LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
TARIFF REFORM AND THE REFERENDUM.
[TO TILE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR.1
SIR,—Your correspondent " T." asks some questions, and answers some of them himself. From the figures he gives of Blackburn General Election results, it would appear as though a considerable number of Tariff Reformers sulked during the January 1910 General Election because two Unionist Free Trade candidates were brought forward, just as Free Traders sulked in the 1906 election, as shown by the votes polled for Mr. Drage.
In December 1910 there was no excuse for any Conservative, whether Free Trader or Tariff Reformer, to sulk, for Mr. Balfour's promise of the Referendum on Tariff Reform made it a matter of no consequence whether the candidate was Tariff Reformer or Free Trader. The only thing which pre- vented the promise of the Referendum being successful in Blackburn would probably be that the promise came in the middle of the election instead of a month sooner. Some Free Traders had already committed themselves when Mr. Balfour made the proinise ; others were suspicious that it was only an electioneering trick.
The promise of the Referendum came in time to gain such seats as Altrincham (Cheshire), Newton (Lancashire), Liver- pool (Exchange), Wigan, Warrington, &c., but not soon enough to get over such a large majority as seats like Blaokburn.
With a renewed Referendum pledge there could be no excuse for any split at all in our party. We should get " peace with honour" between the Tariff Reform and Free Trade wings of the Unionist Party, for the nation would decide between the Tariff Reformer and Free Trader. The Conservative Government need not resign if the Referendum went against Tariff Reform, and the Radical demagogues' Government would no longer exist.
1 have been asked, what right have I or any one else to assume that Mr. Bonar Law does not consider his party to be still bound by Mr. Balfour's pledge ? I confess I have no right, but the idea exists. It is just as well that our leaders should know that it exists, and should take an early opportunity either to dispel such an idea or confirm it.—I am, Sir, &a., E. L. OLIVER. The Water House, Bollington.
P.S.—The excellent article by M. Roget (Spectator, July 7th) shows how easy it would be to get the opinion of the nation on any Tariff Reform Bill by Referendum, as was done in Switzerland.
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