LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
A CENTRE PARTY AND MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL'S SEAT.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."f SIR,—If the notion and idea of forming a Centre Party is to be other than a mere suggestion, it is time the party became an actuality ; for, as you most rightly state, the very loose financial spending of the Government is simply playing into the hands of the Protectionists. And in North-West Man- chester, where we are all waiting with decks cleared ready for an encounter, the question confronts one whom to fight for. Mr. Winston Churchill at the General Election owed more than his large majority, from actual canvassing statistics, to the votes of Conservative and Unionist Free-traders, and Mr. Joynson-Hicks is perfectly sound, excepting only the vital question of our fiscal policy ; but on that stand alone Man- cheater and Lancashire have one voice. If a Centre Party candidate could only be run, I believe, Sir, the great city of Manchester would have the honour of having the first repre- sentative of the party in Parliament. Can nothing be done ?
—I am, Sir, &c., CONSERVATIVE FREE-TRADER.
[The problem of how to vote in North-West Manchester is no doubt difficult. In our opinion, Unionist Free-traders who look to facts rather than words should solve it as follows. They should ask Mr. Winston Churchill whether the Government of which he is a member intend to proceed with the plan of laying the foundatious of old-age pensions, and therefore the foundations of Protection. If he replies that they do, then such true Free-traders should vote against him, and make the Government realise that Free-trade is not to be undermined by lavish expenditure and bloated taxation. The same tactics should of course be adopted in the case of any other Minister seeking re-election. Such action might prove of very great importance. Sydney Smith declared it might be necessary to burn a Bishop as a warning. In the same way it may be salutary to unseat a Cabinet Minister.--. ED. Spectator.]
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