Of all the coupons received by the Editor of the “Hereford Journal,” in connection with the political guessing competition promoted by Mr. Alfred Watkins, J.P., of Harley Court, Hereford, only one was correct.
It will be remembered that Mr. Watkins offered two money prizes in connection with the competition, particulars of which were contained in the following letter which he addressed to the Editor of the “Hereford Journal”:—
“Sir,—The following statesmen have been Prime Ministers of the British Parliament during my lifetime, and I name them in the order in which they first became Premiers:—Palmerston, Derby, Russell, Disraeli, Gladstone, Salisbury, Rosebery, Balfour, Campbell-Bannerman, Asquith, Lloyd George, Bonar Law, Baldwin, Macdonald.
“It happens that I have seen and heard three of the above statesmen speaking on public platforms in the City of Hereford, in the order of their names in the above list. None them were Conservatives, and I do not remember that any Conservative named in the list has ever thus spoken in our City.
“I offer (through the Editor) a prize of ten shillings for the first correct list opened on July 28th of the three names (in above order) with the places or halls at which they spoke, but not dates. A second prize of 5/- for the second correct list opened. If not sufficient entirely correct lists of both names and places, the prizes can be given to the first of the three correct names opened only. The Editor’s decision to be final. I have deposited with him a sealed envelope with the three names and places, and empower him to make any desirable precautions, regulations or restrictions to ensure that the winners have not received information from me.—Yours truly, Alfred Watkins.”
The sealed envelope referred to by Mr. Watkins contained the following:—
“Sir,—The three statesmen I heard in Hereford were: (1) Palmerston (St. Peter’s Square, or equally correct in front of Shire Hall); (2) Lloyd George (Drill Hall); (3) Macdonald (Town Hall).
“The first was at the unveiling of the statue to Sir George CornwallCornewall Lewis about 1863, when I remember as a small boy being crushed against the railings and hearing a white-haired old man speaking. I cannot say whether the platform was within or without the railing, so either should count as correct.
“The second instance was at a Liberal meeting in the Drill Hall. I did not hear Mr. Lloyd George speak at the railway station many years later.
“The third occasion was at a non-party meeting for Poor Law Reform, when Mr. Ramsay Macdonald spoke on the same platform in the Town Hall with Mr. J. S. Arkwright, then our City member.—Yours truly, Alfred Watkins.”
As already stated, only one correct coupon was received, and this was from Mr. J. M. Hall, 3, Draper’s Lane, Leominster, who thus wins the first prize of ten shillings. The second prize of five shillings will, in the circumstances, and by desire of Mr. Watkins, be given to the Herefordshire General Hospital.
Source info: In cutting.