The Irish standard., 1910-12-10
Unionists Beaten-NoW Only a Quest
ion of How Large Liberal
Majority Will be.
Liberals Making Unexpected Gain
in Unionists Strongholds
in London.
Indications are That Country Dis.
tricts Will Fall in Line
for Liberals.

The results of the election returns
to date In England go to prove the
contention that the Liberals have
made all along. viz, that they will be
returned to power by the same If not
hy an increased majority. In London
the conditions are favorable to the
untonists owing to the fact that the
register is SO old that many of the
poorer people have lost their right to
vote by change of residence and yet
ever there the Unionist gains are 10
slight as to indicate that there is no
danger in the diminution of the Lib
eral majority. Fl
At the close Of Saturdays polling
the standing of the parties was as fol-
lows:
Government coalition: Liberals, S:
Labor, Z; Irish-Nationalists, S. Total,
63.
Opposition: Unionists, 62.
The Unlonists gained seven seats,
six from the Liberals, Stafford (south),
shton-Under-Lyne, Warrington, Darl-
lngton, Kings Lynn and Grimsby, and
one from the Laborites, Wigan. Tho
Liberals won four seats from tho :
Unionists, Manchester (southwest)
Rochester, the Peckham division OF
Camberwell and Exeter. So that the
net gain Of the Unionists is three
seats.
This result is not quite up to the
expectations of the Unionsts, but
even at that, If the current continues
to run in their favor as 1t has started,
the government would be placed In a
very awkward position and in all prob
ability would resign.
The Unionists reported the return
of majority Of Unionist free traders,
Of which there are many in Manches-
ter, to the Unionist party, but from
the result of Mr.. Laws attempt to
capture the northwest district Of the
city, the free traders seem to be keep
ing shy Of the party whose chief plank
they greatly opposed. ~
Liberals Gain in London.
In London the Liberals held their
own and little more. Peckham,
which left the party on great by
election during the controversy over
the licensing law, has been regath-
cred into the fold, and in the other
London boroughs, which polled, there
was little change. In addition, the
Liberals held Haggerston which many
believed Robert Guinness would sue
ceed in winning over to Unionism.
The Right Honorable Augustin Bir-
rell, chief secretary for Ireland, and
the Right Honorable G. E. Hobhouse,
financial secretary to the treasury,
maintained their own position in Bris-
tol, but were unable to improve con-
ditions for Liberalism.
Two Canadians, Sir Gilbert Parker.
an old member of the British Par
Lament, and W. M. Aitken, young
er man from the Dominion, take seats
in Westminster, to represent Grave
send and Ashton Under-Lyne respect
lively. hi
Another Unionist gain must be cred
tied to Sir G.. Doughty, who won back
Grimsby, which was lost last jan
uary. Some Of the stiffest fighting in
the campaign took place in this con-
stituency. Mr.. Balfour personally took
part in the speaking in behalf of the
Unionist candidate, while Home Sec
retary Churchill went down to help
the Liberals. IA
Two seats, West Bromwich and
Gloucester are held by the Unionists.i
by bare majority Of five and four
votes respectively. In each case there
doubtless will be recount.
On the whole there is an extraor-sg
dinary similarity in the majorities an
compared with the election in Janu--sss
ary, although fewer persons voted.
Many voters had moved to new dis
tricts since the register was made ups;
and could not get to the polls. In ad-i
dition, the weather was very cold and
Continued on. Page 81