Testimonies

Surrage, Thomas Lyddon | Day 1

Witness Type: Other

Witness Testimony:

• 121.

  And across it ? – About the same I should say.

• 122.

  I think you say it has not been, in your knowledge, usual at previous elections for the last 15 or 20 years to have so many FLAGS or PUBLIC-HOUSES ? -I do not know much about the public -houses, but I may say that I have not seen so many FLAGS for a number of years. The practice has been growing up the last two or three elections, and when once anything of that kind grows it grows fast. For some time after the passing of the Act we saw nothing of colours except a few put up at people’s private expense.

• 123.

  Do you think the constituency look for a thing like a large number of PUBLIC-HOUSES being engaged and a large number of FLAGS ? – I do not think that the constituency care much about the PUBLIC-HOUSES, though no doubt the publicans do; but I do think think a constituency of this kind is very much pleased with a lot of FLAGS flying ; at all events, the agents think so, because they go into that line pretty strongly. When it is done upon one side they must do it upon the other or they do not stand a fair chance.

• 124.

  Had Mr. C. Roberts many ? — Yes, of course.

• 125.

  And you think that the constituency like to have that kind of employment given to them ? – One class do.

• 126.

  What class would that be ? — I think with regard to all these questions you would obtain much safer answers from those who are concerned in working the elections, because I know nothing but what I see in going along the street. Undoubtedly a large number of people do look for employment at the time of the election.

• 127.

  The FLAGS are not carried about the streets I think, but are erected upon POLES ? – Yes, they are erected upon POLES principally, I do not think any were carried about the streets in Sandwich, though there may have been some over here.

• 128.

  Do you think there is a certain class of the constituency who look to be employed and who look to having POLES and FLAGS, and so on, with a view to getting employment upon that kind of work ? — Yes, there is a great many people hanging about, and they look for employment of any kind ; that is the case anywhere, I believe, so that I can make the observation generally.

• 129.

  There were in Deal, were there not, a very large number of FLAGS and POLES ? – Yes, I may say so at once, because I happened to see them. I heard of it and came over to see the sight one morning. I came over to make arrangements for the polling and I was surprised and to some extent pleased by seeing such a display of FLAGS and banners of an ornamental nature, because it was rather amusing to go along the street and count them. All along the beach at the end towards Deal and Walmer there was a vast amount of bunting put up and some of it at very considerable expense.

• 130.

  Had you known Mr. Roberts in Sandwich the year before the election ? – No.

• 131.

  I may take it that he was a stranger to the place ? – Yes; when he called upon me and left his card I happened to be engaged and gave him an unceremonious answer, and afterwards I ascertained it “was the candidate.

• 132.

  When did he call upon you ? – I forget the date now, but it was the first day be appeared in Sandwich.

• 133.

  Can you give me about the date ? – No, not at this moment. I see that the writ was issued upon the 11th of May, and he was down a week or ten days before that – a week perhaps.

• 134.

  He would probably call upon you as far as you can judge about a week before that ? – Yes, about a week before that. I do not know how long he had been at Deal, but I do not think it could have been above a day or two.

• 135.

  I do not know whether you have the means of ascertaining exactly the day he called upon you ? – I think I can by referring, not to my diary, but to things that occurred at the time. I have no distinct memory of the date, but other things may bring it to my recollection.

• 136.

  If you can kindly send the expenses retain for 1874 ? – I will look at all the papers.

• 137.

  And when you send us the return for 1874, can you send us the vouchers as well, sealed up ? – I will send you anything I have. I believe I have the vouchers. I know I have the returns for I have looked at them. I will send everything of that kind I can find.

• 138.

  If you have the vouchers for 1874, perhaps you will let us have them sealed up ? – Yes, I will, if I have them.

• 139.

  Were there a large number of ROSETTES displayed ; were people wearing colours to any great extent ? – I did not see any great number of ROSETTES myself.

• 140.

  Neither at Sandwich, nor Deal and Walmer ? – No. There were some about, I know, but not to any great extent; not any great number. It was said before, in former years, that every one wore a rosette, men, women, and children.

• 141.

  We see that in the 1874 election there was a considerable majority for the Liberal candidate, above 300 ; can you account at all for the very considerable majority that Mr. Roberts had over the Liberal candidate ? – No, I cannot.

• 142.

  It was a majority of 440 ? – Yes. I was much surprised myself with the result I would not believe the figures when they come out.

• 143.

  And you are able to account for it ? – Yes. On that very morning my idea, as an outsider, was that it was a very close run, and thought it my duty to advise the returning officer that in the case of a tie he had got a casting vote, and he had better think about what he would do. It turned out to be a majority of 400 odd, so that I was quite out of the running. I knew nothing at all about it.

• 144.

  You cannot give us any reason to account for it, or in any way account for it yourself ? – I should say, simply, as a man of the world, that the fact that Mr. Crompton Roberts was here for a full week before anybody else appeared had something to do with it. The people on the other side failed to find a candidate, nobody appeared, and common sense tells one that had a great deal to do with it.

• 145.

  Did that to some extent influence it ? – Undoubtedly. I should say so as a man of the world.

• 146.

  Do you think that alone would account for 700 difference between the last election and the election of of 1874 ? – It would not be so much as that.

• 147.

  There was in 1874 a majority of 300 for the Liberal candidate, and of 400 for the Conservative candidate in 1880, a difference of 700 ? – Half that number of voters going from one side to the other would do it.

• 148.

  You think that had a good deal to do with it, do you ? – There was some little change in political feeling, I believe. Some people on the Liberal side said there was a decided change. I should doubt that as far as regards a decided change, but I should think there was some change of political opinion, but not to the extent of 700. I know Mr. Crompton Roberts’ people said there was a large change. Any man in the field for a week, with an active set of agents about, and spending money, of course advances his position.

• 149.

  When were the expenses for the unopposed election returned ? – Recently, perhaps a fortnight ago ; the 23rd of September, I think.

• 150.

  Do you know at all how it happened they were not returned before ? – No, I do not. I apprehend they were not made out.