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CHESHIRE UNIONISTS., f

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CHESHIRE UNIONISTS. f IMPORTANT ORGANISATION SCHEME. DUKE OF WESTMINSTER'^ SUGGESTION A COUNTY CLUB. The Council meeting of the Cheshire Divie-ioll of the National Union of Conecivativc Associations, held at the Manchester Conserva- tive Club, St. Ann-street, Manchester, on Satur- day afternoon, was very iniluentially attended. Mr. Henry Tollemache, the chairman of the Division, presided, and others present included the Duke of Weetmineter, Lord Newton, Mr. George Wyndham, M.P., Mr. J. Harmood Banner, M.P., Mr. W. Bromley-Davenport, Mr. Harry Barnston, Mr. J. H. Welsford, Mr. bt. John Chariton, Mr. Alan Sykee. Colonel J. N. II. Thorp, Mr. A. Darbvehire, Colonel Dixon, Mr. E. L/omas Oliver. Mr. G. Duckworth, Mr. Paul Rylands, Mr. J. T. Arnold, Mr. Sidney Drake, and Mr. T. F. Egerton (Altnncham Division), Mr. W. D. Haswell, Mr. C. F. Priohard (Eddisbury Division), Alderman Booth (Dukinfield), Mr. William Underwood and Mr. J. W. Greenwood (Stalybndge), Mr. A. A. Smith, Mr. G. F. Drinkwater. Mr. J. Wagstaffe, and Mr. J W. Lancashire (Hyde Division), Mr. J H. Cooke (Winsford). Colonel Kennedy and Mr. H S K Felthani (Crewe), Mr. Harold Smith (Birkenhead), Mr. W. Clarke Currie (Wirral), Mr. Percival Avery (Macclesfield), Mr. G. H. Croeton (National Union. Manchester), and Mr. Alfred Birkett, secretary of the division. Mr. J. H. Welsford was unanimously elected the Cheshire representative upon the Organisa- tion Committee of the National Union for the Present year. This is the second term which Mr. Welsford has served. THE DUKE'S PROPOSAL. The Chairman welcomed the Duke of West- minster on the occasion of his first attendance 16 president of the new organisation. The Duke, speaking from the chair, gave a abort address and thanked the members for ^tending eo well, and also the Manchester Con- servative Club for allowing them to hold their meeting there. As they were all Cheshire men, Perhaps it would be far better that in future ceir meetings should be held in Cheshire-- &ear, hear)--but not necetsearily always in the feme town or district, but changing about. He {**>k it that their association was going to do its P<»t to regain the seats the party had loet at the general election, and to do all it could to °v«roome the wave of apathy which appeared to have swept over the country. He should like to make the annual and quarterly meetings of that body a feature in the work of Cheshire Zionism. (Hear, hear.) Ho proposed to have demonstration on a large scale at Eaton next Whitsuntide. (Hear, hear.) What they wanted to eeo Waa an active and vigorous policy pur- 6Ued, and with that purpose in view he was Kitting subscribers to a fund, and proposed to Iriake thoeo subscribers into a club to meet once 4 year and talk over the political situation. He E^Poeed that the club should bs called the ytashiro County Unionist Club. They would 111 Do way encroach or overlap the work of the nstjtuencics which were already doing their r^st. The main object of the club would be to P new sources which up to that time had been ^touched, or very slightly. He thought also J~at they must be careful not to allow any re- t^tion of personal efforts for the cause. (Hear, jj r0 They had to strive, to regain the seats had lost, and must have an active rSanising agent appointed by the club. His Grace then left the chair, which Mr. °''eniaohe resumed. APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE. Mr. J. H. Welsfoid (senior vice-chairman), ^pporting the Duke's suggestion, thanked 0 division for the honour they had conferred him by again appointing him their repro- th< rtiv° uP°a tlie Organisation Committer of Central Council of the National Union. In S to propose tlie resolution he had to place hc desired to enter in some detail proposed pmgrammo of special orgiani- fonue-1"hioh bee<n indicated to them ait a tJioso UiG<:ting at Crew, but of which some of day f-K^ thuan present would bo unaware. To- Of fv. entering upon the second year the existence of Cheshire National Union ^der t!h» new democrat! o orgaajisation, and r4-t of them who had attended those meetings, e&nd those previously held for many years under ■Jl*3 Lancashire, and Cheshire Union, had felt jJ^PP-odiitcd that more actual interest and work not been achieved. It scorned to him that their party was to make progress, or liopo to Q-000^, in this politically black county of th.ore must bo a stern alteration in ^T^Qods. In his capacity as their rcpresenta- Ore U?°11. sniaU sub-committee dealing with "isuti of tlie National Union ho made a Ilecse^- *° *w>rrl 'n July !