The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-15
England Intensely Interested
in Election Which May
Decide Vital Issues.
POLICE ARE READY
FOR EXPECTED RIOTS
Reserves Being Held at Every Sta
ton IN London and the
Provinces.

LONDON, Jan. 15.-In sixty-six Lon
don and provincial constituencies today
an enormous vote is being poned in the
most hotly contested election ever held
in EEsla d.
Excitement accompanies the voting
everywhere and police reserves are held
in readiness at every station IN Lon
don and the provinces 70 suppress ex-
pected riots.
The sixty-six constituencies voting to-
day are entitled TO total representation
Of seventy-four members in parliament.
These seventy-four. with the three unop-
posed Conservatives who were returned
to parliament yesterday. Including Jo-
seph Chamberlain and fourteen unop-
posed candidates who were declared
elected today, viii make total Of
uInety-one members chossr after today's
baUoJinE, or practically -ne-seventh OF
the house Of commons membership, the
total being SO.
OF the fourteen Unopposed elections to-
day. there are one uon-parfsan, Speaker
Lowthe-. one Liberal, sex en- Coazerva-
tlves. and FIVE Irish Nationals.
Liberals Confident
The constituencies represented by
these ninaty-one IN the last parliament
had fifty Liberals. twenty-seven Con
servatives, eight Lab0rites. five irish
Nationals and one non-Ia rtisan The
sneaker OF the house Is always
cIassed as non-partisan. The
Liberals are confident Of retaining a
large majority in these districts, but
there are few who VIII predict that the
majority viii be as large as in the last
parliament.
Owing 20 the unexpectedly speedy dis
fribgltiou of the election vTirss the mum
ber OF constituencies voting today has
been increased The Liberals viii like
" gain whatever advantage arises from
rhfs fact as Saturday being half
holiday throughout England, is consid-
cred the best time for the WOri-nE men
10 80 10 the polls
Orposltion developed at the last mo-
ment Yesterday to one or the Conserva-
rfves who was expecting 20 be returned
uuopposed This cut down the number
Of unopposed elections from four 20
three. This viii make a total OF ten
Conserve. ives returned without fight
as against but one Liberal
Must Make GAIN
Taking today's voting as a test. polit-
fcaI statisticiaus Of both sides agree that
If the Conservatives gain tweuty-uine
seats without losing any Of the seats
already held 10y them, they stand good
chance Of ultimate victory. But with
out q gain Of this size, defeat for the
Conservatives is considered inevitable
The closing hours OF the campaign
have brought no diminutiOn I'm the in
tenSitv Of the struggle, and the most
extreme claims are now being made by
speakers who heretofore have been
known for their reserves. Both sides
are predicting all sorts Of dire cOuse-
Cuences in the event Of the others sue
cess
- Liberals are today considering the
prosecution Of the Great North Of Scot
land Railway Company for alleged in
timidaJtOn OF voters It Is accused OF
warning its employees, under penalty If
expulsion. not 10 participate IN the cam
paign- There IS talk, also, of prosecut-
ing Lord RibbIesdaIe for alleged viola
ton OF the constitutional prohibition
against peers taking a hand IN the cam
paign after the issuance Of election
writs- Lord RibbIesdaIe made speech
sor the Conservatives at Preston last
night
It Is possible the Liberals will suffer
material losses from the activity of the
s'Iffragettes- who are supporting the
CONSERVATIVES The last administra-
lions treatment Of imprisoned SUI
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