Plymouth by-election, 1900

add details on issues in the campaign

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	==Bakground==		==Bakground==
−	Clarke, a prominent barrister and [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Solicitor-General]] in the Conservative government of 1886–1892, had held the seat since 1880. In 1899, Clarke had found himself in total disagreement with his party over the government's [[Second Boer War|South African policy]], and in early February 1900 his constituency party at Plymouth formally called upon him to resign his seat.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Sir E. Clarke and his constituents |day_of_week=Friday |date=9 February 1900 |page_number=6 |issue=36061| }}</ref> He resigned the following day.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Sir Edward Clarke and his constituents|day_of_week=Saturday |date=10 February 1900 |page_number=8 |issue=36062| }}</ref>	+	Clarke, a prominent barrister and [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Solicitor-General]] in the Conservative government of 1886–1892, had held the seat since 1880. Following the outbreak of war in [[South Africa]] in late 1899, Clarke had found himself in total disagreement with his party over the government's [[Second Boer War|South African policy]]. In early February 1900 his constituency party at Plymouth formally called upon him to resign his seat,<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Sir E. Clarke and his constituents |day_of_week=Friday |date=9 February 1900 |page_number=6 |issue=36061| }}</ref> and he resigned the following day.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Sir Edward Clarke and his constituents|day_of_week=Saturday |date=10 February 1900 |page_number=8 |issue=36062| }}</ref>
	==Candidates==		==Candidates==
	===Unionist===		===Unionist===
−	The executive of the Conservative Association suggested Hon. Ivor Guest as the Unionist candidate on 10 February,<ref name=TT12021900>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Election intelligence|day_of_week=Monday |date=12 February 1900 |page_number=6 |issue=36063| }}</ref> and this was confirmed by the local association two days later. No other potential candidates were mentioned.	+	The executive of the Conservative Association suggested Hon. Ivor Guest as the Unionist candidate on 10 February,<ref name=TT12021900>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Election intelligence|day_of_week=Monday |date=12 February 1900 |page_number=6 |issue=36063| }}</ref> and this was confirmed by the local association two days later.<ref name=TT13021900>{{Cite newspaper The Times |articlename=Election intelligence|day_of_week=Thursday |date=13 February 1900 |page_number=8 |issue=36064}}</ref> No other potential candidates were mentioned.
−	Guest was a lieutenant in the [[Dorset Yeomanry]], and had volunteered for service during the [[Second Boer War]]. He visited the constituency during the campaign, and left for [[South Africa]] shortly after the election.	+	Guest was a lieutenant in the [[Dorset Yeomanry]], and had volunteered for service during the [[Second Boer War]]. He visited the constituency during the campaign, arriving directly from Dorchester barracks where he had been in training,<ref name=TT13021900 /> and left for [[South Africa]] shortly after the election.
	===Liberal===		===Liberal===
−	The Plymouth liberals did not choose a candidate, but referred the matter to the general council of the party. One source states that many liberals were opposed to a contest. Hon. [[Thomas Brassey, 2nd Earl Brassey|Thomas A. Brassey]] was mentioned as a possible candidate.<ref name=TT12021900 />	+	The Plymouth liberals did not choose a candidate, but referred the matter to the general council of the party. One source states that many liberals were opposed to a contest, and a majority of the council decided not to contest the election.<ref name=TT13021900 /> Hon. [[Thomas Brassey, 2nd Earl Brassey|Thomas A. Brassey]] had previously been mentioned as a possible candidate.<ref name=TT12021900 />
	===Others===		===Others===
	==Issues==		==Issues==
		+	The ongoing [[Second Boer War]] became the important issue, as Clarke resigned following disagreement with his own party over their policy. The local Conservative association chose an officer bound for South Africa as their candidate, and when he visited the constituency, Guest duly declared himself a strong supporter of the government.<ref name=TT13021900 />
	==Result==		==Result==