The sun., 1910-01-09
CAMPAIGN BITTER
PERSONALITIES ARE FLYING
AMONG LEADERS.
Amazon Feature 0G the Battle a strong
one TOO-HOme Rule Appears TO
Have Been SheIVed for the Time Being
The Test win Come Next saturday.

Amazon Feature 0r the Battle q strong
One TOO-HOme Rule Appears 10
Have Been SheIVed Tor the Time Being
The Test win Come Next saturday.
special cdoIs Despatch TO TIE SUN.
LONDON. Jan, S.--More than ever before
the great political battle which is raging
in this country has grown to resemble one
of the hottest of modern American Presi-
Dental contests. 1t is strenuous and
hoated beyond precedent and as the cll-
max is approached il is developing the
bitter personal element which IL usually
absent in English campaigns
The personalities which disfigure it are
not among candidates buH among the
leaders Of the opposing parties. Liar"
and other epithets OF personal abuse are
weapons which are seldom resorted to on
British election platforms. but both sides
in this contest are losing their tempers
and self-control in dealing with the argu-
ments and tactics OF their opponents.
II is found necessary at almost every
political meeting. OF which there are about
1000 held daily at the present time, to
limit the attendance strictly to known
sympathizers with the party under whose
auspices the gathering is held. One Is
left 10 wonder at the efficacy OF this Eng
lish practice OF preaching only to the con-
verted.
II is not, in fact. at public rallies that the
real work Of the campaign is done. Per-
sonal canvassing is the real thing and this
has been reduced 10 a fine art in England.
Every day from now till the polling
begins a quarter OF a million women will
60 from house to house through the length
and breadth OF the country trying to per-
suade the Voters and the voters wives to
use their influence on one side or the other
Every newspaper keeps a section for
giving advice towomen on how to dealwith
voters and the fashion columns, in spite
Of Mrs. Steel's denunciation, continue to
give sketches OF ideal canvassing gowns
As q particular instance OF how the
women work 1t may be noted that
1900 members of the Lady Primrose
League OF London have undertaken to
trace 1900 voters who will be detained
h London by business or pleasure during
the election days and persuade them to
return to their country homes and register
their votes on election days. The Ladies'
Grand Council OF the league receives the
names Of such voters from all its agents
throughout the country.
The sufragettes are OF course largely
represented in this great army, but they
by no means constitute the majority OF
these feminine cohorts. Il is safe to
say, however. that most OF the woman
workers are struggling to elect the Union
list candidates, OF rather TO defeat the
present Government. Whether they will
succeed Is still an open question, but at
- =. R-.s.- - III.
as beyond all precedent an Amazon cleo
ton.
The tendency this week seems to be
toward concentration and elimination of
issues. It was difficult TO say even a week
ago whether the House OF Lords or ma
tional defence. which means the German
danger. was paramount in the public
mind Now there are indications that
tariff reform commands the highest in
terest among the electors. II this be-
true 10 is n distinct encouragement for
the Unionist cause. As between free
trade and tariff reform the country would
probably wipe out even the vast radical
majority in the House of Commons IL the
choice could be free and untrammelled.
The most significant feature Of the con-
test is the almost universal indifference
10 the Home Rule issue. The question
which fifteen or twenty years ago was
absolutely paramount and which stands
in the same position before the country
to-day as then. so far as Ireland is con-
cerned. is almost ignored by the press.
is entirely neglected by the Government
speakers and Is seldom brought up by the
Unionists.
Lord Miner. a Liberal Peer who has
been stumping the country. refers to the
great listlessness which he encountered
whenever he spoke on this subject, even
among the members Of his own party.
The truth is that the Liberals and Radi-
Gals alike care nothing for IL except as a
political makeshift in the tremendous
struggle over what they regard as more
vital issues.
The Unionists also are lukewarm in
the face Of what they regard as the great
est economic crisis in the history OF the
British Empire. They believe that the
empires existence will be in serious,
danger within the next five years IL the
present Government is returned with a
substantial ma jority. and IL the truth
be told many Unionists would be willing
to concede local self-government to Ire
land il thereby they could secure a sound
financial policy at home and adequate
preparation for national defence.
Next Saturdays pollings in sixty-four
constituencies ought to give a decisive
indication Of the national verdict. unless
the contest is remarkably close.
3l6,33s Emlgrants From German Ports.