THE MANCHESTER ELECTION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13100, 27 April 1908, Page 7

THE MANCHESTER ELECTION.

DEFEAT OF SIR WINSTON

CHURCHILL,

"CRUSHING BLOW FOR FREE

TRADE."

AN OFFER FROM DUNDEE

United Pxess Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received April 26th, 4.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 25. Mr Winston Churchill was defeated at the Manchester (N.W.) election, the voting being:— W. Joynson-Hicks (Unionist) 5,41? Winston Spencer Churchill (Liberal) ... ... 4,988 Irving (Labour) ~.. ... 276 Majority for Hicks, 429. The electors included 503 new electors. The chief surprise was the smallnessot the Socialist vote. The Unionist freetraders, excepting a small handful, voted solid for Mr Winston Churchill. Remarkablo scenes occurred at Manchester, London, Liverpool, and other cities in connection with Mr Churchill's defeat, and the excitement equalled that of tho last general election. Mr Winston Churchill admitted it was a heavy, bitter, and crushing blow for free trade, and carried disastrous consequences to Lancashire interests. He left Manchester without a spark ot hatred. There was great cheering over the result in tho London music halls and theatres. A notable fact was that Mr Aequith sent Mr Churchill no letter of encouragement during the election. This is interpreted to mean that he did not wish to be identified with some of Mr Churchill's pledges. Eighty-nine per cent, of the electorate voted, this being a record. "The Times" says that tho victory was signal and significant. Even Home Rule was subordinated to tariff reform. Th© "Manchester Guardian" says that the business centre of Manchester has struck a damaging blow to free trade, which must have wide-reaching effcts. Mr Hicks admits that many supported him who disagreed with his fiscal views. Tho Liberals of Dundeo have invited Mr Winston Churchill to stand for that seat. The polling for the seat at the general election of 1906 was as follows: — Winston Churchill 5639, W. JoynsonHicks 4398. - The City of Dundeo is at present without a member, tho Right Hon Edmund Robertson, P. 0., who represented the constituency continuously since 1885 having been created a Baron on his retirement some few days ago. Dundee has for many years been a Liberal stronghold, and at th© last election the sitting member was reelected by a large majority, despite the, fact that over 6000 votes went to a second Liberal candidate. The late member was Civil Lord of the Admiralty from 1892 to 1895, and Parliamentary Secretary ■to the Admiralty from 1905 until his retirement-