THE BRITISH POLL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 992, 6 December 1910, Page 5

THE BRITISH POLL.

PRESS COMMENT. LIBERAL PARTY CLAIMS TIDE WITH THEM. UNIONISTS ALSO HOPEFUL. By Toleeraph- -Press Aseociation-Copyright. (Rec. December 5, 11.15 p.m.) London, December 5. Tho "Daily Chronicle" • (Liberal) declares that a crushing blow has been dealt to tho hopes of tho "pro-Peer foodtaking party." London has given a magnificent lead to . tho country. The discouragement of the Tariffites at Mr. Balfour's referendum trick and announcement that the tariff was not an issue of the election was shown in the fall of tho Tory vote at Birmingham, where tho aggregate of 20,082 Unionist votes recorded in January for three Birmingham seats had fallen to 15,981. At the same time tho Liberal vote had increased until tho Liberals had nearly captured West Broinwich.

The decrease in the Tory vote in London was 15,596, as compared with tho Liberal decrease of 5873 votes. Tho total Liberal poll throughout tho country was' 3-18,710, as against 300,489 for the Peers.

The Tory majority in Gloucestershire was four, and in West Brorawich five. The cause, of Free-trade in a ■ freo House of Commons was already safe, ANOTHER LIBERAL VIEW. RED RIDING HOOD AND THE WOLF. ■ (Rec. December 5, 11.15 p.m.) L6ndon, December 5. . The "Daily News" (Liberal) states that any hopo of tho Peel's party that they will bo victorious lias been shattered. The Duke of Norfolk," it observes, remarked on Saturday that it was not a question of the Peers versus the people, but of the peers and the people against the House of Commons. The "Daily' News" says this is suggesting that it is lio question of the Wolf versus Red Riding Hood, but of the Wolf and Red Ridini; Hood against the watch-dog. The Duke's remark was an admission that the wolf was trying to kill the watch-dog. "Red Riding Hood," it says, "realises that we can safely.leave it to her which she will side with/' UNIONISTS IN GOOD HEART. MINISTRY CONDEMNED TO IMPOTENCE. (Rec. December 5, 11.15 p.m.) ' London, December 5. The Unionist newspapers consider tho polling so • far as encouraging. , for tho party. The "Standard" argues that the Ministry has already been condemned to impotence. ! BEWILDERING SOMERSAULTS, MR, ASQUITH ON THE OPPOSITION. London, December 4. The Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith), addressing a meeting of 5000 persons at Newcastle, said it was strange how the .Unionists, had suddenly shifted their ground and changed the cut of their, 'uniform. Tho Liberals stood where they did in. January—for Frcc-trado and.." a free House of Commons. It was difficult to keep pace with tho bewildering.series of their opponents , , twists, gyrations, and somersaults.

' Tho Tories, continued the Premier, had discovered that it was unsafe to fight tho election on tho questions of Tariff Reform and reform of tho Lords, hence they were disguising one and Side-tracking ( the other. The referendum meant that the Liberals,'when they had a majority, would ,bo. prevented from carrying any great schemo of legislation, without fresa reference to tho people. That was a parody and caricature of denidcracy. Tho Tnriffitos, said the speaker, had already waited seven years, like Jacob, aiid were likely to wait another seven: A voice: They will never get Raehael! Mr. Asquith rejoined that Eachel would bo no longer in the first flush of her youth when they did get her. Meanwhile, the notion that tho people required special protection against their chosen representatives was ■■ the ■ most fantastic ever conceived, ft LEAD FROM, LONDON, PHIJtE MINISTER'S 'APPEAL. London, December d. Mr. Asquith, iu a message to the London electors, has 'asked them to give all England a lead.

