Bringing the _Leeds Mercury_ into Line with the London Dailies--Friendship with William Black--The Dissolution of 1874--The Election at Leeds--Mr. Chamberlain's Candidature for Sheffield--Mr. Gladstone's Resignation--Election of his Successor--Birth of the Caucus--The System Described--Its Adoption at Leeds--Its Effect upon the Fortunes of the Liberal Party--The Bulgarian Atrocities Agitation. It was in the autumn of 1873 that I undertook a formidable task as a journalist. I had long been of opinion that the provincial daily papers, if they were properly organised, might make themselves independent of the London dailies, and prevent the latter from competing with the local press. Having convinced the proprietors of the _Mercury_ of the soundness of my views, I looked out for allies elsewhere. The _Manchester Guardian_ was the chief rival in those days of the _Leeds Mercury_ in the great district comprising East Lancashire and Yorkshire. The _Guardian_ was conducted with spirit and energy, and I had been annoyed to find that it was gradually pushing its way into that which we regarded as the territory of the _Mercury_. I accordingly proposed to the local rival of the _Guardian_, the _Manchester Examiner_, that it should enter into an alliance with the _Leeds Mercury_ for the improvement of both newspapers. My proposal was rejected with great promptitude by the managers of the _Examiner_. They declared that they regarded the costly efforts that were being made by the _Guardian_ to establish its preeminence in Lancashire as a ridiculous waste of money, and plainly intimated that they would never attempt to enter into a competition which, in their opinion, savoured of stark lunacy.