The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-16
VICTORY FOR CHAMBERLAIN
PRoTECTIoNIST CANDIDATES YIN IN TWO BYE ELECTIONS.
Former Colonial Secretary Delighted The Results Hailed by Protectiontst DaIIIss as Complete Triumph for the New Fiscal PoIicy-LibsraI Preas Con- Taaasa nssraura u Kmaut.


 London, Dec. 15.-Few bye-elections of recent years have evoked a tithe of the interest shown in to-day's contests in the Dulwich division of Camberwell and at Lewisham, to fill vacancies caused by the deaths of Sir John Blundell Maple and John Penn, both of whom had rep resented their respective constituent cies for many years in the conservative interests. pr. F. Rutherford Harris, conservative. who was confidential agent of the late Cecil Rhodes, and c. F. G. Masterman, liberal, are contesting Dulwich. while Major Coates and J. w. Cleland represent the conservatives and liberals respectively in the Lew isham borough. .~..
 The fiscal question has been promi- nent throughout the campaigns, and Joseph Chamberlain intervened with letters in support of the conservative candidates. The question of the impor- tation of Chinese labor into South Afri- Cd has been used by the liberals at Dulwich as an anti-Harris slogan, while the conservatives even dragged in the kings name, attaching the words 'Edwardus Rex to posters in such a way as 10 create the impression that the king was supported of MT. Cham berlain's fiscal proposals. The liberals telegraphed to the king on the subject and there promptly came a reply au- thorizlng the statement that no pernlis- sion had been given to use the kings name in any way. E
 Joseph Chamberlain last night ex- pressed himself as delighted with the ] result Of the elections and the protec- tionist dailies this morning claim the results as complete triumph for MT. Chamberlain's policy. s.-s..
 Both constituencies boiled heavily, Lewisham. which Is largely working class district, shows a reduced majort- ty of about 400 compared with the last contested election in 1892 In Dulwich
 which is mainly the home of the city clerks, a greater reduction is shown
 the majority for the conservatives ir 1895 having reached 5000. These reduc-
 tions are of small significance, however in the fact Of the fact that the Cham
 berlainite candidate secured large ma. jorities where the free trade party un.
 doubtedly hoped to win. This double victory will be of great advantage t
 MT. Chamberlain, who resumes his cam
 paign tonight at Leeds, when he vii
 address big meeting.
 l The liberal dailies confess discour
 agement and urge the free traders t redouble their efforts. since as tht
 Chronicle remarks, ''Mr Chamberlain f , power in the country which 1t woult be most serious not to estimate highly I The Daily News discusses the proba
 bility of the government being encour aged by yesterdays results appealing t.
 the country without delay.
 The Daily Telegraph boldly suggest taht the result must dispel MT. Bal sour's doubts as to whether the coun try is ripe for a preferential policy ant proposes that "Mr. Chamberlain shoult be invited to proceed personally to tn , colonies and SC what practical arrange ments can be made to secure a complet , commercial union within the empire