WOOING LANCASHIRE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17938, 5 December 1923, Page 9

WOOING LANCASHIRE.

CONSERVATIVE PEERS' TOUR.

(Keeeived December 4th, 0.50 p.m.)

LONDON, December 4.

The Lloyd George-Churchill campaigns are now rivalled by a joint display by Lords Derby and Birkenhead in Lancashire, where they have addressed several meetings, including one of 3000 people in the Freetrade Hall at Manchester.

Speaking at Eccles, Lord Derby ex plained that there was room for differ ent shades of opinion in the Conservative Party. He and Lord Birkenhead were like two racing men who were ready to give advice upon the winners. Lord Birkenhead regarded his horse as a certainty, whereas he (Lord Derby) thought that the horse was probably a winner, but preferred a trial before the horse went the full distance.

Lord Birkenhead, following, refused to admit that he was asking his friends to bet heavily on the race without having tested his horse. He added his hope that Lord Derby's next tip would not be given 011 that basis. (Loud laughter.) VISIT TO EAST ANGLIA. LLOYD GEOKGE OFF AGAIN. (Reccivod December 4th, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, December 4. Mr Lloyd George to-day darted to East Anglia, continuing his campaign which is wittily described a3 a tour de force. Though asleep when the tram stopped at Bishop Stortford, he was awakened to make a two-minute speech to the crowd. As the train came in, a shout of laughter aroso from tho crowded platform. Some enemy had plastered the entire train with bills. "Vote for Protection!"

At Audlcyend he interrupted liis lunch to speak a few words. At Cambridge the crowd was so groat that lie went to the station yard and addressed his supporters. Thero were similar scenes at Ely, where 3000 persons climbed on railway trucks and 011 a bridge across the line to hear his lightning speech 011 behalf of Henry Mond, son of Sir Alfred Mond.

The journey ended at Norwich, where Mr Lloyd George addressed several meetings simultaneously by means of amplifiers. A characteristic point was his description of tariff reform as "a quack medicine which may not harm a Frenchman, a German or a Kussian, but which will kill an Englishman." HOOLIGANISM CONTINUES. IRISH GUNMEN THREATEN. (Received December 4th, 9.60 p.m.) LONDON, December 4. Organised rowdyism continues an unfortutfate feature of the election. When Mr Winston Churchill reached Walthamstow to-night, 3000 ticketholders were within the hall, but thousands outside received Mr Churchill s car with wild cat cries and hooting, some actually spitting at the car. Men broke the police cordon and smashed -i window. Mounted police escorted Mr Churchill to the hall.

Earlier in the day, Mr Churchill, at Finsbury, had retorted to interruptions from the gallery, saying, "No one would get to the end l of his journey if he stopped to shy a stone at every harking dog. These people are a flying squad who have learned their party cries by heart.''

Jill- Hogbin, who is opposing Mr Saklatvala at Battersea, has his house guarded by the police night and day. Ho has been informed that a gang of 20 Irish gunmen is determined to "get him." Mr Hogbin's meetings have been cancelled.

Mr Asquith, at Glasgow, said that the deplorable manifestations of organised rowdyism were making free debate impossible. A general election meant free, fail*, and open discussion, supplemented by relevant interrogation. Those violently interfering'with meetings were traitors to democracy.

LORD HALDANE AND LABOUR. (Received December 4th, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, December -i. Lord Haldane, at Leyton, said that he was on the side of Labour because he wanted more inspiration and driving power put into Parliament. If Labour got a powerful minority, that might be more potent than a majority. British manufacturers of commercial motor vehicles, including Dtiimlers, Thorneycrofts, and all the other leading firms, have sent an open letter to Mr Baldwin, expressing confidence in Protection against unfair foreign competition. It will mean more work for Biitish engineers, and to help the engineers will be to help to remedy tlio terrible scourge of unemployment.