Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01

consequence you seldom find a shopkeeper
with an opinion which he is willing 10
express openly at election times. especial
ly if his views incline toward radicalism.
Threatening Employees.
Not only are sEopkeepers brought under
this structure but large factories, gas
works and other institutions employing
numbers of men usually manage TO make
it known tina; they expect their employees
to vote certain way when the time
comes. Foremen ere usually able 10 as
certain the views of their men by NOM
nation papers which-just before an
election-are handed around to every one.
While these nomination forms are not. OF
course. counted official votes. they are
sure indication of the attitude OF mind
of the individual voter. If he refuses 10
sign the form ii is taken as an indication
thai he is hostile. and men are often
dropped for refusal to sign. During an
election at Whitby in 1860 a laborer on
large farm was fired because he came
TO dinner wearing a tie Of the wrong
color. The discharge of men three or
four weeks after an electon-usual!y for
some Irifing cause-is one of the most cr-
binary events in polite al 'shake-ups in
England.
w J. Fisher liberal ex-canddate for
Canterbury recently called attention to a
form Of vote forcing employed IN that
city two years ago. In publ Shed letter
he saws: Under the pratensa of saving
their men time and trouble. il is frequent
~ made al excuse by large firms to con-
vey tEeir wnrk-peopie To tie poll with
every circums ance of display on behalf
of a particular cand.date-clearly form
Of intimidation I Eayr myself witnessed
the spectacle of work-paople being
driven to thu poll by their employers in
vans and ears decorated with The party
coiors and the portrait of the candidate
favored by The firm
Pounds for Peerages.
Landowners and their agents often serve
their tenants with election notices If they
ascertain that the latter are voting the
wrong way. AS most Of the great land
owners in England helcag TO the con-
servative pary this fern If moral sua-
sion is more frequently ihdulged in by
tories than by liberals. though both par
lies freely resort to the tactics Of
ground batting and other lodges al
ready mentioned.
In order to raise the fur Is required for
carrying en- Il general election both par
ties promise donors of various kinds
o generous contributors to party funds.
and the sale of knghthood& and other
titles is VIGOROUSLY INDUCED in. Though
the presen: liberal government. when it
first went into power. made a strenuous
attack ON the louise Of lords. it has recent
" come to ligh: that the liberals ere tied
more peers-that is, conferred honorary
titles in exchange for contributions to
party funds-than did the previous gov
ernIaen; Of conservatives or tories. To
obtain a knighthcod IN England the sim
p!ost way s by heavy contribution 10
party funds. 1t is estimated hat one
NAV obtain a title anyw .ere from $4,000
up
II. c. Lea MP. has called the attent on
of he house Of commons several times
to this "scandalous barter of honors' In
England. and before long there will be
big agitation against this way of ra sing
election funds. Even Though this 81 a
ton should be rails d. however. it does
not follow tina. this form of corruption
will cease. The giving of pounds for
peerages" is now recognized as one of the
easies ways o. getting into the nobility
Of England. which in consequence. has
lost nearly all it's old-tme eXclusiveness.
Copyright. 1908, by Curtis Brown.)