«*> pointing out the «s&uty 0f obtaining more interest, moi e ^°ur, and a deffmite course of work. Owing it ^rfcain. ciroumslancce, which he explained, durable that tho counties should make to help themselves, aitihough, of real remedy lay in the constituen- I-ve& As a close studanit of political 1Siation and political methods for many Wias aware and recognised gTeat ^ties that existed in many constituencies iiiing apathy, obtaining the proper in- rk of people who should assist in polit-ical i albd attaining a propor state of efficiency. th er oi efficiency was all-important. "0 ° been a temdency in tlie past to say: hut :rga.n.isa;tiOI1 is as good as the other side'' ixt tho they had to fight other parties than party. The Socialistic or Labour Was ever and always on the alert. They J1 Woi"t on Mondays and Saturdays; they Pa^ sevem days a woek, and if the Unionist was to succeed and keep its grip upon ft^^kingmm of Cheshire, more activity bo brought about Tha scheme proposed, Se^3,3 made abundantly aloar, did not, in any of moan Lnterfercinca with the independence caas^tuicney> but, under the new prin- ^OsijwL? democratising of the party, it wof C^sh c"a,c^1 ocmstitueacy within the National Union should be efficient, tiv^ ono of tine duties of tho representa- ^Or ° sajt upon tho Organisation Committee to jjr- °°un.ty to ace that every effort was made Poggjj. ° stato of things about It was no I Wbly <i; if it werie possible it would pro- bo desirable, that any general fund \? 8ubs Vr ra^set^ 311 extravagant order, either vVj^ Jdiee or to pauperise any constituency. *°tivo Was a^moc' was a special, earnest, in tho constituencies in order CSiegjjj erest on tiho part, of the gentry of might be induced, if they saw that it tkingjj0111^. to bring about a better state of jjj' ^Qing to be hc-lpful in awatening inter- ^Vo ^^cr constituonoiew, to assist during Qt at least, until this desirable in tho coastitueiioies was ^<>3, Tho time had arrived when poli- Suco(i,G^a^ must be conducted upon hie, business basis. It was im- bo overy county constituency and ha shovJd havo as their agent a experienced "all-time man," a man V11 ^rr relied upon to do nothing else y tlie work of his particular 0011- boj«l i was true of tho const it uenc ies It must then be truor of a big Y^Pasraj^ 3u°h as tiheirs, if work of special ^*dor .i"3, WHa to be carried out. efficieratly. j0 rules, one of tho objects wits tho an export organisor, and the a ha aimed at was tho appointment i^ia wort-1^ 111331 with a thorough knowledge! the W^° colx'c' o^riy out and putt into tbe Z eoooiusiodis and resolutions arrived at OQo quarterly ntoeftings, especially f?rQ^tion 1 been passed dealing with the of Wocrkingmen's Associations C"1-4h i -Tlli. entailed not only ? w°rk, but a great many evenings bein,r C?iB P'ar^8 the division, the inten- fQr ™la't those constituencies that had 0 3,5 111091 °f tihein had done, should S^cWurv bring about tlia/t degree of lQdiuoing gewtlemevn residing in Wk!?Ilcy to an interest in their p«st. rnu ProbaWy they had not done in ■^hed jaJj681 W6S desirable to seo eetab- TT?e A ^>aiK' °f voluntary speakers as ^eehdro wiTO lllfLLSt bo many gentlemeai in Qeecfed only to be encouraged to {fti/CTe§t rrf +i 40 part, in the political /t^d iunrft: °o>oixty. T^ian, sm fair as the todv a^^ow'. they moi orgMauae a apeafcers, who could bold "TOotaigB a,, tiy summer and aobaoit- room meetings in ibo winter, so that at least I one or more meetings would be going on every night in some part of Cheshire. Literature was also a subject to bo dealt with, so that suitable liticraiture might be circulated in the constitu- encies. Tbey were- favoured at tihat meeting by the presence of his Grace tlhe Duko of West- minster, their president. The Duko of West- minster was ever ready to take a deep personal interest in everything appertaining to the county's welfare, but they were especially pleased to know that such a programme had ap- pealed to him, and that for it and to assist vigorous work his Graoe had taken steps to form, as he had informed them, a Cheshire County Unionist Club, which would be pre- pared to make provision for this important work. Undoubtedly, also, the kind promise of the Duke of a demonstration at Eaton at Whit- suntide would do much to stimulate and on- courago party interest. throughout Cheshire. Then again. Mr. George Wyndham, with his experience and great assistance, had done in- valuable work to help them in this matter, not only in Cheshire, but throughout Groat Britain in various other counties, helping materially in regard to the development and the democra- tising of tOO Unionist party. This club, if its programme, as h trusted, met with their ap- proval, would ensure their having import.ant men in each division available to take an active interest in the local political work, and he trusted that it would booomo a great instru- ment of use in the county. Let them have a keen, educational programme, and, if they lost their soats. let them have the satisfaction of knowing that they were lost from conviction and not through ignorance. He moved the follow- ing resolution: — That this meeting resolves that it is desir- able that the programme of special work in- dicated shauld be carried out with as little delay as possible, and that a sub-committee be appointed to consult with his Grace the Duke of Westminster in regard to carrying this work into effect by appointing, at his Grace's dis- cretion and approval, a number of gentlemen who shall be known as honorary vice-presi- deilte, of the National Union of Cheshire. Mr. 9t. John Charlton seconded. LORD NEWTON'S COMMENT. Lord Newton said he should bo tho last to discourage the admirable sentiments expressed by the Duke of Westminster, for everyone felt gratitude to him for identifying himself so prominently with the interests of the. party in their county. (Hear, hear.) But. he was still dubious as to what benefit they were going to L get out of tho proposed County Association. Was