Evening star., 1922-11-25
British Conservative Majority
Elected by Minority Vote.


The fact that, while the conserva-
tives control 81 per cent of the seats
in the house of commons. they polled
less than 40 per cent of the total vote
| is the outstanding fact in the British
election result. in the opinion of most
editors. This is certain to be reflected
in another election within the year. 1t
will be able to take advantage of any
mistakes that are made by the powers
in control. However. there seems to
be a general feeling that an outstand-
ing development of the election will
be that the European situation must
improve. inasmuch as Bonar Law can
work with Poincare and Mussolini,
do so with any hope of success.
while the conservatives control 81
per cent of the seats in the commons.
they polled less than 40 per cent of
the votes" says the Newark News.
This result is due to the four-cornered
contest, and Bonar Law must be aware
that, if mist takes by the conservatives
should bring about a liberal reunion
and liberal-labor cooperation, an
other election might bring a great
reversal in the complexion of the COM
mons" This fact likewise is recog-
nized by the Springfield (Ohio) News,
which, in its turn. points out that the
situation in England, in fact. is about
as uncertain so far as authority rest
ing in one of the major parties is
concerned. as it is in the United
States" This result seems due, the
Milwaukee Journal holds, to the gem
eral movement that is in force all over
= In ha my
is that the reaction may manifest
itself too sharply-that the conserva-
tives may be too conservative. The
voters have made plain for their part.
the Duluth News-Tribune points out.
that they want government by party
had it for several years.
Because of the promises made and
the magnitude of the reforms expected
at Bonar Laws hands. the Indian
apolis News asserts "the new govern
ment is facing task of great diff
lieved to have failed, the next cleo
ton may show just such swing
away from the party in power as was
shown in this country last election
White. of course. this is so. it is the
opinion OF the Chicago Journal that
cause "by the time the pendulum
swings to the liberal side across the
water some other leader is likely to
rise. Lloyd George will be factor
in public life as long as he keeps his
health and his faculties. but the day
Of his destiny seems over" Which
viewpoint. however, is exactly the OPP
posite Of that entertained by the Gin
cinnati Times-Star, where it is held
that "if he lives. Lloyd George, and
not a labor member, will be the sue
cessor Of Bonar Law" and Of the
/ = =, fOIa tyoep I'M
Bonar Law is fortified" by the ver-
dict, suggests that 1--WE may be sure
that the shrewdest critic Of his
progress will be Lloyd George"
There must result beneficial effect
for all Europe. the New York Tribune
working in concord with Poincare and
Mussolini Lloyd George could..not put
any heart into doing that Europe's
greatest needs today are rest. good
will and a generous understanding
among the western European nations.
because of the mandate which the
British voters now have given Bonar
Law" One election. however, will
hardly serve, the st. Louis Post-Dis-
patch fears, inasmuch as "the Coop
erative and opposition, forces created
solved and reformed into original
party units by. single election. 1t
viii take time and test to straighten
out the tangle." The big surprise, as
we'll, in the opinion of the New Or
leans Times-Picayune. was the "ad-
vance made numerically by the labor
ites."
Lloyd George merits praise, the Mo-
bile Register says, for agreeing to do
everything he can to help in every
honest EFFORT made to improve the
foreign situation; and he is q man
who can be relied upon to keep his
word" And '.that the laborites gained
votes instead fot losing, votes must
be-" the Knoxville Sentinel asserts
tanii. the backbonSsof which, oftcoursB,S
is casnetffuted OF the cAr3 3tali6 10 and
|ia1d.Aoldtpg elaase1. e y ~ nted