[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR." J SIR,—It is not
unnatural that a group of Tariff Reformers should be ready to advocate ostracism, for their real demand is not a revision of the fiscal system in order to meet modern needs, but protection for particular trades. Each man asks, "How much shall I get out of it when the party returns to office ? " and he is well aware that the answer depends upon the strength and bargaining power of his own particular group in the party. Therefore he is more concerned to secure the proportionate strength of his own group than the co- operation of all who could honourably unite in maintenance
• of certain political principles. I gather that a body of Protectionists outside the constituency threaten to inter- fere with the local selection in Nottinghamshire. It is not the first time that a similar course has been adopted. In a letter which you were good enough to publish last summer, I pointed out that certain well-known Protec- tionists interfered without rebuke in favour of Mr. H. H. Marks, at a time when his candidature had been rejected by the then official local associations. With their assistance, Mr. Marks captured the local associations and expelled his opponents. Since that time his Protectionist allies have per- sistently declared that any interference with a candidate supported by the local associations is impossible, and so far is this doctrine carried that the Committee of the Carlton Club are content to ignore facts which no other club in London would allow to pass unnoticed or unexplained. The strangest part of the matter is that the Confederates justify interference with Unionist Free-traders upon the ground of "putting principle before party.—I am, Sir, &c.,
The Athenwton, Pall Mall, S. W. J. W. WEIGA.L.L.
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