New-York tribune., 1922-11-05

hK@ pE mash SieInenl OF excitement
In general election In Great
Britain 10 that you never
know whom It is coming until
;uss before 1t comes. An ordered Sc
cuence Of elections as in the United
stsses Is unknown in this country.
After period now of FIVE years
formerly 1t was seven years new
psriiament nust be elected; but no
nodern Parliament ever has lasted its
full statutory term. This Parliament
has had . run of just under four years,
having been elected in December, 1918.
When Parliament shall be dissolved
Ia "a question wholly within the dis
eretion Of the Prime Minister of the
day. That is one of the matters on
which constitutional custom authorizes
Prime Minister to advise the Crown
as II he we're the only Minister it had.
Ia a united Cabinet the Prime Min
ister naturally consults his colleagues
about the date, but he is under no
obligation to base his advice to the
sovereign upon the general or majority
opinion Of the Cabinet. As the party
challenged TO . duel had the choice OF
weapons, so o British Premier chal.
lengea to electoral combat has the
choice Of times. It is a useful pre-
rogative, as David Lloyd George ha,
rot been the Arst Primo Minister to
rsaiixe.
When an appeal 60 the country Is
decided upon by the Prime Minister
the man who actually sets the naachin-
cry Of general election in progress
Is Biz Claud Sehuster, tho Clerk to
the Crown In Chancery and Permanent
Secretary to the Lord Chancellor. He
10 Ia who makes out and issues all of
the writs and summonses to peers and
the writs for the election Of members
Of tho House Of Commons. Within an
hour or two Of the decision to dissolve
Parliament the Clerk TO the Crown
makes himself responsible for the dis
patch Of the writs to the various re-
turning officers throughout the coun-
try. An Official known as tho Messen-
ger Of the Great Seal delivers them at
the General postofice, and In the case
81 metropolitan constituencies the de-
livery Is by hand. Thus Is the electo-
ral machine put IN motion.
Anticipated Electoral Law
Cleaned Out by Parliament
All Of the excitement Of the electo-
ral fight is over within three weeks
from the date Of the Royal Proclama-
sion dissolying the sitting Parliament
and summoning new one. This proc
lamation is the vital instrument upon
which hinge the nominations and the
polling. Procedure is governed by the
provisions Of the representation Of the
people act Of 1918, one Of the last acts
passed by the last Parliament, which
redistributed the constituencies, widely
extended the franchise, bringing In
among others women over thirty years
Of age, and generally cleaned up the
antiquated electoral law.
The last general election, in 1918,
was the first In this country when all
the constituencies in which there were
contests polled on one day, while the
results also were all declared on one
day. Before this polling was spread
over \ period Of several days, and re-
suits came trickling in for week or
two sfterwsrd. On this occasion, also,
there will be universal day for the
receipt Of nominations, and ono day for
polling IN all constituencies in which
contests take place.
So far the parallel with the general
election OF 1918 holds good, but as the
delay for the receipt Of absent voters
papsrs--whtch obtained then, due to
ths fact that great number Of cleo
soss were In the army overseas--has
been abolished, results on the present
occasion will not all be declared on the
same day. IN good many boroughs
there Is no doubt that the votes will
% counted on the night Of the poll
open normally from a. m. to 8 p. H.
though this is a matter within the dis
cfe'ion OF the returning officer. In the
case OF the county divisions, where the
p 0aIot boxes have to be collected over
widely scattered areas, 1t will not be
possible to commence counting the
so.es till the day after che polling.
hneay the program may be put as
,0isows: Royal proclamation dissolv-
ias Parliament; nominations, eighth
osy AFTER; polling, ninth day after
a0minatlons. Sundays, however, are
NOT reekoned in the statutory periods
ps'"een The proclamation and nomina-
''0n DAY. and between nomination day
ana polling day. It will thus be seen
'aas within period Of three weeks
al'ef the issue Of the royal proclama-
eummoning new Parliament,
's. OF the results Of election should
~ Known. 1t is, in fact, laid down
sne time appointed for the meet
.as Of the new Parliament may be any
sa nne not less than twenty clear days
Aas 's' not counting Sundays), after
Ing 1t. 'sioA 0'iha0n-
Strict Law Prohibits
sfioery and Corruption