Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-04
J|NGO|SMDEAD
So POLITICS
DECLARES
BIG SURPRISES CAME LAST
WEEK IN NORTH LEEDS VOTE
AND FROM OTHER SOURCES
UNSUSPECTED BY THE ms.

LONDON, Aug. Ill. the new prime
minister expected a vote of confidence
from the first constituency polled since
bis appointment, he has been disagreeably
surprised.
The return Of Mr. Barran for North
Leeds by the handsome majority of 75s Is
by far the most remarkable Vlctory
achieved by the present opposition
Mr. Jackson, now Lord Allerton, coro-
nation peer, had sat for North Leeds
without a break since the town was d.
vided by act Of parliament in 1885, and at
the last general election. only two years
ago, he beat his liberal opponent by 2,517
votes, being a thousand more than his
majority in 1895.
Such q tremendous turnover cannot BE
explained away by any local or acciden-
tai cause, such as the personal popularity
Of, the late member, for on this occasion
both candidates were equally well known.
The conservative Sir Arthur Lawson IS
president Of the association of the whole
city, and was supported by the members
for Central Leeds. the prime minister's
brother, the president of the board OF
trade. On the other hand Mr.. Barran
had the assistance of the members for
West Leeds, the liberal whip. Mr.. Her
bert Gladstone.
Thus was the contest one of unusual in
terest and excited an extraordinary
amount OF public attention. but IL really
turned upon the education bill.
Mr. Gerald Balfour did his best TO stir
the embers Of enthusiasm for the war and
dressed himself, so to speak, in khaki.
The result shows that jingoism is dead
and all appeals to il are perfectly futile.
The immediate issue of the proposed
distinction Of school boards with the fur
Their endowment of clerical schools, as
Mr. Balfour's bill was originally intro
duced. the town council Of Leeds would
have been able to protect its school
board and decline the duty Of controlling
elementary education. That option has
been taken away.
This protest from the capital Of the
west riding comes in the nick Of time.
There have been only two contested cleo
lions since the bill was introduced. One
was Bury: North Leeds is the other. In
both cases a seat was captured from the
government by the opposition. At Bury
the tax on corn was the chief topic. 1t
was not neglected in Leeds, but in North
Leeds education was more prominent
than finance. No doubt, however, free
trade has q share in the triumph of tho
undenomina tiOnalists.
An accession of more than $500 votes to
the liberal strength, in a single division OF
a single city is evidence OF public opinion
1t comes, too at a moment when minis
ters are endeavoring to beat dowIf the
liberal party by sheer force and to drive
an English bin through committee with
the aid of the Irish vote.
No immediate consequence OF this signi-
ficant election is likely to be seen In the
commons, but after Monday the progress
OF the education bill win have TO be sus-
pended till Oct, and during the recess the
liberal leaders viii have time to develop
their plan Of campaign. If they are to do
any good they must rouse the country.
Liberal churchmen and political non-cop-
formists are a formidable combination.
Upon this question the house of COM
mons does not represent the country. II
was the direct result of the war fever,
and with the subsistence of that disorder
its normal authority disappears. A new
corn law and new church rate are en-
tirely beyond its lawful Jurisdiction.
HERBERT PAUL