The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-14
BRITISH GO SLOW
 IN THE ELECTIONS No Votes Are Counted Until Day After the BaIloting REPEATER IS LOCALIZED More Stringent Election Laws Than Are Found In Any County Con-
 trol the Actions of the
 Candidates.
REPEATER IS LEGALlZtD

London, January s-(special. .)-Having passed through the throes of one of the most exciting political campaigns in the history of the country, England Is now submerged in that inevitable sequel, a general election.
 This momentous occasion in English political life does not fall at the end of any specified period of time, as 1t does in the United States. where national election is held every four years; but only occurs when the two houses of par liament fail to agree on a government measure, and one or the other votes to submit the disputed question to the peo- pie. The present crisis was precipitated by the house of lords refusing to pass the government finance bill, declaring that its provisions were of such a rad ical nature that it should Ego before the people,"
 It is now the duty of the English voter to decide whether or not he wants Lloyd George. the budget. and at the same time to elect members to this house of commons; for this is the only elective body in parliament, the house of lords being an hereditary one. This is a rather | slow job in this country, for instead of setting aside a certain day for national wide election, the voting extends over period of 10 days. being carried on in dif- ferent sections at different times
 In the present instance parliament was prorogued during the first week in De- cember, following the disagreement on the budget. The writ for an election was then issued by the lord chancellor upon the order of the King and privy council and was directed to the various sheriffs of the kingdom, who have charge of the election. Then followed the dis solution of parliament January 10, the voting will begin in Dorset on January 15 and will end on the 24th.
 How Voting Is Done.
 The polls are open from a. m. to 5 D. m., and when the last ballot is dropped in the box the presiding officer seals 1t up and takes 1t home with him.
 The mad haste with which the ballots are counted in the United States, and the results made known within a few hours does not exist here. After the bal lot box has rested peacefully all night the district presiding officers meet the sheriff next morning at an appointed place and leisurely begins the count The sheriff then announces the result from some public place. This method Is fol- lowed in every district throughout the country until the election is completed Another marked difference in the Eng fish and American elections is the method of registration. Tn America all voters must register within a certain specified time before each election, while in Eng land registration is a separate and dis tinct institution and has no connection with the election. A registration is con- ducted once every year. while an English general election may be held at any time that parliament desires to go before the people, the last one having been held In 1906.
 Registration comes under the super vision of the parish overseer and after its completion of the list of those entitled to vote is tackled up on the church door, where it is subject to public inspection.
 Every Man May Vote. In England, as in the United States, every man has right to vote providing, of course, that he has resided In a cer- tain district a specified time. In strik- ing contrast to the American plan, where every man is legally entitled to one vote, the electors in England are divided into
 
 and lodgers.
 The first of these-the houseowner-is the rarest and most powerful; the rarest because there are very few men In Eng land who own land outside the nobility and they are not allowed to vote-and the most powerful, because he is en- tiled to vote not only in the district where he lives but also in every district where he owns pr6perty. thus being sort of a legalized repeater.
 As the general election extends over period of ten days, this class of elector becomes very valuable parsonage as he can cast his vote in one district one day and then by taking a train or an auto can journey to another town where he owns property and cast another vote when the election is held in that sec- ton.
 The two remaining classes-the occu- pant and the lodger-comprise of the large proportion of the voters; the for mer including any man who rents q home, and the latter including any man who pays at least $25 a year for his lodgings.
 Selection of Candidates.
 Another peculiarity of the English cleo ton is the method in which the candI- dates for office are selected Aside from certain constituencies who have had their