Norwich bulletin., 1922-11-03
OVERWHELMING DEFEAT FOR
 LABOR IN ENGLISH ELECTIONS

London, Nov. (By the A. P.)-Al- most the entire attention of the poiiti- cal world today was absorbed in the surprising result of the municipal ele"- tions in which labor suffered an over- whelming defeat. The returns in sew enty of the leading boroughs in the provinces show that out of STA labor candidates only 215 were elected, while the conservatives elected $50 of the 450 nominated.
 In London there has been a similar landslide Labor had 572 seats on the old councils, but has only 258 on the new. Labor now holds only four Lon don borough councils, Poplar, Batter sea, Berniondsey and Woolwich, as against twelve councils formerly held, while in eleven London boroughs not single labor representative was return C.
 This is a complete reversal of the sue cess labor had in 1919 in the municipal elections and the question on all sides is whether 1t forebodes a similar land slide in the coming political struggle. No doubt the action of the Poplar couE- cil in paying exorbitant unemployment doles and the tendency of the labor party generally to indulge in costly re- forms in the services for sanitation, ed uation and poor relief, which, however, beneficial to the community have thrown heavy burdens on the rate pay CTS, have frightened householders into Voting against labor.
 There is this difference, however, be- tween municipal and political elections, that in the former only a very small percentage of the voters go to the polls, as compared with the political contests hence it is unsafe to draw inferenc es from the municipal results.
 Sir Robert Harne, former chanceflo' of the exchequer, in 8 speech at Glas- SOW tonight expressed the belief that ..4o chef factor in the defeat of labor had been the women,s votes and he be- lieyed the same tendency would be shown in the parliamentary elections. Former Premier Lloyd George is still silent on his intentions, his silence g:V- lslng rise to all kinds of speculations and l rumors, among others that of his possi- ,ble return to the liberal fold and tha reunion of the coalition liberals with the i isAsquithians. It is generally asserted that the quar- rels between the conservatives and coalition liberals have greatly strength. ened the prospects, of the Asquithilr liberals in >the elections. and. most uI the political speeches indicate feelin:
 of considerable doubt as to what tht outcome of the elections will be-.
 1 MT. Asquith, speaking again at Pas l ley tonight, replied to a question pro pounded by Sir Robert Horne few days ago as to whether MT. Asquitl would be willing to join with labor T
 the event that the independent liberal
 and laborites combined would have majority in the next parliament. NIT Asquith rather parried the question an,
 said that personally he would not joil any government if the conditions of al
 hesion meant submersion or slackenin
 in either legislation or administratiol
 of the liberal principle and policy.
 Premier Bonar Law in his speech tc
 day, contrary to rumor, rather refrain
 ed from personal invective or indul
 gence in sharp replies to the attack of Lord Birkenheal Winston Church.
 and others, although he was somewha
 sarcastic at the expense of Mir. Lloy
 George, whom he compared to a drurl mer in the army, serving s useful pu. N pose in wartime. MT. Lloyd George, h
 remarked, did the drumming bette
 than anyone but when the charge ende
 and some had fallen and others wer in the hospital drummer would be GU of place in hospital unless his drul sticks were taken from him.
 At another point &r, Bonar Law COT
 tended that the fact that the nation o7 led an unforgettable debt of gratitude |
 the former premier for great services i
 the war was no reason why MT. Lloy George should hold the premiership fl
 life or why the country was not ent r tied to change of government.
 3 Both the prime minister and Tor 3 Curzon, secretary for foreign affair ] sent messages replying to Premier Mu 9 solni of Italy expressing a strong d
 sire for loyal and friendly co-operatic = with that country. @ e Labor entered the field against Vi 5 countess Astor at Plymouth tonight, u :, labor nominee being Captain Vol n Brennan. who after returning from u i army visited Russia in connection vii s krelief work. It Is understood that etl d liberals will not oppose viscountess A
 tor, but will give her general support (
 her temperance policy.