Evening journal., 1910-01-15
HEAVY VOTING
in ENGLAND
Holly Contested Election in
Sixty Six Of the Con-
StituenCeS
ONE SEVENTH OF MEMBERS
OF PARLIAMENT AT STAKE

BY United Press Leased Special Wire
LONDON. Jan 15.-In sixty-six Lon
don and provincial constituencies to-
day an enormous vote is being polled
in the most hotly contested election
ever held in England
Excitement accompanies the voting
everywhere and police reserves are held
in readiness at every station in Lon
don and the provinces TO suppress ex-
pected riots.
The &C constituencies voting today
are entitled to a total representation
OF "a members in parliament. These
"a, with the three unopposed Conserv-
atives who were returned 10 Parlia-
ment yesterday including Joseph Cham
berlain, and fourteen unopposed cam
didates who were declared elected to-
day. will make a total Of 81 mem
bers chosen after today's bslloting, or
practically one seventh of the House
Of Commons membership. the total be-
ing go. The other members will be
chosen at later elections.
OF the fourteen unopposed elections
today, there are one non-partisan; /;
Speaker Lowther. one Liberal seven
Conservatives and five Irish Nationals.
this morning and will close at to-
night so that the results will be known
in most places between 10 and IL
o'clock.
Crowds are already gathering on the
streets and by tonight one OF the great
est throngs seen in London since the
celebration OF the relief OF Ladysmith
i'm the Boer war will be In evidence.
All the newspapers will display cleo
ton returns.
Owing TO the unexpectedly speedy
distribution Of the election writs, the
number OF constituencies voting to-day
has been increased. The Liberals will
likely gain whatever advantage arises
from this fact as Saturday. being a
half holiday throughout England. is
considered the best time for the work.
ing men to 60 to the polls.
Opposition developed at the last mo-
ment yesterday to one Of the Con-
servatives who was expecting to be re-
turned unopposed. This cut down the
number OF unopposed elections from
four to three. This will make a total
of ten Conservatives returned without
a fight, as against but one Liberal.
Taking to-day's voting as a test
political statisticisns of both sides
agree that = the Conservatives gaiF
20 seats. without losing any Of ths
seats already held BY them, they stand
a good chance of ultimate victory But
without gain OF this sizo. defeat for
the Conservatives Is considered newt
able. The closing hours Of the cam
paign have brought no dlmunition in
the intensity Of the struggle and the
most extreme claims are now beine
made by speakers who heretofore have
been kept for reserve.
Both sides are predicting all sorts
Of dire consequences in the event OF
the others success.
Liberals are to-day considering the
prosecution Of the Great North OF
Scotland Railway Company for alleged
intimidation Of voters. II is accused
of warning its employees, under penalty
OF expulsion, not 20 participate in the
campaign. There is talk also Of prose.
cutting Lord RibbIesdale for alleged
violation of the constitutional prohibi.
ton against Peers taking a hand in
the campaign after the issuance OF
election writs. Lord Ribblesdale made
a speech for the Conservatives at Pres
ton last night.
II is possible that the Liberals will suf
fer material losses from the activity o
the Suffragettes who are supporting tbs
Conservatives.
According 10 the statements of the Lib
erals the landed gentry throughout th'
districts where voting is I'm progress ar
resorting 10 corruption and intimidation
and are paving the way for contest b!
the liberals OF the result in those dis
tricts that go against them. The Liberal
say they have evidence which. If present
ed to the next parliament would invalidat'
the seats of a number Of Conservatives
In the event of their election to-day.
Dispatches from the provinces say TIL
vote is the heaviest IN England's history
There is a scarcity Of vehicles in whicl
to convey voters to the booths and II
several instances party workers have car
ried aged OF crippled voters to the poll
on their backs.