MODERATE LIBERALS AND TARIFF REFORM CANDIDATES.
[TO THY EDITOR OF TEl g' SPICTATOR:] SIR,—In advising moderate Liberals to vote for Tariff Reform
candidates are you quite satisfied that we are likely to be free from Socialistic legislation under a Tariff Reform Government? Let me quote two distinguished members of the Conservative Party. Lord Cromer in a speech delivered to the Unionist Free-Trade Club said :—
"I view with something more than suspicion a decided step taken by the conservative and moderate elements in this country in a direction which, in spite of whatever qualifications may be made, I find it difficult to characterise by any other name than that of Socialism."
Lord Milner in a speech made, I believe, at Edinburgh
declared:—
" Many people believe that it is possible to conduct a victorious campaign with the single watchword 'Down with Socialism"
do not like fighting an abstract noun It is merely a question of degree. The same community is more Socialistic at one time than another. This country is far more Socialistic than it was fifty years ago, and for most of the changes in that direction the Unionist or Tory Party is responsible."
It is idle to deny that the granting of old-age pensions has
been promised by the Conservative Party since 1895. Many Conservative Members supported the Bill in the House of Commons, and can you mention a single Conservative candi- date at a by-election since 1906 who has declared himself opposed to old-age pensions I suppose the Trade Boards Bill, recognising as it does the principle of the minimum wage, is the most Socialistic measure ever introduced into this country. Yet it was warmly eulogised by Mr. Lyttelton, and was passed practically unopposed through both the Houses of Parliament. Again, the principle of the Develop-
ment Bill was approved by all parties in the House of Commons, and, according to the Times of October 4th, has emerged from Committee "as a promising and workmanlike
measure." "There is no longer fair ground for denouncing the Bill root and branch as a contribution to Socialistic legislation." I could quote many other instances from the records of the Conservative Party and the tone of the Con- servative Press since 1906 to show why your appeal to Liberals to vote against Free-trade as a protection from Socialism leaves me a little cold.—I am, Sir, &c.,
MODERATE LIBERAL.
[We fully admit that in the ignoble auction of party politico the Unionists have promoted many semi-Socialistic measures, and that their record in regard to promises of old-age pensions is a bad one. To contend, however, that the danger of Socialistic legislation is as acute from the Unionists as from the so-called Liberals is absurd. Of two evils, then, we must choose the lesser. We mean to fight Socialistic legisla- tion if it is supported by the Unionists as strongly as when it is proposed by the Liberals, and in such a course we shall,
we feel sure, have the support of the better part of the Unionist Party.—ED. Spectator.]
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