The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-02-15
JOHNNY Bull :
ELECTION BE-
GINNING
REAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE
MASSES AND CLASSES IS YET
TO BE SEEN-DIRTINESS OF
CAMPAIGN.

London, Feb. 15.-Instead of end
ing the big fight between masses and
classes, England's national election
seems to have been no more than a
preliminary skirmish. The main bat
tie 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
f1uence, the aristocrats felt sure of
winning the election by a majority
sufficient to end, for century or
so, all talk of limiting their privi-
leges. Strong in the Consciousness
of superior numbers and of what
they considered a just cause, the
people were satisfied of their ability
to bury the lords under such a noun
tain of votes that there could be no
further question of equality, in fu-
ture, for all Englishmen.
Had either side won as decisively
as it expected, the controversy be-
tween them would undoubtedly have
been definitely settled, at least for
a long time to come. AS the cleo
ton turned out, however, the rival
parties are shown to be so evenly
matched that it is still uncertain
which Is the stronger. The liberals
have, to be sure, nominally a ma
jority, but it is so split into factions
and represents SO many conflicting
interests that it is more than doubt
full If it can work successfully. The
conservative minority, though a mi
nority, is large one--compaet and
dangerous-and at any time it may
force fresh fight at the polls.
One thing mas Deen accomplished.
Masses and classes have been mu-
tually undeceived as to one another's
strength. The aristocrats realize
that they are making last stand
that they must crush what they look
on as formidable popular uprising
now or go down to 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 capture it now it will be
generations before they can reorgan-
ize their forces for another assault
Campaign Was Dirty.
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 corrupting
and intimiiating voters the conserv-
atives far outdid them.
Gangs of liberal rowdics made a
business of breaking up conservative
meetings, smuggling those who attend
ed, bowling down speakers and ston-
ing those who resisted being how1ed
down.. During the election itself the
fights for which these rowdies were
in many places, of serious riots.
Candidates for parliament were I'M
able to tour their constituencies with
out strong guards. In spite even of
their guards, many were knocked
down, beaten, kicked and trampled.
An attempt was made to shoot one.
Conservative club rooms were sacked
and numerous efforts were made by
Infatuated mobs to burn the houses
of candidates or their lieutenants.
Nor was ruffianism altogether on
the liberal side. Several liberals as
well as conservative candidates were
roughly handled. Chancellor of the
Exchequer Lloyd-G George himself es-
capped violence at the hands of mob
at Grimsby only by precipitate flight
and several hours hiding until ar
rangements could be made for snug
Cling him out of town.
Aside from what the election regu-
lations allow them to spend on legitf-
ANTE campaign expenses, the con-
servatives are estimated to have de-
voted SIS, 900, 900 to the direct and
indirect purchase of votes Free
drinks were served, under their CAM
paign managers orders, for weeks
before election, by nearly every sa-
loon in England to whomsoever
would promise in return to cast his
ballot with the conservatives. Scores
of large employers who feared their
employees would vote for liberal can
didates If allowed to vote at all, did
not permit their men to visit the
polls. Others warned their forces