New-York tribune., 1906-07-06
PIrTALLs oF CoRRupT1oN.

In this connection I recall the former Colonial
Secretary Joseph Chamberlain, relating to
one occasion how his friend and chief lieutenant.
the Right Hon. Jesse Ceilings had been unseated,
after having been returned member for Ipswich,
merely because of his agents had promised 20
pay the sum OF three shillings and sixpence-that
is to say, about so cents-for defraying the cost
of the railroad ticket to Ipswich Of single voter
who was temporarily absent from the borough.
The agent discovered afterward that he had done
wrong in offering defTay the small expense in
question. and accordingly refused payment. The
voter, considerably disgusted, loud in his
plants, which came 10 the knowledge Of Mr. Col
lingss defeated opponent who thereupon made
petition against the validity Of Mr.. Colingss cleo
tion, the ground of illegal practices'-that is
to say, Of corruption. The judge before whom the
case was brought for trial at Ipswich deemed this
single circumstance sufficient to unseat Mr..
Ceilings
In another instance-also cited by Mr.. Chamber
lain in my conversation with him about the matter
a Member of Parliament. who had been elected for
the constituency OF StOurbrdge was unseated for
sole that short time before election he
had promised of the voters the loan Of of
his agricultural machines.
These election cases tried by the Judges OF
the High Court without juries, and there is ap-
peal from their decision
Among the oddities of the English election laws
which will appear strange 10 Americans those
use of carriages or horses and from defraying the
railroad expenses for the conveyance of electors
to the polls. He Is. however at perfect liberty to
place his own carriages and horses or those OF
friends. the disposal of his constituents for the
purpose. OF course. this is contrary all demo-
cratic nations. For whereas the rich candidate
and his friends place any number of their
private carriages at the disposal of the electors
many of whom relish the privilege OF driving for
in gorgeous eouipages behind servants in
livery, the poor candidate is debarred from making
OF hiring any public conveyance for the
transportation of his voters to the polls. curious
d IL Ca, Aa&1,
localities such for instance, the seacoast
the banks of rivers, where the electors have
the water in order to reach the polling places
In such cases these the candidate is allowed to
pay for the use Of the boat.
Lord and Lady Clifden and their son would have
received great deal more sympathy in all this
unpleasant matter were it not for the able
unpopularity of the viscount at court and in so
ciety, much of It having originated in connection
with his shabby treatment of his kinsman the fifth
Earl of Hardwicke. Having acquired by purchase
a mortgage to the extent Of $00O,0O0 upon the
ancestral country seat and estates in Cambridge
shire Of Lord Hardwicke he suddenly and without
any warning took advantage Of momentary
barrassment that prevented the earl from paying
the appointed date the interest upon the mort
gagged property to forecose, thereby obtaining the
entire Wmpole Hall estates worth 100000 at the
lowest estimate. one-third Of their real value
Wimpole Hail. with it's glorious double
Of elm trees three miles in length, and planted
turleS ago, IS by no means the only property that
Lord Clfden has acquired in this manner. In fact.
he has the reputation of making a speciality of in
vesting money IN the acquisition of mortgages on
estates Of fellow peers. which he proceeds 10 fore
close the earliest legal opportunity. This has
naturally not contributed to endear him to his fell
low legislators. He is enormously rich and is the
owner of the Iaost valuable tin mines in Great
Britain which have this popularity that they ex-
tend for several miles under the sea They yield
him an income of about S2,000000 year. lie sue
ceeded to the Viscounty of Clifden about seven
years ago. having previously sat in the House OF
Lords as Lord Robartes.
RUNAWAY MARRIAGES A BAR TO COURT.
was known previous to his accession to the title as
Leo Ellis and was celebrated for his hatred OF high
hats and frock coats, invariably showing himself
in Pail Mall. in St. James's and in the Row in the
most countrified and bucoc of costumes He hg-
ured In numerous lawsuits against his wife, a
charming woman. who a sister of the Roman
Catholic Archbishop StonoT Indeed the conflict
between the couple furnished constant element of
interest English society the litigation compris-
ing an attempt by the Viscountess to secure a
dissolution OF the marriage and an effort the
part OF the husband to obtain his wife's arrest on
the charge of kidnapping their son.
The troubles between the TWO originated in re-
gious differences and i'll questions the creed Of
the only son and OF the two daughters The boy
died before attaining manhood and the eldest girl
likewise died while the only remaining child known
as "Ducky" Ellis made runaway marriage with
Granville Knox which led Queen Victoria to issue
through the Lord Chamherlain's department. an an
nouneement that runaway marriages would be re-
sarded as "A bar TO the presentation or admission
to the court of the heroine Of the escapade.
MAROIfISE DE FONTENOY