THE LIBERAL PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 315, 30 September 1908, Page 7

THE LIBERAL PARTY.

ELECTION MATTERS. THE IRISH AND THE LABOUR VOTES. NEWCASTLE BY-ELECTION. (BT TF.LUGRirn—I'BESS ASSOCIATION'—COPTDIGIIT.) (Rec. September 29, 11.26 p.m.) London, September 29. "The Timos" states: "The silence of the official Nationalist organs on the Newcastlo election, and the latest remarks of Mr. John Dillon (Nationalist member for East Mayo) »n Mr. Asquith's prohibition of the Eucharistic procession, aro interpreted to mean that the wholo incident has given the Nationalist leadors acute discomfort as the result • of Catholic pressure at the election, and they are anxious to lot tho whole matter drop. Mr. Asquith shares their desire." . The circumstances, and the serious consequences to the Liberal party, of tho United Irish League, yielding to Chureb pressure and nutting the schools before Home Rule at the Newcastle election, were referred to at length on September 23. The comments of "The Times" would seem to indicate that the relations between the Nationalist leaders and the Liberal party are again cordial; though the Liberals are one follower the less. < CENERAL ELECTION. NOT TO BE FOR THREE YEARS. (Rec. September 29, 11.26 p.m.) '" London, September 29. Speaking at Midsomor Norton (Somerset), Sir Edward Strachoy (Treasurer of the Household, and representative in tho House of Commons of the Department of Agriculture) said it would be tbreo years before a genera.l election was forced on tho country. , LABOUR VOTE-SPLITTINC. GOVERNMENT WHIP THREATENS TO •RETALIATE. .- London, Sc.nten.bor 28. Referring to the Lahour-Socialisl intervention in tho recent by-election at New-castle-on-Tyno—whoro Mr. G. Renwick (Unionist) had a majority of 2143 over -Mr. Shortt (Liberal), Mr. Hartloy (Socialist) having taken 2971 votes—Mr. G. E. Hobhouse, Junior Government Whip and Financial Secretary to the Treasury, threatens a policy of rotaliation. LIBERAL CRITICISM OF LABOUR. BY-ELECTION- RESULTS. The last two by-elections, Haggerston( Sliotdditch) and Nowcastle-on-Tyne, have been turned into triangular contests by the advent of a Labour-Socialist candidate; and in each case the Unionist candidate has conquered a Liberal seat. But thero it> this important distinction between them: that while the Unionist candidate at Haggerston, Mr. Guinness, had a majority of 155 over both Liberal and Socialist votes added together, the Unionist, Mr. Renwick, who annexed Newcastle-cn-Tyne did not secure an absolute majority. Had* all the Socialist votes been cast for the Liberal candidate, tho Unionist would have been in a minority of 828. This is, of course, an hypothesis; but it has roused the Liberal Junior 'Whip into threatening retaliation. There was trouble between the Labour taction and the former Senior Liberal Whip, Mr. Geo. Whiteelevated to the Lords) when a large number of Liberals with Labour leanings sup- ' ported the Labour party's Right-to-Work Bill, in opposition to the Government. The. trend of Went jdposf not! tend to heal''the breach'."" ' i" " Mr. Whitoley's successor as Senior. Liberal Whip is Mr. J. A.. Pease, Patronage Secretary to. the Treasury, and member for • the Saffron Walden division ,o* Essex.. Ho is said to be one of the most popular members of the party. In some remarks before the Eighty Club in July, Mr. Pease referred to various sections of the Labour party. Liberals, lie said, were no doubt not altogether satisfied with the byelections, but in view of tho methods adopted by their opponents] and the money spent in ways which he was not going to characterise, he was amazed at the Liberal success. NorthWest Manchester had shown that the Free Trade Unionists did not vote with tho Government quite so cordially ns Libeials had at one time hoped. If in 1911 Liberals were to repeat their victory of 1908,' it behoved them to be up and doing.. Mr..Pease paid a tribute to the great assistance given the Government in the itouso of Commons .by the trade unionist section of Labour members. Ihe help of tho other- section of the Labour party had been spasmodic. ' Their votes on the Old Age Pensions Bill he could oily regard as a bid for cheap popularity. . ; ' 1