[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1
SIR,—One London newspaper, at least, states that the deter- mination of the Government to press on the Welsh Church Bill is due to the result of the Bolton election. If the members of the Government and their supporters really think that the majority of the electorate in Bolton are satisfied with the Welsh and Home Rule Bills and the Insurance Act they are wofully at sea. By common consent in Bolton to-day, on both sides in politics, a placard issued the day before the election was the cause of a very large section of the trade-union vote (over three thousand strong) being given for the Liberal candidate and so deciding the contest. Secondly, whatever may be said for or against Tariff Reform, the day has not arrived when its fervent advocacy will influence favourably for the Unionists the electorate in any constituency such as Bolton.
In spite of all, let us remember that Bolton Unionists have brought down a Radical majority of well over 4,000 at the beginning of the year 1910 to 1,176, or, again, nearly 500 less than obtained at the last General Election.—I am, Sir, &c., Z.
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