There was a somewhat convulsive lifting of the veil that
generally drapes the inner places of party manage- ment at the publication on -Tuesday last of the corre- spondence between Mr. Asquith and Mr. J. M. Hogge, which led to the latter's resignation from the post of ' joint Chief Free Liberal Whip. Mr. Hogge's colleague, Mr. Thorne, had resigned, and Mr. Asquith, instead of promoting Mr. Hogge to individual sway, made Mr, Vivian Phillipps Chief Whip, offering Mr. Hogge the lesser post of " Scottish Whip," and telling him very gently but very firmly that he was to be second in command. Apparently two questions are involved in the dispute. First, Mr. Hogge was much more fer- vently anxious for reunion with the National Liberals than some of his " Free " superiors. Hence their un- willingness to place the party organization at his disposal. Secondly, Mr. Hogge was elected by a vote of the party, while Mr. Vivian Phillipps is the leader's nominee. Mr. Hogge describes the present organization of his party as " absolutely undemocratic and suffering very much indeed from being a close corporation." It remains to be seen what the rank and file of the party think of the matter. Meanwhile, Liberal reunion remains in both senses " in the air."
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