The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-02-13
DIRTY CAMPAIGN
!. ONLY THE START
OF REAL FIGHT
Rival Parties So Evenly
Matched That Contro-
versies Between Them
Unsettled.
MAY BE BLOODSHED
People Must Win Over
Strong Rival or Wait for
Generations for An
other Chance.


Generations for An
other Chance.
BY CHARLES p. STEWART
London Correspondent Of United
Press
LONDON, Feb. 12.-Instead of
ending the big fight between mass
es and classes, England's national
election proves to have been no
more than preliminary skirmish.
The main battle is still to come. 1t
promises to be fiercer than anyone
expected. To say that bloodshed
is threatened would not be going
too far.
Backed by brains, money and in
fluence, the aristocrats felt sure
of winning the election by q ma
jority sufficient to end, for a CEN
fury or so, all talk of limiting their
privileges. Strong in the con-
seriousness of superior numbers and
of what they considered a just
cause, the people were satisfied of
their ability to bury the lords under
such mountain of votes that there
could be no further question of
equality, in future. for all English
men.
BOTH PARTIES DISAPPOINTED
Had either side won as decisively
as it expected the controversy be-
tween them would undoubtedly
have been definitely settled, at
last for a long time to come. AS
the election turned out, however,
the rival parties are shown to be
so evenly matched that 1t is still
uncertain which is the stronger.
The liberals have, to be sure, NOM
inally a small majority, but 1t is SO
split into factions and represents
so many conflicting interests that
it is more than doubtful II it can
work successfully. The conserva-
tive minority, though minority, Is
a large one-compact and danger
ous-and at any time 1t may force
a fresh fight at the polls.
One thing has been accomplish
ed. Masses and classes have been
mutually undeceived as to one an
others strength. The aristocrats
realize that they are making a last
stand--that they must crush what
they look on as a formidable pOpu-
lar uprising now or go down to a
defeat from which they can never
recover. The people appreciate
that the citadel they are attacking
is many times stronger than they
dreamed-that If they fail to cap
ture it now 1t will be generations
before they can reorganize their
forces for another assault.
WAS A DIRTY CAMPAIGN
The dirtiness of the past cam
paign was almost beyond belief. So
far as physical violence was con-
cerned, the liberals were perhaps
the worst offenders. But at cor
rupting and intimidating voters the
far outdid them.
Gangs of liberal rowdies made a
business Of breaking up conserva-
tive meetings, smuggling those who
attended, bowling down speakers
and stoning those who resisted be-
ing howled down. Candidates for
parliament were unable to tour
their constituencies without strong
guards. In spite even of their
guards many were knocked down,
beaten, kicked and trampled. An
attempt was made to shoot one.
Conservative clubrooms were sack
ed and numerous efforts were made
by Infatuated mobs to burn the
houses of candidates or their lieu.
tenants.
Nor was ruffianism altogether on
the liberal side. Several liberal as
we'll as conservative candidates
were roughly handled. Chancellor
of the Exchequer Lloyd George
himself escaped violence at the
hand of mob at Grimsby only by
precipitate flight and several
hours hiding until arrangements
could be made for smuggling him
out of town.
SPEND MILLIONS FOR VOTES
Aside from what the election
regulations allow them to spend
on legitimate campaign expenses,
the conservatives are estimated %
have devoted $15,000,000 to the d.
rect and indirect purchase of votes.
Free drinks were served, under
their campaign managers orders,
for weeks before election by nearly
every saloon In England to whom
soever would promise in return to
cast his ballot with the conserva-
tives. Scores Of large employers,
who feared their employees would
vote for liberal candidates II allow
ed to vote ut all, did not permit
their men to visit the polls. Others
warned their forces of wholesale
dismlssals and heavy reductions in
wages II the liberals won. BY the
country gentry hundreds of ten
ants were evicted for refusing to
support conservatives and thou
sands Of others escaped :, eviction
only by accepting the landlords
political terms.
English laws against election cor,
ruption, and indeed against VIC
lence, are very strict, but both