the association going to dictate the of the party throughout the county ? He con- fessed thai ho saw no particular object in pour- ing one particular county in'o a watertight com- partment, as it weora The constituency in which he lived liad as much connection with Birken- head, for instance, as with Pekin. Tho object appeared to 00 to provide literature and find speakers, and ho presumed that the Latter would come from the same source as at present—the literature from London and the speakers from Lancashire, and probably mainly from Man- chester. He did not soe tlie precise- benefit to bo obtained by establishing a new and highly expensive organisation. His own view was that every constituency should look after itself. SPEECH BY MR. GEORGE WYNDHAM. Mr. George Wyndham, M.P., supported tho motion, and spoke of the necessity of co-ordina- tion. They could not go back to the idea that every single constituency could act entirely by itself. They held about a hundred and seventy seats in the House of Commons, and there were nearly four hundr-ed seats in the United King- dom that- they did not hold. How many of those constituencies would have candidates if they were left to theiT own IXY-OUreeii He knew the case of Cheshire was somewhat peculiar, for the fringe of the county near Lancashire was closely allied with Manchester, but lie should wish that Cheshire would more realise the county patriotism which existed in too past, and might weil and ebould exist again. Ho thought it would be am admirable plan also if he quarterly meetings of tiho division of Cheshire were held in different places, such as Hyde and Sale, and that Cheshire should feci its union as a county. There were many gentle- men in Cheshire w'ho had taken no part in politics, but were, willing to do so if they were approadbed. Another reason for adopting the suggestion was that, they believed that tho NationaJ Union might be maOO tho most power- ful propagandist party in the county. The two important things before the country were the organisation of the party and its programme. The programme was one of social and fiscal re- form,* as aireexfy defined in Mr. Balfour's re- cent speech at Birmingham. (Hear, hear.) Given a programme and given tho organisation agreed on by the Chief Whip and agents of the party, all that was necessary in each division was for them to carry out that policy and to act up to that organisation. Mr. Bromley-Davenport agreed- with Lord Newton as to the danger of overlapping. There could bo no effective organisation, except the organisation of a constituency. There was one thing, however, a oentral organisation could do, and that was to provide speakers. He trusted the new organisation would not put a premium on apat-hy in any constituency where it under- took any work. Mr. J. H. Cocke approved of the proposals, and sa.id a county association could do much more than a constituency could do by itself. The resolution was on the right lines, provided the details were mrrled out judiciously and tactfully. Mr. T. F. Egorton said that in case of a bye- olection it would be possible to throw the whole weight of the county organisation into the struggle. It was, however, very difficult to arouse enthusiasm anywhere without a candi- date- Mr. Lancashire said the local men knew best the class of speaker required in their own dis- tricts. Mr. Percival Avery said he should strongly object to anybody coming to his division and using any dictatorial tome with regard to the oonduot of matters. If any change were made, one good thing would be to supply speakers at short notice whenever the agents applied for them. Mr. J. S. Harmood-Banner, M.P., said one result of the organisation would ba the provision of moie funds. Tlie central association would havo to be very particular how it dealt with the workmen's associations. (Hoar, hear.) Mr. Ryl.ands pointed out the necessity of discipline. Mr. Woliiford replied on tlie whole subject, and in replying to Lord Newton desired to point out that the National Union was a totally different body under the new constitution. The Council of the National Union consisted of members elootoo from the counties of England and Wales themselves. He also wished to point out that the Union did not contemplate interfering with any constituency. Some of the constituencies were well organised, more badly organised, and in others organisaticn hardly existed at aJl. The National Union had received many requests from Cheshire constitu- encies for assistance. No expert would be sent to any constituency without the invitation of the chairman of that division and his agent. There could be no question of either subsidising or of pauperising. The idea was tostinlUlwte and assist., and, by the best expert, advice, help each constituency to obtain a proper degree of efficiency, and, by the influence of the membara of the club, when possible, to hoip to bring about more itak-ic-st in the constituency itself. The resolution was then put and was carried unanimously. Mr. St. John Oharlton, Mr. T. F. Egerton and Mr. Cooke were appointed the committee to consult with the Duke of Westminster on be- half of tiho club, which will be represented by his Grace the Duke, the Right Hon. George Wyndham, Mr. J. H. Welsford and Mr. Hubert M. Wilson.

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