Politics vs Philanthropy

The attitude of Joseph and other Rowntree family members towards politics and democratic reform in the light of their focus on philanthropy is an interesting one. Joseph is generally considered to have been a loyal Liberal party man but he rarely took an active interest in politics and, when he did, it was mainly on a local level in York. The First Step was a rare foray into the forum of public politics and may be seen more as a practical step towards securing his social vision than an overtly political move. The traditional Quaker commitment to philanthropy and to peace and temperance perhaps limited Rowntree enthusiasm for more radical democratic reform as did their wholehearted support for and interest in education.