New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-09
P4RLIAnENT DISSOLVED.

King Edward yesterday dissolved Parliament
and rritS were at once issued for the election of
a new House of Commons, which is TO meet
within thirty-ive days. This was in exact &C
cOrdance with the expectations of some weeks
past The electoral campaign machinery is al
ready at work. and before the end OF the present
week we shall know the result in number OF
constituencies. The boroughs will be heard from
first. and it is quite possible they will show the
Unionists holding their own, if not actually
making some gains in places where labor eandf-
dates are running and thus dividing the Liberal
vote But it would be rash to base any esti-
mate of the final result upon the first two or
three days polling.
Seldom has there been more hotly contested
election in the United Kingdom than this Will be.
AS our London correspondent said in his cable
letter on Sunday, the number of uncontested
seats is smaller than for many years, showing
that a fight is to be made in every constituency
where there is even the smallest lighting chance,
and indeed in many where the result is fore
gone conclusion We have already pointed out
how many seats were held in the late Parlfa-
ment by very small majorities. In such null
tinIicity of closely divided constituencies the
possibilities of change in the complexion of the
new house are great, and some startling sur
prises NAV be the order of the day. For pur-
poses of comparison it may be interesting to bear
in mind that the house which was dissolved
Yesterday contained at the time of its election,
in 1900 4O2 Unionists. 1856 Liberals and 80
Nationalists The Liberals have recently esti-
mated that the new house will contain 200
Vnionists. 3S9 Liberals and 80 NatiOnalists. but
if is scarcely probable that there will be so
sweeping political revolution as that. If the
Liberals secure a clear majority of a dozen
over all others. they will have cause for great
eXultation.
The campaign will be much shorter than that
of a general election in America, but it will
make rp in vigor what it lacks in length. Dis
patches have already told of some passionate
scenes at public meetings. There are reports of
15OOO0GG0 political pamphlets to be distributed
among the 100000 electors. The "Anti-Tea
Duty League" is covering hoardings with posters
fifty feet long The Liberal League has been
paying big prizes for the best cartoons. As for
public speaking, there will be an amount of it
rivaIling the palmiest days OF American spell
binding" The strictness of the Corrupt and
Illegal Practices Prevention act will however,
serve as a bar against the too free use of money,
and will save the election from the scandals and
suspicious of scandals that have at times marked
elections here. The average legitimate expenses
are about $4,000 for each candidate, for which,
of course he can hope TO get not cent of salary
in return. But If if can be shown that single
farthing was used as even an indirect bride the
election viii be invalidated.
In such fashion is the Mother of Parlia-
ments" to be renewed and in such fashion is the
nation which has for many centuries set the
world an example of self government to demon
strate its continued fitness for that estate.