Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-03-09

Chamberlain's protection policy was
a source of never failing inspiration
for the free trade caricaturists. The
Liberals gave an initial exhibit IN the
National Liberal Club, London, for
the benefit and guidance Of the partys
candidates and agents.
The Laborites. or the working
mans party, got out only few post
ers. They have little money to spend
for campaign purposes unless it is fur
nished them by one of the big parties
which wants them to pull votes from
the other side. This time the Liberals
contributed to the Labor funds.
The Unionist- Conservatives had the
wittiest posters. A big favorite
showed the new Campbell-Bannerman
cabinet recoiling in horror at the en-
trance of Lord Roseberry, who has fire.
quently played the part of political
wrecker. The best Unionist shots
we're directed against the Liberal
leaders (who is always referred to
as "C-B") suspected bribery of the
Irish National party piloted by Mr.
John Redmond For some time past
Mr.. Redmond has been a masterful
man-on-the-fence, leaning to which.
ever side promised Home Rule and
other plums for Ireland. A humorous
poster represents John Bull in his
best clothes, a bouquet in one hand
and a key labeled office" in the
other, waiting at the church door. He
is Mortified at the sight of his bride
Mrs. Liberal Party, with the face OF
C-B, a bouncing widow who has
brought her little son of Irish eXtrac-
ton with her. The cartoon is entitled,
Little Johnny would come" Still an
other poster represents the dilemma
of Mrs. Liberal Party-an uncompli
mentary portrait of C-B as an irritat
ed old lady who finds her unruly Irish
adopted an embarrassing and noisy
handful that she sincerely wishes did
not belong to her A protectionist
poster that would appeal to Ameri-
cans is labeled. Help, in the Kings
name" and shows John Bull bein~
slugged and robbed by the pickpocEet-
ing nations, Germany making off with
British work. tools and gold, while
Mr.. Chamberlain as a London police
man, armed with the club of Retalia-
The Tariff Reform League contrib
uted to the Unionist collection post
or called ''the Parrot" wherein that
feathered folly sits perched above the
door of the Golden Club and with one
warning claw appraised, parodies The
Raven"
While Mr.. Joe" Chamberlain's ad-
vice to Mr. Arthur Balfour, as quoted
by the Liberals, mind, Arthur. not
word about the fiscal question. Stick
to Home Rule" was carefully fol
lowed by the Unionist Conservative
followers of those gentlemen, the op-
POSITIONS posters were largely devoted
to repeating the cry of the Parrot,
Your food will cost you more" and
worked every pictorial variation pos
sible on the free trade VS.. protection,
argument. =
lsnd artist who, having ca
'ioied his hat from John Bull, proceed
cd to take out of it the goose and rab
bits of unpopular legislation, viii h
Mr.. Chamberlain supplied from re
meath the te''a to the evlden'
amusement of the prestidigitator, VINO
frankly owned that he was quite sure
the gentleman who loaned him the hal
had no idea what was inside OF it
Liberal wit reached its zenith with
caricature of Sir John Millais's pant
ing, Bubbles" which showed MT
Chamberlain anxiously blowing the
bubble promises of protection dement's
and watching them burst.
Notwithstanding all the prominence
given the tariff question in the post
ers, however, it cannot be said t.
have been a live issue in the Englisl
General Elections. Mr.. Chamberlain
himself anticinated defeat, becaus
the old party during its long term o