The Premier adds that tho vital principle of representative government is at stake, and calls upon them to establish it to-day beyond all possibility of futilre assault. •

PANDEMONIUM AT LINCOLN; MR. CHURCHILL' REFUSED X ' HEARING. : London, December i. The appearance of . Mr. Winston Churchill (Homo -Secretary) at Lincoln was tho signal for pandemonium among the crowd. Mr. Churchill was twice refused a hearing. There were several ugly rushes and free fights before he departed. .The Unionist candidate, Sir Robert Filmcr, was struck iu the face. Ho returned the blow. The representation of Hie city remains unchanged. A MAKE-SHIFT PROGRAMME. LLOYD-GEORGE ON THe'IoRDS. ■ (Rec. December 5, 10.30 p.m.) London, December 5. Mr. Lloyd-Goorge, in a letter to the Liberal candidates, describes the Unionist programme as a makeshift, and adds that the Lords, in. proposing it, advertise' their surrender. AN ORATOR SILENT. MR, LLOYD-GEORGE VOICELESS. London, December 4. Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor -of the Exchequer, is suffering from u cold, and has lost .his voice, LORD ROSEBERY AT EDINBURGH. LIBERAL PARTY DENOUNCED. London, December 1. Lord Rosebcry addressed an enthusiastic audience numbering four thousand at Edinburgh. His lordship said tho parties seemed changed. Tho platforms'of the Unionists wero wiso and moderate, while tho Liberals were resorting to Single Chamber Government The Conservatives- had

como round to his views on the hereditary question. A'man. who never changed his opinions was an ass.

T,he Lords' question, added tho speaker, might have been settled but for the Government maintaining its hereditary irresponsible character to suit themi , « }7 hat ]Vt or titHo of reform Had the Houso of Lords received from tho Liberals? It was niero cant to denounce what the Government alone was keeping m existence.

Whatever the result of this election, said Lord EoseTjery, it could not settle the constitutional questions that had been raised.

LIBERALS , GREAT SCHEME. WHAT THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES. (Rec. December 5, 10.30 p.m.) London, December 5. Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, speaking ftt Aluwich, Northumberland, said Homo Rule was. part of a great scheme, which included the reform of tho Houso of Commons, the redistribution of seats, one man one vote, and tho granting of local power to all parts of tho united Kingdom. COMMONS AND FINANCE, SUPREMACY PROMISED. London, December 4, Air. Austen Chamberlain, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last Half our Ministry, speaking at Newcastle said the Unionists proposed that in matters of pure finance Hie Commons should have,, besides the last, the only word.

PRINCIPLES AND DETAILS. ■ REFERENDUM CONFUSION. . London, December 4. Lord Loreburu (Lord Chancellor), in a letter, says the referendum implies that a direct question shall bo put to the electorate over the heads of tho representatives of the people. It was possible to secure assent to tho general principle underlying any such question, while the electors might differ altogether as to details. OVATION TO MR. REDMOND. . STARS AND STRIPES. (Rec. December 5, 11.15 p.m.) ' London, December 5. William Redmond, Leader of the Nationalist party, was given an ovation by his Cork supporters. He spoke from a brako with the American Stars and Stripes on his right.

DISMEMBERING THE EMPIRE. .. LORD TENNYSON'S APPEAR .(Rec. December 5, 10.30 p.m.) [ London, December 5. Lord Tennyson, who was prevented by illness from actively participating in the elections,' sent a message earnestly begging the Nonconformists in the Isle of /Wight not to desert their fellow Nonconformists in Ireland, but to vote against ■ Home Rule, which would bo a means of breaking up the Constitution and dismembering the Empire. LIBERALS AND SOCIALISM, LABOUR MAN SUPPORTED. London, December 4. Tho Liberal and Radical Association of Bow has urged its members to support Mr. Lansbury, tho Labour candidate. ... . . ,' , : FOREIGN'COMMENT. GERMAN VIEW OF REFERENDUM. (Rec, December 5,' 9.20 p.m.) Berlin, December 5. Tho "Frankfurter Zcitung" regards' Hie referendum ns a stago in constitutional evolution where tho representative system lias', reached its highest development. ' THE IRISH EMBRACE. (Rec. December 5, 9.20 p.m.) Vienna, December 4, Tho "Neue Freie Prcsso" is very doubtful whether tho Liberals are strong enough to escape the Irish embrace awl win that independent majority they scarcely possessed before.