A QUESTION FOR THE COUNTRY For the first time in many years it seemed certain that the Conservatives had lost their hold upon the country.

The times were ripe for a change of any sort.

An ill-conducted and ruinous war had drained the empire of its surplus wealth, and every known industry was suffering from an almost paralyzing depression--Medchester, perhaps, as severely as any town in the United Kingdom.

Its staple manufactures were being imported from the States and elsewhere at prices which the local manufacturers declared to be ruinous.

Many of the largest factories were standing idle, a great majority of the remainder were being worked at half or three-quarters time.