Mather issued an election address soon after his adoption as candidate in which he highlighted what he saw as the most important political questions of the day; the need for improved methods of national education, Irish Home Rule and he cautiously raised the issue of the government’s role in the outbreak and conduct of the war in South Africa. Kingsbury also focussed his attention on the war in support of the government’s position, saying that the main issue before the electors of Rossendale was one of patriotism against party. It was noted that the local sentiment was generally pro-war and when Kingsbury read out a telegram of support from another MP expressing the hope that Rossendale would, like other places, ‘help our soldiers at the front’ it was received with great enthusiasm. Liberals too were divided on the question of the war, although it was doubted voters would desert the party on the issue and Mather was probably more anti-war than he chose to admit in public.