Political Sensation.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1914, Page 5

Political Sensation.

THE PURCHASE OF TITLES. AND THE QUID PRO QUO. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright [United Press Association.] London, February 4. ) The sensational statement made by Sir George Kekewich in October last that titles were sold to political and other favourites, was corroborated by Mr 1). A, Thomas, ex-member for | Merthyr Burghs. Spooning in Lonjdon, he said of ten men who changed ‘their political leanings since 1906, he knew of only one who had not received either office, honor, or a title. One gentleman agreed to pay for Knighthood in three instalments. Unfortunately for the party funds, lie discontinued payments after the livst j one.

I An instance was given of a case | where the whole family had changed ■its politics. He declared that two peerages went to that family. Under ; tile present system, a Member of Parliament had to go the whole hog or he ostracised. I __ A CANDID REVIEW. (Received 8.55 a.m.) i London, February 5. : 51 r Glesoti Bowles, who has sat both with the Liberals and the Conservatives, supplied a candid review of tHo i alleged purchase of'titles. He asserts that the Conservatives fund, which in : 1874 totalled £20,000, rose to £BO,OOO iin the 90’s. The Liberal funds, which were very low in 1876, reached £7OOO in 1887, and stood at half a million in 1901, and were now estimated at four million.

Mr Bowles declared that £50,000 has been paid for a baronetcy, anything from £159,000 to £400,000 for a peerage. He says that on one accasion correspondence passed between the Party Whip and,a would-be peer, and the latter refused to pay the required contribution for the honor sought. The Whip thereupon wrote expressing tlie fear that In’s claim to the peerage would not he considered. The disappointed applicant, however, threatened to publish the correspondence if his name wore not included in the next list of honors. When the list was finally published, his name duly ap-

peared. Mr Bowles further asserts that city brokers tout for baronetcy honors, their terms being £4OOO, with £(!000 lodged in the hank if the honor is granted, besides ten per. cent commission for the man who 'introduced the business.