THE SELECTION OF PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES.
(To THE EDITOR Or Till SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In your issue of the 17th inst. your correspondent signing himself " Conservative " makes an attack upon those responsible for the selection of candidates for Parliament, and especially mentions the recent election at Dundee. It appears to me remarkable that one who was universally acknowledged to be the strongest possible candidate should have been chosen as a target for this criticism ; and when loyal party men are willing, to give the necessary time and money to fight a by-election at great personal inconvenience, surely they deserve our fullest gratitude. The Dundee election was no triumph for Liberalism, the result being a large reduction in the Liberal majority, in spite of the candidature of a Cabinet Minister with no mean electioneering skill, backed by the Budget statement almost on the eve of the poll in regard to a reduction in the Sugar-duties,—a proposal peculiarly and naturally agreeable to the people of Dundee. Sir George Baxter is one of the most highly respected and
best-known Liberal Unionists in Scotland, and his acceptance of the candidature gave intense satisfaction to all classes. It is an undoubted fact that a popular local candidate at a by-election suddenly sprung upon a constituency has an immense advantage over a stranger opponent, and often makes the difference between defeat and victory. The small per- centage of change of votes in a constituency which causes a change of representation is not always realised, and is often Influenced by local considerations and qualifications. Though the Liberal Party has such an overwhelming majority of representatives in Parliament, the average majority of votes cast in the constituencies at the last General Election is infinitesimal. This is especially exemplified in England, apart from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, as shown by the following figures :—
Unionist ... ... 2,094,593 Liberal ... 2,142,316')
Labour and Socialist 464,931 ( Nationalist 2,808 ( 2,614,032 Independent 3,977)
—I am, Sir, &c., House of Commons. H. PIKE PEASE.
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