Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-20

| now takes a big share in elections. La
dies of all political persuasions go out
canvassing for their favorite candidates.
/ once heard lady observe that can
wasting was Summing without it's phi
lanthropy. Anyhow. after the novelty
has evapOrated, canvassing, which is
wearying enough in the parliamentary
candidate, becomes almost uncomfortable
to the rest of his band Of volunteers, es-
pecially as 1t now has to be done on such
systematized lines.
Old women in a parish are said to look
upon curate as the spiritual maid OF
all work of the poor. Certainly at cleo
ton time they extort their toll OF patience
and attention from canyassers. The
amount of voluntary labor contributed by
society to politics at an election Is out of
the proportion to what is given by other
classes, apart from that of the profess
SiOnal politicians.
Consider a hostess and host during
general election. They cannot get the
guns they want to shoot their pheasants,
and they cannot get the men they want
to pair off with the girls for dances or
with the married women for fllrtatlons.
During a general election social enter
tanning out of London is at standstiil.
London is less affected, partly owing to
its vast size, but chiefly owing to its sell
fish and varied interests.
Whatever influence women nave on
men. it is their husbands and fathers
politics. And it is the ensrossment IN
other things. the more numerous outlets
for intellectual energy in the metropolis.
which make a general election less vital
socially there than elsewhere.
Socially. general election is an awful
Jore. 1t ,neans the entire temporary sac
rifice of all the time and energy. not only
OF the candidates. but of all within their
influence The social side comes when all
the auntS and cousins and sisters turn
out to get votes for the only possible
representative of this exceptionally en-
!ightened constituency 1t is subse
luently that the real bad time comes
Election Affects Trade.
The next London season after a general
election is always a bad one, because peo-
pie have SO much less money to spend,
and also because SO many families do
not come up to town that summer. Ask
any country tradesnan, and he will tell
you the same thing: that i'm the country
far less money circulates after an appeal
to the suffrages of the electorate. Pub
fishers keep back books lest their sale
re injured: managers do not produce
plays by the best authors. This is the
practical reason why this practical ma
ton would not tolerate triennial parlia
ments. Only the music rails and the
public houses are unaffected adversely.
There is this further point, that there
are FEWER society marriages dlleF i SeI-
eral election. Not only do young couples
mark time bit before they incur the
expense of setting up house, but they cal
culate that their wedding presents will
not be so handsome. This sounds cynical,
but everybody knows cases in point.
A general election ais irritating to So
ciety, because either it's members have
to curl up in their own shells in selfish
abstraction, and SO be out of the fashion
which is always unpleasant-or else
n
into that of the proletariat. In their
heart of hearts very few women in So
ciety care twopence about individuals
beneath them.
They are influenced partly by love of
excitement, of liking to have finger
in the pie. and of having an experience
which is not that of yesterday or of to-
morrow, for which latter they deyoutly
women in society are affected by patriot
ism. Just as they sent their loved ones
to fight in South Africa, they them
selves will work for their party, because
they believe that party-whichever it is
lis the one which can best serve the
needs of the empire.
A good indication of the shifting CEN
tiers of naval strength all over the world
the manner in which most of the naval
powers a.e providing new bases for the
operations of their fleets. England was
one of the first to take this step, as
portance of the North sea, by deciding
on a base at Rosyth.
Germany is now following the lead
by transferring the first squadron of her
seagoing fleet from kiel to Wilhelms-
haven. where considerable developments
have been going on during the last two
years. 1t may reasonably be expected
that France will take some such step
ships that has just taken place. though
very violent opposition to the course
has already been manifested In the sea-
ports likely to be affected Italy. how
ever, has long decided to provide a
fortified base at Ancona. near Venice,
and four millions sterling have been
voted to begin new wo ks there In
northern Europe. We have Russia de-
at Sveaborg, which has been termed the
"Gibraltar of the north" and to base
her new ships on this place. instead OF
on Cronstadt, which is considered too
near st. Petersburg in the event OF war
The action of Russia has now led
Sweden to consider the advisa bility of
shifting her principal naval. base from
Carlscrona to a suitable bay in the
Stockholm archipelago. in order to check
mate the fortification of Sveaborg.
1t has been matter for speculation
among those. interested in the military
welfare of the empire yhy the present
government entered so heartily into the
development Of the great imperial general
staff movement, and learn that apart from
other considerations it was to promote
scheme for further reduction of the
army.
The scheme, which will come into force
If the present government comes into
power again in January. is further re-
duction of the regular army by the
eighteen battalions now employed in CO.
E.lonial service. also by a reduction in the
number of garrison artillery batteries.
The thought is appalling to those who
believe in the German DOGGY. but the
scheme is in black and white in the min
lister of wars dispatch box. The alarm
lists declare that the credulity of the
country will pay heavy price IL 1t be-
lieyes that such a reduction can be
made with safety at the present moment,
when the armed world is actually at our
DOORS
Holding Back Turkey Shipments.
Upon the information Of one very large
dealer in poultry in Smithfield market
l learn that exporters of turkeys in Aus
| tria- Hungary and Italy are holding back
their supplies. Last year the popularity
of the turkey was SO great that fabu-
lous prices were given In the last few
days, wholesale men buying back at
loss in order to supply customers.
thousands of birds which should be on
the English market. The policy is I'M
doubtedly mistaken one for the mar
ket in few days time will be flooded
| with poultry, and instead of high prices
fbpr- al, OF airu