The by-election in Midlothian, caused by the elevation of the
Master of Elibank to the peerage, seems likely to be the cause of some bitterness among the various sections of the Government's supporters. On Friday week there was a rumour to the effect that the Miners' Federation intended to put forward Provost Brown of Dalkeith as a Labour candidate for the constituency ; and on Saturday it was announced that
Lord Murray of Elibank had written to the local Liberal Association recommending them to give the Provost their support, if the rumour proved correct, on the ground that he was to all intents and purposes a Liberal. The local Liberals, however, promptly determined to disregard this advice, which they received, according to the Times correspondent, with some resentment and even contempt. It is fair to add, how- ever, that Lord Murray, in Thursday's Times, cast doubts upon this statement. In any case, Mr. Alexander Shaw, a son of Lord Shaw, has been chosen as the official Liberal can- didate, and Lord Murray, in a second statement published in Monday's papers, accepted the choice unreservedly. The Liberal campaign opened on Wednesday, but the Unionist candidate (Major Hope) will not begin to hold meetings till Monday, while the miners are only to arrive at their final decision to-day.
Previous page
