The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-14
Liberal Party Scores a Sweeps
ing Victory in England.
Defeat of the Tories Has Been
Overwhelming.
CHURCHILL.
Elected by l,s4I, Overcoming
Opposition Majority Of All.
Protective Tariff idea is Given
Its Death Blow.

London, Jan. 1S.-The outcome OF
yesterdays election was the most
astonishing ever known in England.
The defeat of the Tories has been
and the Liberal VIC
tory correspondingiy extraordinary. As
the great Liberal success is bound to
nave a mighty influence on the other
elections to be held in the next few
days. the indications are that the Lib
erals viii sweep the entire country
and probably have a good working
majority in the house of commons.
The most noteworthy feature oS
yesterdays polling was the defeat OF
down with the wreck of his party In
Manchester where all the Tory candi-
dates were beaten. The polls In Mr.
Balfour's division indicated a change
of nearly $500 votes from the last
election.
Second only to Mr.. BaIfour's de-
feat in Importance is the notable VIC
tory of young Winston Churchill.
Running in Manchester in a Conserva-
tive constituency he was elected by
the handsome majority Of 1,241s
overcoming a previous conservative
The scope of the liberal victory is
Wen illustrated in the returns received
last night In the 35 constituencies,
representing 30 seats in parliament,
the Liberals have captured 81 seats
and the Tories six. Formerly the Con-
servatives held 26 of these seats and
the Liberals IA, clear gain of 20
votes in the house for the Liberals.
Free Trade Victory.
Six of the 81 candidates elected yes
terday by the Liberals are labor cam
didates. Their success indicates that
the labor candidates in various eonstf-
tuencies must be given consideration in
the future election and they will be q
force to reckon with in the house.
Tt has been the aim of the labor lead
ers to hold the balance of power IN the
next house and while it is still too early
to predict the ultimate composition Of
that body, the success of the party has
encouraged the leaders to believe they
will achieve their ambition. Yester-
days elections have given a heavy blow
to Mr.. Chamberlain's fiscal policy pro-
gram. The voters have spoken in no
uncertain tone on the subject of pro-
lection shown in the enormous majcri-
ties for free trade candidates.
Lancashire, ACCORDING to the returns.
has gone solidIy for fee trade. and
Yorkshire is following its lead. In the
two elections held in London, likewise
the voters spoke their preference for
free trade. The Liberals carried both
elections.
The Manchester elections give the
strongest evidence of this point how
ever. The Workingmen for a generation
past have invariably voted Tory.
Great Change at Manchester.
Manchester is the home of the free
trade idea, however and in support of
the doctrine the voters turned TO the
Liberal party The Liberals have elect
ed all six of their candidates there. a
notable victory considering that the
Conservatives formerly held five of the
seats and that Er. BaIfour is one of the
defeated Conservative candidates. The
total free trade vote in Manchester was
So 400 while the Protectionist Tories
rrsIu rfe n
greatest changes came in Mr.. Balfeur's
own district, making the rebuke admin
istered to him for his support of Mr..
Chamberlain s policy all the more mark
ed. In the last election the Tory ma
jority was 3.453, while the Liberal ma
jOrity was 1885, Mr. Balfour's opponent.
Mr. Horrible, is a lawyer of scant dis
tinction, so that his popularity did not
count against the former premier
The scenes in Manchester upon the
announcement of the result We're in
describab1e. The city went mad with en-
thusiasm over the Liberal victory. It
had been expected that Winston
Churchill might win as he was cousid-
even in the strong Conservative con-
stitueney he invaded as a candidate
but the idea Of winning all the seats
had hardly occurred to the most optI-
mistic Liberal. The most that was real
" hoped in Mr.. Balfour's division was
that the Conservative leaders majority
might be reduced.
Churchill Given Credit.
Credit for the victory in Manchester is
given in great measure to Mr. Churchill
He entered the campaign with vim and
enthusiasm that soon grew out Of the
bonds If the constituency where he was
a candidate and spread over the whole
section. An important feature Of the
election was the heavy voting The poll
ing was the heaviest ever known. show
ing that the people are aroused. In every
case where the liberals were successful
their candidates were elected by enor-
nous majorities. With the prospect Of
the rest of the country following the
example of the constituencies that vot-
ed yesterday, it seems likely that the
Tory defeat will be complete and that
the agitation in favor Of protection VIII
be Quenched
Former Premier Balfour made a speech
at Manchester after the result was
known admitting his defeat He sug-
gested that while the tenure of power
of the Tory party was almost unexaIr-
pied in the history of the country the
duration of their opponents in office viii
probably be short.