The impracticable position assumed by Mr. Joynson-Hicks is further illustrated
by the correspondence which has passed between him and the Free-Trade League, a non-political organi- sation. Mr. Leaf, chairman of the North-West Manchester Branch of the League, submitted to the three candidates the following question :—" Are you or are you not in favour of levying import-duties for any other purpose than the raising of revenue P " Mr. Churchill answers that he is entirely opposed to such a plan. Mr. Dan Irving, the Socialist candi- date, says that his answer is "Yes." Mr. Joynson-Hicks replies that he believes that Conservatives of all shades of opinion desire to oppose Mr. Churchill's candidature on the broad ground of the administration of the present Government. "Your League," he continues, "seems to me determined to make this [i.e., the question of Tariff Reform v. Free-trade] the chief issue. If you force a decision, with a resulting division in my party, the consequences to Free-trade in the event of my success must lie entirely on your shoulders." Mr. Broadhurst, the president, and Mr. Leaf, the chairman, of the North-West Manchester Branch of the Free- Trade League, have promptly replied by issuing an appeal to the electors to support Mr. Churchill, the Free- trade candidate. In view of the fact that the Tariff Reform League are actively supporting Mr. Joynson-Hicks, and have organised a series of meetings to cover the whole constituency, we cannot see that any other course was open to the Free-Trade League.
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