LIBERAL SEAT LOST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1544, 13 September 1912, Page 5

LIBERAL SEAT LOST.

MIDLOTHIAN BY-ELECTION-INSURANCE ACT & HOME RULE. HARD-FOUGHT CONTEST. By TeleeraDh-Preß3 Associallon-CoDyrleht (Rec. September 12, 11.45 p.m.) London, September 12. The by-election for tlio Midlothian seat in the House of Commons rendered vacant by tho elevation to tho peerage of the Master of Elibank, Patronage Secretary to tho Treasury, resulted in a Unionist gnin, the polling being:— Major.A. Hope (Unionist) ... 0021 Mr. Alexander Shaw (Liberal) 5989 Mr. Robert Brown (Labour) 2fKI The constituency had been consistently Liberal for many years post, and for many years returned tho Jalo Mr. W. K. Gladstone as its representative. Major Hope attributes "his election to tho ilcsiro for amendments to tho Tnsur•anco Act, and also to the dislike of nomo I'ule, and Disestablishment. Tho Liberals bitterjy comment on tho folly of Labour supporters presenting the eeat to a Unionist, and attributes the result to voters from tho outlying districts in tho electorate. Tho Conservative evening papers are jubilant over the capture of tho Mecca of Radicalism. Tho I Liberal papers attribute the defeat to the split in the Progressives' ranks, and stato that the Unionists aro bound to win a, few by-elections in. such circumstances. Mr. Winston Chnrchill, First Lord of tho Admiralty, in a speech at Dundee said there was no split in the vote at tho byelections. No Tory abuse ivould prevent tho Government from passing tho Home Rule Bill. Tho Insurance Act might l>o improved in detail, but it was irrevocable, because it wag indispensable, and becausetwelve million policies were already alive under it. An aeroplane was used during tho election. It scattered election leaflets in remote districts. Tho chairman of tlio Chamber!) of Commerco Conference at Newcastle announced the result of the election. Tho delegates cheered for several moments.