East Glamorganshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Throughout its existence it was held by the Liberal Party and it was a constituency largely dominated by the coal mining industry.

[1] Ultimately the two leading candidates proved to be Alfred Thomas, a prominent figure in the public life of Cardiff, where he had served as Mayor in 1881–2, and William Bowen Rowlands, a Pembrokeshire-born lawyer.

After a contest lasting several months, Rowlands withdrew, ostensibly to prevent a split in the Liberal vote following the appearance of a Conservative candidate.

[2] A leading Baptist, Thomas's victory owed much to his nonconformist connections, upon which this 'amiable and benevolent man' based much of his political outlook.

[7] The Liberal Association eschewed an opportunity to select a working man, with their chairman declaring that 'neither a Tory nor a Socialist should occupy the seat'.

However, the war intervened, and by the 1918 General Election the seat had been abolished following extensive boundary changes and the creation of the new constituencies of Caerphilly and Pontypridd which would ultimately become Labour strongholds.