[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—In your article
entitled " Unionist Policy," referring to the Referendum and Tariff Reform, you write towards the end of it : " It is for those Tariff Reformers within the official Unionist Party who hold that the present policy is not a winning policy to get it altered." There is no doubt if it is not altered we have no chance of getting the requisite majority at the next General Election. I am a Tariff Reformer and a supporter of the Tariff Reform League, but Lord Lansdowne's inopportune speech at the Albert Hall filled me with alarm, which was subsequently justified, for it not only lost us the Bolton election, but has again given the Radicals the cry of the " dear loaf," which was one of the principal factors that lost us the elections in 1906. It seems to me that to put Tariff Reform in the forefront, when we are experiencing such a boom in trade as we are at present, is most unwise, but to help to disseminate the " dear food " bogey is crass folly. I know nothing about the opinions of those " Tariff Reformers within the official Unionist Party," but I feel certain that most real Tariff Reformers are not in favour of Food Taxes at all, and would welcome a withdrawal of Lord Lansdowne's speech, and reaffirmation of Mr. Balfour's promise about the Referendum with regard to Food Taxes. I have had a varied experience amongst the working classes. It is not of the slightest use talking or writing to them as if they were political economists. The working man is, to a large extent, governed in his vote by the working woman, his wife, who keeps the house out of the sum he allows her, and if she thinks she is going to have to pay more for her loaf she will try and get her man to vote against the party that proposes it. As you say, if we have the Referendum about Food Taxes, victory is certain, as the present Government and its doings are detested, and the future harm it may do with its dishonest log-rolling policy is feared. But let the Radicals revive the " Dear Food" cry and we shall be again out-voted by the Coalition. If the majority opinion of Tariff Reformers could be taken about this, it might possibly have some effect upon the official Unionist circle. How is it to be done P—I am, Sir,
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