6 MARCH 1909, Page 3

The fiscal issue was prominent throughout the contest, Mr. Scott-Dickson

being a strong Tariff Reformer, though disavow- ing the methods of the Confederates ; but we see no reason to dispute the statement of the Glasgow Herald—in view of the fact that Mr. Scott-Dickson was nominated by a Free-trade Unionist and supported by many others of that way of thinking—that "the judgment of the Central Division has gone for the maintenance of the Union." The third by-election was in South Edinburgh, where Mr. Dewar, who sought re-election on. his appointment as Solicitor-General for Scotland, retained his seat, but by a majority of only 1,221, as compared with one of 3,860 in 1906.