21 JANUARY 1911, Page 3

Mr. Harold Cox, whose candidature for the University of Cambridge

as an Independent Unionist has been approved by an influential Committee, has issued an admir- able election address, which appears in Wednesday's papers. Dealing with the question of University reform, he maintains that such changes as are needed to enable the University better to cope with her constantly expanding activities ought to receive their sanction from members of the University themselves, and should not be imposed by external authority. On the Constitutional question, Mr. Cox is a strong supporter of the bicameral system, of a reformed Second Chamber, and of the Referendum as a means (1) of settling conflicts between the two Houses, and (2) of safeguarding the rights of a sub- stantial minority of the House of Commons. While still remaining a strong Free-trader, be finds himself enabled by Mr. Balfour's adoption of the Referendum policy to co-operate whole-heartedly with Tariff Reformers in the defence of the Constitution. With regard to Home-rule, he holds that it would be a retrograde step to set up under any name a Federal Government in place of the present unitary Govern- ment of the United Kingdom.