The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-28
New York Herald Special Gable Service. Copy.
right, 1905. by the New York Herald,

New York Herald Special Gable Service. Copy
right, 1909, by the New York Herald.
London, JAN Everybody is
heartily glad that the elections are
practically over, and none more SO than
the West End trades people, whose
shops have been scantily patronized
during the contest, and the theatrical
managers, whose companies have been
playing to emptier houses than have
been seen for many a long day, tho at
the beginning of the elections excite
ment prevailed, such as, it is said, has
never before been known. But the
last week the enthusiasm has dwindled
to nil.
The sweeping liberal victory robbing
the latter part of the fight of all in
terest. For some days longer, there
will be small isolated engagements in
remote constituencies, but the main
battle has already been lost and won.
Nothing that happens now can ma
terially affect the results which the
passing Of every day has made the
more emphatic. '~
So stupendous is The victory Of the
one party and the defeat of the other
that it Is possible even for partizans
to discuss the circumstances with as
mach philosophy and impartiality as
they might discuss an earthquake.
49, \ A Social Phenomenon.
The event transcends the sphere Of
mere politics and becomes a social
phenomenon. The liberal, labor and
nationalist parties have between them
captured more than 40 seats from the
unionists and their combined forces
will make up a majority over the po-
litical opposition appropriating to 800
votes. ..y
Even combined with the nationalist,
the unionists will be able to master lit
tie more<t than 200 votes in full house,
supposing that, on any occasion, the
labor party, nearly fifty strong, chooses
also to vote against the government,
the ministerial whips could still rely
% on clear margin Of from $50 to 200.
No parliamentary situation at all
comparable to this has been expert
enced since the majority of 800 nomi-
nally enjoyed by Lord Grey in 1882.
Nor has this cataclism been any re-
spector Of persons. Former ministers
have been engulfed to left and right.
Austen Chamberlain is the only front
rank member Of Mr.. Balfour's admin
istration to survive the flood, while
some of the oldest and most respected
members of the house have also per-
ished miserably.
Costs Much to Lose.
Many unionist candidates who have
been contesting what were regarded as
certainties are declaring their. expert
ence amounts to expending a maximum
Of money in order to purchase maxi
mum Of unpleasantness. They think it
very hard, to find that they have got
nothing out Of these certainties' but
the humiliation of defeat at the cost
of close on $4,000 and a great deal
Of very hard labor.
Among the many women who took
an active part in the electoral contests
none were more energetic than the
contingent of American peeresses
whose political sympathies were nat
urally stimulated. by the rumor thai
expenses Of the labor candidates were
being betrayed by a well-known Ameri
can worth millions. The Duchess o:
Marlborough was one Of the most in
defatigable, penetrating the most IN
promising looking slums in her beauti
full new automobile. She had more thai
once to avail herself Of the protection
of the police.