. This can be somewhat explained by the fact that they don't have to use a foreign language here, but I doubt that's the only reason. PiusImpavidus (talk) 10:25, 12 March 2024 (UTC)

Lambiam, see sovereign state. Many states, in this national sense, have elections that are handled by the state and not by subdivisions. Nyttend (talk) 23:16, 16 March 2024 (UTC)

If I point out that not many people have green hair, will you react by linking to Human hair colour and writing that many people have black hair?  --Lambiam 00:25, 17 March 2024 (UTC)

American states. — THORNFIELD HALL ^(Talk) 09:04, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

It is (IMO) a safe bet that such candidates will only win after a strong write-in campaign, which, to even stand a chance, must identify the candidate. This means that false claimants can easily be ruled out.  --Lambiam 11:28, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Rules will vary state-by-state. Our write-in candidate article links to the relevant rules. However, having had a quick search through the rules for New Hampshire, New Jersey and Oregon, I can't see any explicit rules on identifying the candidate.

If two identically-named individuals claimed to be the winner then it would probably be obvious whose claim was valid, as Lambian said, though I suspect it might end up going to court. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 11:37, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

(edit conflict) See Write-in candidate. I find American electoral law rather opaque. This website [1] suggests accessing your state election office's website and entering "write-in-candidate" in the search bar. There's a state-by-state guide at [2]. Two more detailed explanations from Pennsylvania: [3], [4]. 2A00:23D0:F66:7901:DB0:CE41:B3FB:AC2F (talk) 12:11, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

These more detailed explanations state that the Board of Elections will send a letter asking for confirmation to a write-in winner, but do not explain how the Board of Elections will decide which address to send the letter to in case of an undeclared write-in winner, who may even have namesakes.  --Lambiam 13:46, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

First Letter of Michael I Cerularius to Peter of Antioch

Hi there, where can I find a full text version of the First Letter (item #2) of Cerularius? If using Migne, please give the exact volume and page number AND a link to the exact page where the letter starts. Thank you! 64.231.206.241 (talk) 09:32, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

"Migne" = Patrologia Graeca.  --Lambiam 10:44, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Is this it? Volume 120, page 781–2: letter labeled Γ′.  --Lambiam 11:04, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

British MPs changing party

Lee "beautiful capital city" Anderson has now joined Reform UK. So many of those who voted him into office as a Tory MP may be a bit upset. But what can they do? What if he had defected to the Official Monster Raving Loony Party? Or to some other made-up crackpot party?? 205.239.40.3 (talk) 13:10, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

They can vote for someone else at the next election. Until then, they just have to be upset. Blueboar (talk) 13:24, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Thank you. Democracy in action. What's next, I wonder. What if he decides to join Hamas? 205.239.40.3 (talk) 13:27, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

He (or indeed any other Briton, MP or not, who did so) would almost certainly be charged with membership of a proscribed organisation contrary to section 11(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000. The maximum sentence is 14 years' imprisonment. If he were convicted and sentenced to more than a year's imprisonment, he would automatically be disqualified from sitting as an MP under the Representation of the People Act 1981, and so would lose his seat. If he were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment of a year or less, he would be subject to the recall provisions of the Recall of MPs Act 2015; if a recall petition were successful, he would lose his seat. None of this, of course, is even remotely plausible. Proteus (Talk) 13:57, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Yes, because there's such a backlog in the criminal courts, there'd be a General Election before he even appeared. 205.239.40.3 (talk) 14:00, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

There tends to be a miraculous opening in the listings whenever a high-profile case needs to be heard. Make of that what you will. Proteus (Talk) 15:32, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

They can run in circles, scream and shout. Or they may rejoice, because they themselves too think Reform UK is the better party. Or they may regret he did not instead join the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Or they may just shrug and go about their business.  --Lambiam 13:28, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

I think they only do running through fields of wheat.... 205.239.40.3 (talk) 13:33, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

In the British electoral system you elect an individual to represent the constituency at Westminster. Technically you don't vote for a party, though if a candidate wishes to align himself with a particular party that may help you to decide. Anderson is free to act as he sees fit in (hopefully) the best interests of the country and his constituency. As Blueboar said, the electorate can voice their opinion at the next election. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 15:48, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

In 2020 Anderson voted for Anthony Mangnall's Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) Bill, which stated it was "clearly a breach of the spirit of the contract between ourselves and our constituents" to change political party. The legislation would have meant that any defecting MP would become subject to a recall petition. If it was successful, with at least 10 per cent of eligible voters having signed it, this would trigger a by-election. [5] 86.170.222.3 (talk) 17:25, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Such people can choose to remain in parliament and take their chances at the next election, or resign (it's not technically that in the UK, but the process produces an equivalent result) and cause a by-election. Then they are usually on the horns of a dilemma: on the one hand, face attacks from those who object to a member changing allegiances in mid-stream, contrary to the wishes of those who voted for them, and insist they resign immediately; or, on the other hand, face attacks from those who object to having their precious lives disrupted by having to vote in by-election ... except, they don't have to vote at all in the UK. In Australia, where voting is compulsory, these are the usual scenarios. Nobody wins. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 19:31, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Strewth! But then it is pretty hot down there, isn't it... Martinevans123 (talk) 20:02, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

There's an Official Monster Raving Loony Party in the US. Clarityfiend (talk) 20:49, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Meh… during his years in parliament, Winston Churchill changed party multiple times. It isn’t always a bad thing. Blueboar (talk) 21:08, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Whoah! He'd be well chuffed, I'm sure. "A seditious Middle Temple Lawyer" now "posing as a half-naked fakir".... Lee Anderson on Keir Starmer? Martinevans123 (talk) 22:24, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

See also Crossing the floor and List of elected British politicians who have changed party affiliation. Alansplodge (talk) 13:22, 15 March 2024 (UTC)

Ranleigh, England

The Australian contralto Kate Rooney (later Kirkham) was reported in 1909 as saying she had some successes at Ranleigh:

"I have sung each year at Ranleigh for a long time now, and always thoroughly enjoyed the season there, it is so interesting to see the most important people in London in that way. Royalty is often there, the King of Spain is a member, and always goes to Ranleigh when he is in England, and nearly everyone else is a celebrity in his or her own way."

I can find no place or institution of similar name of the relevant period (1902 to 1908). Can anyone shed some light? I'm also stymied by vital dates for the lady in question. What I have so far is at User:Doug butler/Kate Rooney (singer). Doug butler (talk) 22:39, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

Maybe Ranelagh Gardens (the article states that an alternate spelling is Ranleigh)? Clarityfiend (talk) 23:07, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

I thought that too, but that article seems to say it closed down a hundred years earlier Doug butler (talk) 23:16, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

(ec)"Ranleigh" is, of course, a good representation of the English pronunciation of Ranelagh. And we read in The Queenslander of 17th July 1909 that "For the seventh year in succession Miss Kate Rooney is now fulfilling her engagement during the "London season" as solo vocalist at Ranelagh Club, where her singing is received with the greatest enthusiasm. This engagement will occupy her time till the eve of her departure for Australia". DuncanHill (talk) 23:13, 11 March 2024 (UTC)

You've nailed it! Thank you. Doug butler (talk) 23:20, 11 March 2024 (UTC)