The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-24

Aided by Aristocratic Women
lutely Sweeping Victory
NOW CONTROL COUNCIL

Special Correspondence
LONDON, March IA.
The great wave OF reform which swept
the London boroughs in November, OK
tinguishing alltbut two Progressive Coun-
ellis, rolled with resistless power over Lon
don when the electors Of London chose
their seventh County Council. It swept
away the vice chairman Of the late Coun-
Gil, the late chairman OF the Educational
Committee and others who had become
prominent under Progressive rule
Here and there some Of the ADLER mem
! bers of the party survived, only to con-
stitute a minority which for the next
three years at least will nave to stand by
! while the municipal reformers make the
crooked financial paths straight and cut
down the eyergroHing demands upon the
ratepayers.
Fight Fiercest Ever Known.
The fight was the fiercest ever known
| in the history Of County. Council cleo
lions. The Progressvcs and Socialists did
not deny that they had spent money
freely. but claimed that they had spent 1t
| to good purpose, pointing to the tramways
as evidence of the work they had done
The municipal refornlers went straight
for the weak point of the Progressive po-
slt1on-tho high rates and the appalling
! capital commitments. #
For months past open-air meetings have
been held by the municipal reformers, and
i tons Of election literature and posters
have been poured into the constituencies
from the offices Of the London Municipal
i Society, the chief officials of which
| worked day and night to secure the result
which rewarded their efforts.
Women played q most important part IN
the election, and day after day Lady
lGlcho, Lady Kerry, Lady Harcourt LADY
Cheylesmore, Mrs. George Alexander and
and independent" electors.
The result of the appeal to tho elnc.
| torate astonishcd even the organizers OF
this unprecedented victory In all the
constituencies the municipal reformcra fl.
creased their poll. Though, generally
4 speaking. the Progressives also Increased
their vote, they could not stand against
the reserve force brought into play by Inc
Municipal Reformers. i
Old members like Lord Monkswel who
4 has held n seat in the Council slnoo 1891
went down In tho Progressive debncle
the popularity Of Lord Rosebery,s son
could not save him from defeat at Lewis.
ham, while four members Of ParlInmen,
VINO belonged to the Progressive purity
wero defeated = =
AS Council Now Stands.
Z In the last Council the state Of parties
was' Progressivcs, SO; Moderatcs, 81; In
: dependent, ], and the ProgressIves had {
majority of forty-eight. Now the Council
Is composed as follows: N1oderates. 70
Progressves. 81; Independent and no
J gresslve, I; Labor and Socialist, i, ana a.
the latter will no doubt work In tho mar
!. on tho Progressive side, the Moderate.
have net majority OF forty
! There are also nineteen Aldermen In In,
Council, sixteen of whom are Progress
slyes and three Moderates. Nine ofNth,
Aldermen retire this year. and it i
:. thought probable that the Moderates vii
claim the whole of these positions, nnt
7, elect their own supporters to MI them
!. Hitherto the Aldermen have been chosel
i IN proportion to the representation Of pnr
ties on the Council. This is tho flrs
/. time In the life Of the Council that IN
y Moderatcs have been in majority
though the polling resulted In tie !,