The opponents of Mr. Gladstone's Annuity Bill among the working
men have shot their bolt and failed. They called a great meeting at Exeter Hall on Thursday night, with Mr. Ayrton in the chair, and tried to pass resolutions asking for Government supervision instead of Government offices. An amendment approv- ing of Mr. Gladstone's Bill was, however, proposed by Mr. Hen- riette, and on the show of hands the chairman professed himself unable to say whether it had been carried or not. The principal speaker against the Bill was, however, groaned down, while Mr. Henriette's outspoken advocacy of the principle was very loudly cheered. Considering that the opponents of the measure had exerted themselves to the utmost to obtain support, and that the original resolution was drawn up with studious forbearance, the friends of the Bill must be held to have gained the victory.
