4 DECEMBER 1909, Page 29

THE GENERAL ELECTION.-1 FORECAST.

[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR"] SIR, —I have been much interested in your recent articles on the duty of Unionist Free-traders. From my knowledge of the workiiig men of the North, I am quite certain that if Mr. Balfour definitely states that in order to broaden the basis of taxation he will advocate a duty on foreign manufac- tured articles only, be will win Lancashire, which, as you know, has a great influence on the voters at the later elections; but if there is the slightest doubt in the minds of the operatives with respect to a tariff on food-stuffs, he will assuredly lose. Whether rightly or wrongly, the working man in these parts is quite convinced that a tax on corn, &c., will be to his