The East Bradford election ended in the return of Captain
Greville (Conservative) by a majority of 395 over the Glad- stonian candidate, Mr. A. Billson.. The numbers were Captain Greville, 4,921; Mr. A. Billson, 4,526; and Mr. Keir Hardie (Labour candidate), 1,953. The total poll was higher than the highest East Bradford has previously polled by 418 votes ; but the Conservative polled 922 fewer votes than Mr. Byron Reed in 1895, and Mr. Billson polled fewer votes than Mr. W. S. Caine in the same year by 613. Whether the Unionist or the Gladstonian lost more votes to the Labour candidate it is impossible to say. The theory of the Gladstonians is that Captain Greville lost votes mainly to the Gladstonian, and the Gladstonian mainly to the Labour candidate. But, as we have shown elsewhere, that is a question of very doubtful interpreta- tion. It is not at all improbable that the Conservative candi- date lost more votes to Mr. Keit- Hardie than he lost to Mr. Billson, and not impossible that he gained more of the Irish party's votes by the preference of the Irish party for denominationaleducation, than he lost by opposing Irish Home- rule; but the ballot fortunately keeps its secret. At any rate, the seat is held by the Conservatives, and held by a sufficient, though not a magnificent, majority.
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