Two by-elections have been held during the past week. In
the borough of Hampstead, where the seat was vacated by the retirement owing to illness of Mr. Brodie Hoare, Mr. Milvain, K.O., was returned by a majority of 1,725, polling 3,843 to Mr. Rowe's 2,118. Mr. Rowe, who may be best described as attaching himself to the Liberal Centre, bad the courage to announce his adhesion to Gladstonian Home-rule, but was less explicit in his declarations as to the war. In Dewsbury, as strong a Radical stronghold as Hampstead its Conserva- tive, Mr. Oldroyd'a resignation led to a three-cornered contest between Mr. Runciman (Imperialist Liberal), Mr. Haley (Unionist), and Mr. Quelch (Labour). Mr. Runciman, a strong and able candidate, was returned at the head of the poll with 5,669 votes ; but the Unionist vote for Mr. Haley- 4,512—showed an advance of 500 upon all previous records. Mr. Quelch, who appealed frankly to Socialists, Pro-Boers, and Irish Nationalists, secured nearly 1,600 votes. The result of the two elections leaves the balance of parties in the House unchanged, and indicates no blunting in the edge of the nation's resolution as regards the war.
Previous page
