MEN OF THE TIME

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 12

MEN OF THE TIME

FIGURES IN ENGLISH POLITICS

Chief Liberal Whip since 1912. Comes of a well-known Yorkshire manufacturing family. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, and practised as a barrister. In the South African war he served as Captain of the AVestminster Dragoons. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Secretary for Ireland (Mr. A. Birrell), also chairman of the Yorkshire Liberal Federation.

One of the most important of the recent English by-elections was that at Reading, where three candidates fought for the seat vacated by Sir Rufus Isaacs on his appointment as Lord Chief Justice. Captain Leslie Orme Wilson, D.5.0., the Unionist candidate, was the victor. Captain Wilson was adjutant of the Naval Brigade in the South African war, where he won a wound, a medal, andtlie Distinguished Service Order. He is a captain in the Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery (Territorial), and locally is most popular. He married a, Sydney lady.

For nearly four years Mr. James Falconer, M.A., M.P. for Forfarshire since 1909, had been a member of the House of Commons, occupying a place on tho Liberal back benches. Then came his appointment to the Marconi Committee, and tho enquiry had not proceeded far before _ his name was on every tongue. His cross-examination of one of the principal critics of the contract between the Marconi Company and the Post Ofrice proved a sensation of the enquiry.

There are prominent members of the Labour Party who have never been members of the House o\ Commons. One of these is Mr W. C. Anderson, ex-presi-dent of the Independent Labour Party. He has been one of tho leaders for some years, and though his efforts to persuade a constituency to send him to Westminster were not successful, ho has had much to do with shaping the Parliamentary policy of the party, which he joined in, Glasgow in 1900. He is a member of the Shop Assistants' Union.

The great Trade Union Congress, held in Manchester, was presided over <by Mr. W. J. Davis, one of the most successful trade union organisers in the United Kingdom. He is secretary of the Society of Brassworkers and Metal Mechanics. In twenty years lie has doubled its membership — an excellent thing for the society and not less so for himself, for his salary is understood to bo tixed on a membership basis. More members more pay.