Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-11-03
GREAT BRITAIN
VOTERS REVERSE
LABOR MAJORITY
Out of STA Candidates, Only
215 Were Successful in
the Municipal Elections
Held Recently.

London, Nov. (by the Assoc
ciated Press) Almost the entire
attention of the political world
today was absorbed in the sur
prising result of the municipal
elections, in which labor suffered
an overwhelming defeat, The re-
turns in seventy of the leading
boroughs in the provinces show
that out of 574 labor candidates
only 215 were elected. while the
conservatives elected $50 of the
450 nominated. In London there
has been a similar landslide. La
Dor had 573 seats on the old
councils, but has only 253 on the
new. Labor now holds only four
London boroughs councils, namely.
Battersea, Bermondsey, Poplar
and Woolwich, as against the
twelve codncils formerly held,
while in II London boroughs not
one labor representative was re-
turned.
Houscholders Frightened.
The complete reversal OF the
success labor had in 1919 in the
municipal elections is undoubtedly
a. severe disappointment to the
labor party, and the question on
all sides is whether it forebodes a
similar landslide in the coming
political struggle. No doubt the
action of the poplar council in
paying exorbitant unemployment
doles and the tendency of the Ia
Dor party generally to indulge in
costly reforms in the services for
sanitation, education and poor re-
lief, which, however beneficial to
the community, have thrown
heavy burdens on the rate pay
ers, have frightened heuseholders
into voting against labor.
There is this difference, how
ever, between municipal and po-
litical elections, that in the for
mer only a very small percentage
Of the voters so to the polls. as
compared with the political con-
tests; hence it is unsafe to draw
differences from the municipal re-
suits. Nevertheless the returns
have caused certain amount of
detection in the labor party and
satisfaction to those political par
ties opposing labor.
Sir Robert Horne. former chan
cellor of the eXchequer, in
speech at Glasgow tonight, ex-
pressed the belief that the chief
factor in the defeat of labor had
been the women's votes and he
believed the tendency would be
shown in the parliamentary cleo
tions.
Lloyd George Silent.
Former Premier Lloyd George
is still silent on his intentions,
his silence giving rise to all kinds
of speculations and rumors, among
others that Of his possible return
to the liberal fold and the re-
union OF the coalition liberals
with the Asqllithians. Looking at
political history of the past six
years this appears to be somewhat
far-fetched speculation. but it is
alleged that there are several in
each camp favoring the idea if
Mr., Lloyd George were disposed
finally to separate from the con-
servative party.
This proposition leaves out of
count what would happen to his
conservative colleague. like the
earl of Balfour, who followed
Lloyd George into the wilderness.
Bonar Law Sarcastic.
Premier Bonar Law in his
speech today, contrary to rumor,
rather refrained from personal in
vective or indulgence in sharp re-
plies TO the attacks of Lord Birk-
enhead. Winston Churchill and
others, although he was somewhat
sarcastic at the expense of Mr..
Lloyd George, whom he compared
to a drummer in the army, serv-
ing useful purpose in war time.
Mr.. Lloyd George, he remarked.
did the drumming better than any
one; but when the charge ended