The Portland daily press., 1895-02-02

was greeted with renewed roars of laughter
and applause
1t vas good speech; full of wit and
quaint sayings, and went home to the
audience of hard working bread-winners.
at heart as democratic as any similar au-
dience with us.
There is no need for Labouchere TO make
speeches in Snobolis. He has a quite lain
deed for life on the Northampton seat. His
last campaign may be summarized in as few
words as the famous summon by DR.. bod,
who, by the way. was a Northampton man.
1t was hot night. SO Mr.. Labouohere told
me, and, as is usual, appeared before his
constituency for the customary vote of con-
fdence.
My friends,'' said the adroil editor, sit
is very hot up here. and if mistake not 1t
is likewise hot and crowded down there.
We meet for you to pass Il vote of confidence
in your smember of Parliament. There is
reason why should test your capacity for
being bored by talking to you this hot
night, nor is there any particular reason
why should be compelled to suffer here
when the night is pleasant and the air re-
freshIng outside. win put the questions:
''Have you confidence in me?"
Then came burst of applause.
GAS many as have, arise, hold up their
right hand, and go out and enjoy your
selveS.n
In few minutes the hall was cleared and
Labuuchere's campaign had begun and end
ed. Probably the shortest on record.
Speaking OF northampton reminds me
that when visiting that town some years
ago found it had newspaper, and started
in.
While the English do not attack candi-
dates so remorselessly in the newspaper
press as we do, they do them up in fine
shape by word of mouth. The candidate
who is contrasting the Sheerness division,
SO he told Mr.. Labouchere and myself, has
been accused of nearly all the popular
crimes, such as that OF failing to pay his
laundress. of travelling in q frst-class car
riage with third-class ticket, of preaching
on Sundays in dissenting chapel Ia par
ticularly heinous crime among old-tlme
British Tories), and other revolving things
too numerous to mention. A new and I'M
known character with us is the Parliament
airy agent. Mr.. Hurst has given you one
from life SO need not describe him fur
Their than to say that this occupation is a
regularly paid profession. To contest
division or borough here you must have
your agent at so much per annum. The
sc ope of the Parliamentary agents work
is similar to that of our district managers.
A regular sa laried man, he looks after all the
detail work Of the division. He sees every
one, smooths down the minor "k1ckers.'
engages the hall, pays the bills, looking
after the comforts of visiting statesmen
and orat ors, enthuses the country orators,
sees t hat proper reports are made OF Inc
meeting. distributes the dodgers and post
ers, and, in short, is the candidates con-
fidential factotum. The Parliamentary
agent always carries, by thu aid Of strap
over the shoulder. small leather bag. HIS
demeanor is of the modified. respectful
order. That is, he finds an excuse for not
dining at the same table as the most dis
tinguisned guests. and, as rule, occupies
an inconspicuous place upon the platform.
With the local workers and friends OF the
candidates he is more familiar and not in
frequently dilates with them on the 1ridis-
cent virtues of the man he has in training
over pot OF beer and long pipeein the vii
lage tavern.
The Parliamentary agent, as we see him
here, is a many-sidcd and most useful In
stitution. Long may he flourish!
1t costs to run for Parliament And W hen
you get there, no welcome salary to cheer
and reimburse. The candidate has to pay
for everything. including registration and
ballots and many expenses which with us
are regarded rightly as public charges.
After this experience with Mr.. Labouohere
accompanied a member of the govern
rnent on similar journey and noted the
fact that Labouchere is indeed like the
wind, chartered libertine. impossible to
hold and always years ahead of his col
leagues. Most of the government speakers
are faint echoes of Earl Rosebery's Brad
ford speech.