December 6.
Unwonrep and unwanted, what-entered into it without enthusiasm, its reception at the hands of the great bulk of the nation was still more frigid. With wonderful unanimity commercial England was up in arms at once against an election before Christmas, when it was realized thut the failure of the Conference negotiations must be followed by an appeal to the electorate. Protesta and petitions reached the Prime Minister from all parts of the country, for the big commercial and industrial organizations lost no time in voicing the general anxiety ut the prospect of the dislocation of trade that must ensue from a December Election. The year, it was pointed out, bad already been sufficiently unfavourable for trade; the dislocai the depression caused by the death of King Edward and again by bad summer weather; an election near Christmas could only have a disastrous" effect, particularly to shop-keepers. An election, we are assured by "the trade," makes its effects felt for weeks before and after the polling, for women are now among the Keenest part' sans. When from the shopping world we Primrose dame, the the anti-suffragist, the aunts and sisters of the Liberal candidates, it is clear that there are few left for whom the mere man can carry parcels. Mr. Asquith, who has had to listen before to the sorrows of drapers and milliners, could not fail to be impressed by such appeals. The wheels of the State machine, however, must be kept revolving, and the Premier has done his best to meet his petitioners by arranging for a short and sharp struggle. By the end of this week the bulk of the elections will be over, anda fortnight will be given for trade to OF MICHIGAN,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.