Sir William Rattigan, the Unionist candidate, has been returned for North-east Lanark by a majority of 904, thus gaining a seat for the Government. He owes his victory, however, not to an increase of Unionist feeling in the constituency, but toa split in the Liberal vote—Mr. Cecil Harmsworth, brother of the millionaire who has been glorified as the " Napoleon of the Press," standing as an Imperialist Liberal, and Mr. Smillie as a Labour candidate. Strenuous efforts were made to get Mr. Smillie to withdraw, but they were unavailing, as in addition to most of the Lal nur vote he also carried the anti-Imperialist Liberal vote. Mr. Cecil Harmsworth had, indeed, considerable difficulty in explaining in what sense he isa Liberal at all. He is one of the Directors of the "Daily Mail," which, though it has never bound itself to any' party, is ult Jingo on war questions and cannot in a sense be called Liberal; and he is certain! not a Home Ruler. In all the circumstances, it is rather surprising that he received as many votes as he did.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.