ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 695, 21 December 1909, Page 7

ELECTION CAMPAIGN

THE CANDIDATES. A BIG ARMY OF UNIONISTS. THE LIBEBAL AND LABOUE FOECES. (800. December 20, 10.15 p.m.) ■ LortdODi December'2o. Tho Unionists have, with one exception, secured a candidate for every constituency in Britain (i.e.; England and Wales and Scotland, totalling 567 seats). Tho exception is Kirkcaldy Burghs, Scotland: ; ! The Liberals have secured a candidate for every constituency in Britain, /except sixteen. The Labour party is contesting 70 seats. . ; STRENGTH OF PARTIES: KIRKCALDY'S LIBERALISM. . Thoro are. 670 60ats in tho House of Commons, comprising 495 in England and Wales, 72 in Scotland, and 103 in Ireland., The 103 scats in Ireland—evidently not included in!the above : cablegram—are now held by 83 Irish Nationalists, 17 Unionists, and three classified as Jladical. .' ... . ' ■ ; In Britain, according to the above cablegram, the Liberals, who now have nearly 400 seats, will put, forward 551 candidates. Tho Unionists, who now .havo Toughly 100 tents, will put forward 566 candidates; The Labotir party, who now- hate 52 scats, will try t* win 70. ■ '-"■ Kirkcaldy Burghs, the Scottish seat which alone has defied Unionist .attack, is held by Sir Henry Dalziel, who in 1900 polled 4659 votes against his Unionist opponent's 3249. A Unionist , critic, after writing a not very flattering sketch of Mr. Dalziel, adds: "But 'the Jang toon' that gave birth to Marjorie Fleming is proud of:him, and so long as Sir Henry likes to sit for the constituency he may.", He is the managing director of "Reynolds's Newspaper.". : . . . , ~"■■•■

PEER WHO HAS SOLD LAND. PREFERS AMERICAN SECURITIES, (lice. December 20, 10.15 pjn.) London, December 20. The Earl of Portsmouth (formerly Undersecretary for War in the Liberal Ministry, with which, lie now differs over the Budget) in a letter states,that he has sold much land, and has invested the proceeds in American securities, upon which no unearned increment is charged. Hβ considers that no one well advised will now invest in English undertakings. Tho only difference between real and personal estate is that land is already woighted with obligations, financial and otherwise, that money and stock would not carry. Lord Portsmouth sees no reason for tho Liberal Socialistic doctrino of taxing tho unearned increment of laud, except to destroy the landed interest.

LAMENT OF A LIBERAL LORD. HOME RULE DEEMED AN ADMISSION OP INCOMPETENCE. / THE RED FLAG CHANCELLOR A WILD CHARIOTEER. London, December 10. Lord Durham (a Liboral Peor), in a letter, states:—"Sir Edward Grey's profession of faith regarding Homo Rnle 16 a signal proof of the completely conflicting issues awaiting the electors. It is a grievous thing that a Minister enjoying Sir Edward Grey's reputation should weaken his authority abroad and the- confidence placed in him at Home by declaring that the Government is incompetent to rule tho United Kingdom. "The painful truth is," continues Lord Durham,, "that Ministers are only united in one resolve-by hook or by crook to cajole tho electorate to return them to I, power.' But it is becoming evident that the old Liboral br,nner has been trampled in tho mud, and tho red flag has been ..hoisted in .its place. . The Radical are harnessing themselves ;o the Socialist car, wherein Mr. Lloyd-Qcorgo hold the reins and Mr. Churchill cracks tho whip."

i IRISH SELF-GOVERNMENT. A LIBERAL WHIP'S RESERVATION. ( London, December 18. Mr. J. M.' Fuller, a Liberal Whip, at a meeting in .Wilrshire, stated, replying to questions by Mr. Walter Long (fonnorly Unionist Chief Seoretary for Ireland):— "I am not in favour of Homo Rule as propounded by Mr. Redmond,' although much might be said in favour of Mr. Birrell's local felf-govornment scheme."

NO SOLUTION;FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, v ''■■'■■''■■: Vv.'INSUBANCE SCHEME.: "(■■ : '■■ ,; : - : •'■'■. '-:-■■' "■{:', London, December 19. : ':■ Mr.' Winston Churchill, President:; of. the Board of ..Trade, ; speaking, at • Warringtou, said:-"Any man claiming; to have the'-, solution of the unemployment problem,is a rogue." . The Development Act would,;ho added, feel its way towards the machinery for handling the problem, and the Governmefy if returned, would introduce.. measure''of .insurance against : unemployment, -i: : ; * :