The result of the election in the Cockermouth division of
Cumberland, where the vacancy created by the death of Sir
Wilfrid Lawson led to a triangular contest, was announced on Saturday, the figures being as under :— Sir John S. Randles (Unionist) ... 4,593 Captain the Hon. F. Guest (Liberal) 3,903 Mr. R. Smith's (Labour) ... 1,436 Unionist majority In 1900 Sir John Randles was returned by a majority of 209, but at the last General Election Sir Wilfrid Lawson regained the seat for the Liberals. On both occasions there was a straight fight between Unionist and Liberal, and in January Sir John Handles, though defeated, polled nearly 200 votes more than he did on Saturday last. In view of this fact we find it impossible to attach any weight to Sir John Handles' jubilant assertion that "justice and faith had triumphed." We prefer to take the commonplace view that the Independent Labour Party have made a present of the seat to the Unionists. Sir John Handles, it should be added, was formerly a Liberal Unionist, but now describes himself as a follower of Mr. Balfour.
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