Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-01-28
The English
Elections
VTL.--Houss of Commons
BY frederic j. Haskin


the last on earth to recognize heredi-
tary right to legislate, and another
chamber which is the most truly respon-
sible to public opinion of all the legis-
latures in the world. The house of COM
mons is not an ideally democratic insti-
tuition, but it is most sensitive to the
public WILL and it is chosen under con-
ditions of political purity not approach
ed in any other country.
The suffrage in England is not what
Americans would consider democratic,
since complicated system of property
qualifications, varying in different sec
tons is imposed; and since land hold
ers may vote in every constituency
where they own property. The limited
suffrage which shuts out the very poor
and the plural suffrage which gives the
very rich many votes, as well as the
fact that the constituencies are arrang-
ed without due regard to population,
constitute the chief faults of the Brit
ish parliamentary electoral system.
But the corruption and indecent poll
tics which disgraces the elections in
many other countries, and in many parts
VI TIE OHlt6Q states, Is almost enIlTe-
ly unknown here. This purity of cleo
lions is secured by what is known as
the corrupt practices act, an outgrowth
of the reform bill of 1892, which was
placed on the statute books in 1888 and
which has been made even more strin-
gent by subsequent amendments. The
machinery by which the British house
of commons is elected differs altogether
from the political ana electoral machin-
cry of the United States, but the means
taken to prevent corruption might be
employed even in America.
The $40 members of the house of COM
mons are elected from constituencies
of various populations-counties, bor-
oughs, cities and universities. When a
parliament dissolves by limitation at the
expiration of seven years, or when a
dissolution is brought about by the death
of the sovereign or by some extraordi-
nary political crisis in which an zap
peal to the country forces an election,
the queer mixture of ancient usage and
modern methods composing the British
election system is set to work.
The king issues a proclamation on
the day the ministry tells him to do so;
ordering writs for the election of a new
parliament, and fixing a day for the
meeting of the new legislature. All the
essentials ARE attended to by the min
istry, but the proclamation declares SOL
EMMY that the king has decided he
needs a new parliament, that he has
managed The whole business on his own
volition. When this proclamation is
signed, writs are Immediately dispatch
ed to the sheriffs. mayors and return
ing officers who are to hold the cleo
lions in the various constituencies
Candidates have been actively engaged
in the campaign for several weeks,
usually, when the writs are issued, but
they are technically known only as
prospective candidates" A member of
parliament does not have to live in the
constituency which he represents, and,
indeed, the majority of the members
'sit' for some district where they do not
reside. Nevertheless, there is more and
more talk about "carpet-baggers" in
England all the time, that phrase having
been borrowed from America. The po-
iltical party organization in the United
States, by which precinct committees
build up to the all-powerful state and
national committees, is wholly unknown
here. English politicians have nothing
but scorn for the American system
which, they say, binds the local COM
mittee as salve to the national organ
ization. Yet in England the local COM.
mittees ask the national committee to
select a candidate for them! Imagine
the Democratic congressional, committee
of the Third district of Arkansas asking
a national committee for a congressional
candidate, and then tamely accepting an
antediluvian New Hampshire Democrat
brought out Of the museum for that pur-
pose. That is what the English politi-
clans call local freedom of party action.
When the writs are issued each sheriff
Of county. mayor of borough or re-
turning officer of division, appoints a
day for nominations and another day for
polling. This may be any time after
five days and before 20 days from the
time of receiving the writ. Each can
didate must be nominated by proposer,
a seconder and eight assentors, all ten
of whom must be registered voters in
the constituency On the day of the
nominations, a meeting is held, attended
by the candidates. The sheriff or re-
turning officer asks for nominations. If
only one name is presented, and the
nomination is in proper form, the sherifr
declares that nominee to be duly elected
a member of parliament In this fash
ion, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, being I'M
opposed, was elected the first member OF
the new parliament which will sit on
February 10.
But if there is more than one candi-
date the sheriff asks for show of
hands, and then the candidates demand
poll. The poll is ordered for the day
previously agreed upon and announced.
Within one hour after the nominations
the candidates must deposit with the
sheriff a sum, varying from $500 to
IS. 600, according to the size of the con-
stituency, to secure the payment of the
expenses of holding the election. All
the expenses must be paid by the can
didates on a bill presented by the sheriff
or other returning officer. On the day
these nominations are made the political
PARTY committees suspend activities and
by formal resolution declare themselves
non-existent After the election they
are reorganized.
Rut the successful candidates seat is
not assured. He is elected and may take
his seat, but If every provision Of the
corrupt practices act has not been met,
then a petition may be started wherein
a number of electors may allege Vlolft-
lions of the act. If the allegations are
substantiated the member is unseated
and Is rendered incapable of holding any