[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTLTOE.1 SIR, —Statements have recently been
made that Ulster Protestants are weakening in their opposition to Home-rule, and in support of this theory it is claimed that the Tyrone seats could not be held by the Nationalists without Protestant aid. The following details with regard to the poll at the recent election in East Tyrone are of interest in this con- nexion. The figures are taken from a report made by the Unionist agent, and can be relied on. An examination of the names on the register made after the poll showed that if every Protestant elector who voted voted Unionist and every Roman Catholic Nationalist, the Nationalist majority should be 137. It was, in fact, 140, which shows that there cannot have been much cross-voting. There were on the register 3,232 Unionists. Of these, 2,968 voted, leaving a balance to be accounted for of 259. Of these, 105 were dead, 61 were abroad (out of Europe), 35 were unable to vote owing to illness, and 32 were out-voters. The remaining 26 comprised the persons who were unable to vote owing to occupying official and other positions. It is clear that the number who abstained from voting must have been very small. In the face of these figures it is difficult to see how the Unionists could have more clearly evidenced their determination.—I am,
Sir, &c., D. D. REID. 7 Norfolk Crescent, Hyde Park.
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