The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-02-07 00:00:00

GREAT CONSERVATIVE

MEETING LAST NIGHT.

Last night Messrs. Allsopp and Walker, the
two Conservative Candidates for East Worces-
tershire, met in the Corn Exchange to address
the electors. Prior to the meeting Alarge num-
ber of the supporters of the candidata a met at
the Talbot Hotel, and walked to the Exchange ;
and the hall was shortly afterwards crowded to
excess. Mr. C. P Noel was in the chair. There
were also on the platform Messrs. M. Graze.
brook (Hagleyi, S. Orazebrook, G. Grazebrook,
B. Brooks, Thatcher iClent), C. W. Collis,
B. Wood, A. Jones, Rev. A. Rogers, W. Ed-
wards, E. Smith, A. Clarke, &c., &c.

Mr. Noel, in opening the proceedings, said he
had great pleasure in taking the chair, and in-
troducing Messrs. Allsopp and Walker, the two
candidates for East Worcestershire, to the meet-
ing. There were three gentlemen in the field,
but he would ask them to support the two gen-
tlemen—Messrs. Allsopp and Walker, and the
other gentleman, who is a very good man, must
be kept iu pickle until they wanted him—
(cheers)—aud be had great pleasure in iatrucluc-
ing Mr. Allsopp.
The latter gentleman said he was sorry the
county had lost so good a man as Mr. Aniphlett,
but hoped the promotion he had received would
compensate them for the loss they had sustained
—(cheers). The speaker then briefly referred
to the cause of the dissolution, by Mr. Glad-
stone, who had a majority of 60 when be dis-
solved Parliament. He next spoke of the ar-
rangements that had been made for the eastern
and western divisions of Worcestershire, so as
to avoid a coLteit. Mr. Lyttelion and his party
had acted :homaurably, end the Conservative
party had aI8,) acted equally honourably. He
respected Mr. Lyttelton, who was a friend of his,
but he bated his politics. Mr. Albright had,
however, since come forward as an independent
candidate, and they were bound then to bring
forward Mr. Walker, and he and Mr. Walker
were bound not only to en to the pull, but to
poll the last inan:.-(grei cheering). He was
prepared to answer any questions that might be
asked, but there was oue question he wished to
refer to, and that was the agricultural question.
He (Ore speaker) occupied a large quantity of
land himself, and wished to protect the tenant-
farmer by long leases. There were three parties
interested in the question : first, the landlord,
next the tenant., and then the public; and the
great question was for the tenant-farmer to re-
coup himself —(cheers). Mr. Lyttslton at Eve-
sham, said that he thought there were brewers
enough in Parliament; but he did not want to
go to Parliament because he was a brewer, hut if
he went he should go to represent the agricul-
tural interest—(cheers and uproar). He con-
cluded by asking them to support himself and
Mr. Walker—(great cheers and counter cheers,
groans and hisses).
Mr. G. Grazebrook : Are you afraid to hear
what the gentleman says to you ?—(cheer s and
groans. A voice: " Three cheers for Albright.")
Mr. Walker next addressed the meeting, and
said he was on the CoLtinent enjoying his boll-
day, when he received a telegram asking him to
offer himself as a candidate for this division of
the county—(A. voice: " Yer, yet," —(laughter)
—" The chairman for the Slab"). He would
ask thern to say whether he was a fit person to
represent, ithem—(elieers and counter cheers).
He 'wan in favour of repealing the game laws,
and he gave his own farmers the privilege of
killing all they could during three months of the
season—(cheers). After some further remarks,
the speaker said he had great pleasure in an-
nouncing that there was a net gain of six Con-
servatives returned from London— (tremendous
cheering). As a rule London was looked up to
s great deal, and the result of the election there
had a great influence upon the country. The
speaker concluded an eloquent addresa by asking
them to retnrn himself and his colleague, Mr.
Meisel). to Perliament—(great cheering).
Mr. G. Grazebrook said he had great pleasure
in proposing Messrs. Allsopp and Walker as two
lit and proper persons to represent us in Perlis-
ment—(great cheering, and cries of " Turn out
Albright").
Mr. Brooks, on rising, said he only aeked for
fair play. He could see that a plot of roughs
huh been hired to disturb the meetin4. That
Wig not the proper way to act if they wished to
obtain an extension of the franchise. He con-
clnded by seconding the proposition, which was
put by the chairman, and carried almost unani-
mously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the
proceedintzs.
_ _ . _ _

e understand that a deputation from the
licensed victuallers waited upon the candidates
previous to their going to the Exchanße, and
put a number of questions to theta, which were
answered to their satisfaction.