New-York tribune., 1908-05-07
TARIFF REFORM ASCENDANT.

The result of the by-eiection III NoIFef-
hampton is really more signhcant OF current
tendencies in British politics than was ihal III
Manchester. Ii is true that the government can
didate was beaten at Manchester. While he mas
been elected at Wolyerbampton but Man
chester merely reverted to its normai ahSh-
ment and the wonder was not that Mr.
Churchill was beaten at the by-election put
that he had been successful at the preceding
general election Wolverhampton, on the con
trarv has always been one of the strongest
and safest Liberal seats in the kingdom; 1t has
never elected Tnionst, and its late Liberal
member was returned seven times in success
sion three Of those times without opposition.
In 1885, when the Liberal party was rent
asunder by Mr. Gladstone's home rule bill. 1t
gave a Liberal majority of 1928, and at the
last general election, in 1906, the Liberal ma
jority was 1855 in total of $500. or more
than the whole Unonist vote Yet now an ex-
ceptionally strong Liberal candidate is success
full by the meagre ma jority of eight votes.
Such change of votes, q decrease of the
Liberal vote from 5.610 10 4,514 and an in
crease Of the Unionist vote from 2.145 TO 4,o06,
would in any case be significant, marking the
nominal government victory really serious
defeat But the significance is heightened
when it is recalled that more than in any
other recent byelection the issue WAS clearly
against Cobdenism. The Tnionist candidate
also the candidate in 1906 and ne began
then what he called a campaign of education.
He was defeated that time. but in the two
years since he has been persstently eKpound-
ing and commencing Mr.. Cha amberlaiu's prin-
ciples of tariff reform TO the Wolyerhampton
public. In this weeks election no other issue
was seriously considered. WolyerhamptOn is
a centre of the motor car industry. The Union
icTe eaD, tod I'm,
and parts of them TO the value of S2l.-
SiS.145 were imported into England free Of
duty. while at the same time they were ex-
ported from England 10 the value of only ST.
949of5. Such arguments prevailed.
Nor did il avail for the Liberal orators to
dwell upon old age pensions and other social
reforms. as promised by the present govern
ment The answer was that tariff reform was
the first essential step 10 the accomplishment
of those reforms. both by providing the neces-
sary revenue and hy creating those economic
conditions under which the reforms can act
with real benefcence The Liberal plan Is to
grant old age pensions without asking the
benefciaries or any of them 10 contribute TO
the fund by their own thrift. The tariff re-
formers propose TO require all able bodied men
TO contribute something toward their own in
srrance or pension fund. IS done in Ger
many and other lands and to make it possible
lot theW 10 90 so ny improving thelr condl-
tons of employment. The Liberal candidate
stuck manfully To his free trade platform
however. aud entreated Wolverhampton not
10 forsake the faith of its former famous rep
resentativc, Mr.. Villers. who was the colleague
Of Golden and Bright in the triumvirate which
established free trade in England There was
no third candidate in the field The contest
was clean cut between Hi uncompromising
free trader and an equally uncompromisinc
victory hy the narroweSt Of margins while
the latter Won overwhelming moral victory
Mr.. Chamberlain Is So id to he more enthusiastic
now than ever over the progress of his cause
He has reason 10 he. Tariff reform is unmis-
takably in the ascendant