Editing Joseph Cook (section)

==Federal Parliament==
[[File:Joseph Cook and Alfred Deakin.jpg|thumb|right|Cook and [[Alfred Deakin]] together in 1909]]
Despite supporting federation in principle, Cook campaigned for a no vote at the first referendum on federation in 1898.<ref>Gorman (2023), ''Joseph Cook'', p.45.</ref> He believed that a Senate which gave equal representation to each state regardless of population was undemocratic, and he was also a strong believer in the liberal concept of subsidiarity, the idea that political decisions are best made at the most local level.<ref>Gorman (2023), ''Joseph Cook'', p.45.</ref> For the same reason, he would strongly oppose the 1911 and 1913 referendums seeking to enlarge the powers of the federal government.

Cook initially had no plans to enter federal politics, hoping instead to succeed Reid as premier of New South Wales.{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=60}} However, the party wanted a high-profile candidate to stand against [[William Sandford]] in the [[Division of Parramatta]], a large electorate spanning from Parramatta on the outskirts of Sydney across the [[Blue Mountains (New South Wales)|Blue Mountains]] to Lithgow. Reid offered the position of Postmaster-General in a future government as an inducement, but Cook did not agree to stand until a few weeks before [[1901 Australian federal election|the election]].{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=61}} He was elected with a substantial majority, following a bitter campaign in which he accused Sandford of adopting political positions for self-benefit. The Free Traders failed to win government from the Protectionists, with Reid becoming [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]].{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=62}}

In the first term of federal parliament, Cook developed a reputation as a master of parliamentary procedure and tactics, "always ready to speak, as often and as long as required".{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=63}} He spoke in favour of nationalising the iron industry and introducing compulsory conciliation and arbitration, views in line with his previous political affiliation.{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=64}} Opposing tariffs because they increased the price of goods needed for working families, in 1902 he would suggest that "no man ought be in the position of Minister for Trade and Customs unless he had at least ten children".<ref>Gorman (2023), ''Joseph Cook'', p.53.</ref> In June 1901 he moved from Lithgow to a larger house in [[Marrickville, New South Wales|Marrickville]], in Sydney's [[Inner West]].{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=63}} Cook was re-elected with an increased majority at the [[1903 Australian federal election|1903 election]].{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=65}} He stood for the deputy leadership of the opposition when parliament resumed, but was defeated by [[Dugald Thomson]], and was overlooked for ministerial office when Reid formed a government in August 1904.{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=66}} This was arguably because he had suffered a severe bout of illness that had kept him absent from Parliament for two months.<ref>Gorman (2023), ''Joseph Cook'', p.58.</ref>

By 1904, Cook had become stridently [[Anti-socialism|anti-socialist]], in line with Reid's decision to reposition the Free Traders as the party of anti-socialism. Some of his previous political positions were abandoned, possibly to gain the trust of party colleagues who had been suspicious of his links with the labour movement. He instead came to espouse liberalism, regarding its views about [[personal freedom]] as closely aligned with Methodism's understanding of the role of the individual in developing morality. He believed that his own story proved that Australia was a land of great social mobility, and that the nation should continue to support individual opportunity rather than risking a socialist revolution in which the state would be empowered to control individuals.<ref>Gorman (2023), ''Joseph Cook'', p.63.</ref> In 1905 he accepted the position of deputy chairman of the Australian Liberal League, an organisation formed to support the anti-socialists in the lead-up to the next election.{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=67–68}}

During the [[Reid government]], Cook filled a role similar to the later position of [[Leader of the House (Australia)|Leader of the House]], assisting Reid with parliamentary tactics without being burdened by a ministerial portfolio. Reid had hoped to call an early election and entrusted Cook with organising the anti-socialist campaign. However, in June 1905 Protectionist leader [[Alfred Deakin]] withdrew his support from the government and formed a new administration, with Labor support.{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=69}}

Cook was unanimously elected deputy leader of the Anti-Socialists on 28 July 1905, following Thomson's resignation. He "started a political vendetta against Deakin", which "perfectly suited the mood of the party".{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|p=70}} The Anti-Socialists ran a negative campaign with few policy specifics at the [[1906 Australian federal election|1906 election]], and the Protectionist–ALP alliance continued. He was re-elected unopposed, following a redistribution which saw Parramatta lose much of its working-class areas. In 1908 he moved to [[Baulkham Hills, New South Wales|Baulkham Hills]].{{sfnp|Murdoch|1996|pp=71–72}}

When Reid resigned as party leader on 16 November 1908, Cook succeeded him the following day, and agreed to merge the Anti-Socialist Party (the Free Trade Party had been renamed prior to the [[1906 Australian federal election|1906 federal election]]) with [[Alfred Deakin]]'s Protectionists, in an effort to counter Labor's popularity. Cook became deputy leader of the new ''[[Commonwealth Liberal Party]]'', also known as "the Fusion." Cook was [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Defence Minister]] in Deakin's 1909–1910 ministry, then succeeded Deakin as Liberal leader when the government was defeated by Labor in the 1910 elections. Cook had, by this time, become completely philosophically opposed to socialism.