Leeds and Manchester have 'both shown the influence of the
Conservative wave,—Manchester certainly at least, Leeds less certainly. In Manchester the two Conservatives, Mr. Birley and. Mr. Callender, head the poll, Sir T. Bazley following pretty close, and Mr. Jacob Bright, the women's suffrage candidate, remain- ing about twice as much in the rear ; but in Leeds Alderman Carter, the working-men's candidate and Secularist, is at the head of the poll, the two Conservatives following him at- some interval, and Mr. Baines, the editor of the Leeds Mercury, and the member for Leeds for fifteen years back, being defeated. It is clear that in this case many of the working-men,. and perhaps of the Secularist party not working-men, instead of voting for Mr. Baines, split their votes with Dr. Lees, the Home- Ruler, who polled about half as many votes as Mr. Baines. Mr. Baines, though a Dissenter, has been wisely moderate, and has rather supported than hindered Mr. Forster's education policy. The- Leeds Liberals have done very ill to desert him, as have some of the Oldham Liberals in turning Conservative, and so defeating their old and able member, Mr. Hibbert.
Previous page
