New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-18
CHAMBERLAIN VICTOR
BIRMINGHAM VOTE SOLID.
Talk of Ne1o Unionist Leader
Liberal Gains Continue.

London. Jan. 1.-THE most prominent feature
of to-day's election returns is the wholly
expected stand made by Birmingham. Not only
were all Of Joseph Chamberain's seven candi-
dates returned, but Mr.. Chamberlain himself
obtained a majority Of 5000. while the majority
of the others averaged 5000.
Even allowing that the Liberal candidates
were not very strong as the seats were practi-
cally uncontested at the last general election.
and that the Liberal organization not
good in other parts of the country, the results
at Birmingham are of the highest Importance
They seem to prove the groundlessness Of the
Liberal contention that this general election has
killed the fiscal agitation for a generation TO
Besides showing the unabated confidence of Bir-
mingham in Mr. Chamberlain. the results there
go also to confirm what already has been noticed
in isolated contests-that the candidates who
openly professed protection leanings had good
support, and in some cases were victorious.
The outcome at Birmingham affords striking
contrast. While Mr.. Balfour stands discredited
| as leader, with his supporters all swallowed
| up and himself angrily criticised from his
| side, Mr.. Chamberlain issues from the contest
with flying colors. His courage to large extent
| justifles him to persevere in his agitation and
| he is IN position to argue that it was Mr..
|
| A considerable section of the Unionists on the
| protectionist side had predicted some such re-
| suit, and it is now hinted that the party must
| in future look toward Birmingham for hope and
guidance.
| 1t is too late for the results at Birmingham to
have any great effect on the campaign as a
| whole. Many of to-day's polls will not be de-
clared until tomorrow. but those published to-
night show that the Liberal tide still runs
| strong. London has gone distinctly Liberal 10
fewer than twelve seats being Liberal gains
| While the total gains of the Liberals for to-day
number twenty-five. the Unionists have made
only one solitary gain, Viscount Castlereagh
having wrested the seat from the Liberals at
Maidstone. Portsmouth, which had previously
| been represented by two UnionIsts, to-day
elected two Liberals. and this despite the fact
| that a fifth candidate, a Laborite threatened
to split the Liberal vote. The labor candidate
however. came third with very large VOTE the
Unionists being at the bottom OF the list. The
members already elected are distributed as fol-
| lows:
Liberals 167 Laborites ........... 81
Unionists ...... 73 Nationasts ........ so
Of the twenty-three London seats poiled to-
day sixteen were won by the Liberals. twelve or
| them being net gains.
The present indications are that former
| Premier Balfour will not seek another seat in
Parliament until after the elections. when one OF
the newly elected members win probably retire
In his favor so as to allow Mr.. Balfour to try TO
| enter the House by means of a ye-election-
| To-day's unopposed returns included the Hon
Edward Blake, Irish Nationalist South Division
of Longford and James Gordon Swift MacNeil
Irish Nationalist South Donegal
The Unionist papers are referring to the
recommendation of Chief Engineer Stevens Of
the Panama Canal favoring the employment Of
| Chinese on the canal as Endorsement Of the
| ITnionfst action in permitting the shipping OF
Chinese coolies to the TransvaaL
| Among the striking personalities in to-day
elections were Sydney c. Buxton. Postmaster
| General and DR. Thomas James Mcnamara, the
| we'll known writer educational subjects, VINO
| were elected by enormous majorites for the
| Popular Division of the Tower-Hamlets and
| the North Division of Camberwell. respectively;
| and John Henniker-Heaton Canterbury, Earl
| Percy (south Division of Kensington), Sir Will
| lam Evans Gordon (Stepney Division OF the
| Tower Hamlets). Evelyn Cecil (Aston Manor),
Jesse Ceilings CBordesIey Division of Birming-
harl. yiscount Morpeth (south Division Of Bir-
| mingham). Sir W. s. Robson South Shields
! and the Hon Ivor Churchill Guest plymouth
| who retained their seats.
| Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who ran IN the
! IJnionist interest for Hawick. Roxburgshirs,
| Scotland. has been defeated.