LIBERAL SEAT LOST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 500, 6 May 1909, Page 5

LIBERAL SEAT LOST.

WON BY LABOUR. V THE UNIONIST VOTE SPLiT. POUR-HANDED FIGHT AT SHEFFIELD. (BY TELEOEAPU— PRESS ABSOCIiTION—COPTBWHT.) (Hec. May 5, ,10.30 p.m.) : Londont May S. A by-eloct'ion has been held for the Attorcliffo division of Sheffield, which was vacant through the resignation—on tho ground of ill-health—of Mr, B, Langley (Liberal), whoso majority in 1906 was 787. The by-elcctioa resulted:— ~■"■.;, Mr, Pointer (Labour) ... ... ... ... 3531 Mr. Kino Farlow (Official Unionist) ... 3380 Mr. Lambert (Liberal) ... ..'. ... 3175 Mr. Mulr Wilson (Independent Unionist) 2803 Labour Majority over Unionist ... 151 Liberal Majority in 1906 , ... ...787 Tho Unionist split was caused through Mr, Muir Wilson, who contested the constituency in the, Unionist cause in 1906 against Mr. Laiigley, objecting to the selection of an outsider (Mr, King Farlow) by tho Unionist party, and persisting in standing. Tho Labour party attribute their victory not only to tho Unionist split, but to tho serious lack of employment -at Attercliffo, and to the consistent advocacy by the Labour party of the Eight to Work Bill, recently rejected by' the House of Commonß, The Liberals are' disappointed, LIBERAL-LABOUR AND UNIONIST / TOTAL 6. In 100G there was a dual contest between a Liberal (who polled 6523) and a Unionist (5738), the result being a Liberal majority of 787, 'In, the present by-election a La'jour candidate hae split the Liberal vote, and two Unionists have split- the Unionist vote; and tho result iea labour inajofity of , 151 over the next candidate (a Unionist), yie,Liberal bqing third. It ie fairly .obvious that if only one Unionist had stood,be"would have won, tut if there had boon no Labour candidate, anly a dual contest between Liberal and Unionist, the Liberal micht have won. Labour and Liberal polling in the present by-election givo a total of 0706, wlile tho combined Unionist vote is 6183. Still, the actual Liberal vote has fallen from 6523 in 100G to 3175! to-day-a decrease of 3348-and whether the votes • are lost to Labour or to Unionism, they are lost. • . . ■•. .

A Veiled threat to the' Labour party was conveyed in a speech made not .long ago by tho Chief Liberal Whip, Mr. J. A. Pease, who said that they found individuals being put up for Parliament who came forward not to fight against the common enemy, but with the-object of "smashing" the Liberal party.. Liberals , were prepared to retaliate upon the pariy which theso people represented, and to cqnteet Liberal seats against, such. individuals, 'even, though it might, occasionally mean the return •of a Conservative. ■' '