The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-06
IS ALMOST AN EVEN BREAK
Thus Far the Unionists Have Gained Only Five Seats in Parliament, Which Is Disappointing to
 the Leaders

Total, 117
 Opposition
 Unionists, 116.
 The results today merely confirms the opinion formed that the unionists now have no possible hope of replacing the liberal government power. The only question remaining is whether the liberals will return with a larger or & smaller majority.
 To gain a bare majority in the new parliament the unionists must make a net gain of 62 seats. Thus far with 13O pollings, they have net gain of only five seats. They have gained Il and the liberals six seats The gain by the union ists Saturday was seven, while the lib- erals gained four. Today the unionists gained four and the liberals two. continuation at this rate of progress would fulfill the unionists prediction that the Asquith cabinet would come back with a greatly weakened majority and would be more than ever dependent upon their Irish and labor allies.
 Liberal Losses Made Up
 Il must be remembered, however, that the liberals lost at the January cleo tions a large number of seats through three-cornered contests. Such contests are largely eliminated in the present cleo tions and this may give the liberals sui ficient gains to balance those of the unionist. On the whole it seems likely the new house of commons will meet with the position of the parties un- changed The question will then arise whether the King will feel justified An gixing guafantee for the creation ot lib- erai peers to force the veto bill through the house of lords.
 The unicnist rally in Lancashire has been maintained and the liberal hope of winning two seats at Preston has been disappointed but what the lib- erals lost in Lancashire was compen- sated for by tn cir better showing in Yorkshire. In Liverpool the strong camnaign by the unionist orator, F. l. Smith, had the result of greatly im- proving the unionist position. The unionists gained the seat for the eX change division of Liverpool as well as that foe Kirk enh cad. In the lat ter case the liberal defeat was at tributed to the recent absence of IL Vivian on free trade mission to Cam ada.
 Little Change Noted
 The two seats the liberals lost in London today, Islington, North. and St. Pareras, West, were held by very small ma1orities in the previous parliament. Apparently, therefore, the metropolis is much the same as January in its attitude toward the contending parties. Perhaps ra ther significant are some of the liberal gains, such as Wakefield a e thedraI city, which has been rep resented by unionist for many years, and Cheltenham. another tory strong
 4.I osf,r lu~ .11x ..<s posed of retired officers. 1t is also noticeable that In the royal borough of Windsor the liberals succeeded in re- ducing the unionist majority.
 These signs of the conversion or the traditionally conservative middle clss-es may be an indication of sim liar change in the county agricultural districts, which went almost entirely unionist in January.
 London Is Euthused
 London tonight displayed much en- thsuiasm and the successful candi- dates were horne in processions through the streets with torchlights-' As the returns came in, showing the closeness of the contest, interest was greatly in- creased and vast crowds gathered In Fleet street, Travalgar Square, and other places, where the results were shown, cheering and booing according to their political affiliations.
 There were similar scenes in Liver pool Leeds and other towns where elections were held. The weather inn proved greatly during the afternoon and evening. so that the crowds were erabled to watch the 'returns without discomfort.
 Tho political clubs were filled with members At the Carlton and other unionist gathering places much disap- pnin tvnent was expressed at the small ness of the gains, which were expect ed to be treble what they turned out to bs In the liberal quarters the great est enthusiasm prevailed, for 1t was predicted even among the staunch sup porters of the government that the unionists would make net gain of eight seats .n todays polling.