New-York tribune., 1910-01-20
BRITISH ELECTIONS
,eetbods of Contrasting Cost
Results.

ashe@ ..Bv superior organization
days +o-,,ouse canvassing, effec-
VIII ..,,zvoT5s and costly pictures on
n'e .-s;nss" was my answer. mad
'is talking with candidate on lohs
e. -, tourney, and also with a par
- ,rbo was engaged in a broad cir
r's''' ,,oli+ical oratory. and knew my
The speaking is useIu lor
Gu .4ac- in advertising party ac-
a-5 inspiring confidence, but the
HNi--s- ..-.I z,o-l. Is done IN the borough or
.,.-,v division by the candidate ms Po-
,.t;csl agent and the committees Oh men
and women .,-.e.., ,o,,e+,+uencv
- he begun long in advance OF a
- election. so that the caholoate
>. personally known throughout the
D'' cnbscriptions 10 local charities.
....,.oienr associations and social anu
ting Clubs are useful IN pronlouhs
foe1irg. II the candidate has
.,e,,,o-,- for names and faces that
even more helpful As the cleo
s-.v-e near he must find time for
'-1,. ,,,on every one on the voting
- asking for his support The
..,,-assing TO be effective must De con-
- Systematically from mouse TO
-. viii, help from the committees.
80 a thousand speeches are 10 be
.,,ie week al meetings. large or
III Doubtful voters are not con-
b,- argument when there Is so
-, nj IL The speeches entertain
-.;esns who have already decided how
nil vote. Catchwords and attrac-
,,rases. which can be easily re-
.Ls-ed and repeated, are more potent
-, nlat4orn eloquence- Taxing land
-ban bread is a Liberal legend
.bs- appeals 10 landless wage earners
-, che constitutional issue raised by
:. House Of Lords is unlntelligible-
-. MONEY for pensions without the
80 and Land for peasants, not
..-.,ts~ are equally effective strokes
-, +or unemployed Englishmen'' Is
. --,,rap in the Tory pack. A
.-s,i-g nbrase, which can be repeated
- luncheon pals and quoted in large
-. ~ hosrdings, is more useful than
,,s,-s-est speech or than columns OF
.--,ean reasoning in the party jour
ols The candidate who makes a point
;. sss;nr. erery voter and giving him
-,o5 cstcbxord has a better chance of
.,-in,tng the seal than his rival who is
,4-sne- m the platform and a closer
-sssone- and mere eloquent debater.
p,T-icaI posters are even more iupor-
rant than drawing phrases. These are
s,npiied BIZ the national unions Of Lib
e-sf and Conservative associations and
slso by the local committees and the
candidates themselves. The most artis-
-ir one mas been designed by Mr.. Ken
rDgton for the Cnionist party. II is a
realistic picture OF & poverty-stricken
interior. with z despondent husband and
es,,e- ont Of work. the wife weeping and
the daughter II rags. holding z starv-
-rr bs5v. This Is entitled Free Trade,
md rsuroductions Of il in al sizes are
prominently displayed in two thousand
centres OF population.
The Liberal posters, il flaming colors
N haardlngs throughout the country
nortrav. the horrors of starvation with
the faxed leaf. the blessings Of the pen
son system Tor the veterans OF indus
~. the usurpations OF the sporting peers
and other political themes Lithographers.
printers and hillposters have been work
fng night and day for weeks, and mill
-ors u square feet OF wall space and au-
-rortzed hoardings are illuminated with
1he-r ha-d1Vork.
70 the posters are added leaflets,
pamphlets and campaign literature IN
enormous quantity. Each Of the main
party examinations has distributed fifty
million Leaflets II the present canvass.
and The expenses for printing, advertls-
ing. postage. telegrams and stationery,
mich amounted 70 541S 600 four years
20 ara likely 10 be doubled this time
Indeed. l. viii probably be the costhest
n general elections OF recent times. even
with The Labor candidates cut OF by the
dec,sion Of The highest court from their
normal base Of trade union supplies. and
nth liver pills ana other expenses pro
hibtred by The corrupt practices act
The Official returns relate 10 candi-
oates subscriptions and 70 the eX-
pendirures OF local organizations con-
froHed By them, ana do not include the
OUTLAY Of the national unions Of associa-
tons and the headquarters staff When
rhe accounts are settled il is estimated
that The elections viii have cost the
candidates and their friends outside Ire
and not less than 100000; and as
soon as the contest Is over the Ylctors
and their defeated rivals will begin the
woclng u the constituencies anew, sup
porting local newspapers, subscribing to
chsriries. attending dinners and pub
lc functions ana contributing 70 party
funds often as much as $4,000 or
even $4,000 IS expended IN nursing
me sea- before the elections come on
Political literature. campaign choirs,
Esrdv posters and public meetings are
among The stage properties OF the can
cida-e and help 70 advertise his stock in
trade So do the motor cars and women
canvsssere Candidates cannot hire
vehicles themselves. but their friends
ana accuairtances can lend them with
o1t violation Of the corrupt practices
act Motor cars have taken the place
q four-in-nands and broughams, and
inere are scores Of them in use on Elec-
'on Day The democratic voter, who in
Fists ur0n having the candidate cali on
hun and ask FOR his vote. enjoys the ex-
element n being driven TO the polling
PLACE in motor car. He also is fiat
tered by the attentions Of women can