Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-08
Quick, Cheap and Fair
That's British Election
BY GEORGE W. CAKES

BY GEORGE W. CAKES
LONDON. The British run a
general election speedily, fairly and
oheaply.
Six weeks ago q general election
was announced. Active campaigning
started last Friday, when Parliament
went down." The voters will speak
May 26.
The principal contenders will be
the incumbent Conservative Party
and the Labor, or Socialist, Party.
No chance Is given the Liberals, who
were . potent force in bygone days
but have only token power now.
Fair play, despite political diff
ferences, is assured by q strict limi-
tation Of campaign expenses as well
as by equal radio and televiSion time
FOR the two major parties.
The average parliamentary cam
paign cost only $1.926 in 1851 COM
pared to the many thousands
hotly fought congressional race can
cost in the United States.
The coming election is not quite
comparable to an American cam
paign. There is no nation wide vot-
ing for the No. ! Office of Prime
Minister (who runs merely as
candidate for a parliamentary con-
stituency). But because the public
knows in advance who the Prime
Minister will be If one party or the
other wins, the $50 local races add
up, in a sense, to one national con-
test.
Huge Turnouts
The most impressive fact about
British general election is the turn
out. In 1851. for example, 82.5 per
cent of those eligible voted. In our
1852 election only 62.7 per cent went
to the polls-and that was an Amer
lean record.
In Britain there must be a gen.
eral election at least every five years.
Prime Minister Eden exercised the
privilege Of the party in power by
calling an election this spring instead
of waiting until October, 1856. Some
interpret this as high order Of
craftsmanship. Others said he
hoped generally favorable conditions
at home and abroad-including trou-
BILE in the Labor Party-would en-
able the Conservatives to improve
their present slim majority in Com
mons. If Sir Anthony had wanted
to take advantage of the letter of
the law. he could have withheld the
election announcement until II days
Excluding Sundays before polling
day and 30 limited the entire cam
paign to less than three weeks.
No Primories
One reason for the short cam
paign in Britain is that there are
no primaries. Candidates are chosen
at meetings Of local party organiza-
tions. For example. in q working
class London constituency, the La
Dor candidate was selected by
approximately 100 delegates from
the local wards, trade unions, CO.
operative societies and other Labor
lite organizations. But this is local
matter strictly. Headquarters Of
either the Conservative or Labor
party can only suggest but not i'm
pose candidate on the local party
organization.
Voluntary work not only assures
more citizen participation in an
election but also keeps the cost
down. The candidates campaign
manager-called an agents the
only ful-time paid employee except
Tor a few clerks just before election
day. Both major parties train
agents carefully and the Conserva-
tives even require them to pass ex-
aminations.
Low Compoien Costs
Campaign expenses, a costly and
touchy topic in recent American
presidential campaigns, are under
control in Britain A candidate has
a general campaign allowance of
$l,260 plus approximately 2 cents
for every voter listed on the electoral
rolls In rural area and slightly
less for those in urban districts.
AAAo JColt VIC SO1loCINdIlt duU
Labor candidates will each spend
about $1,000 in one of the hottest
contests in the London area
marginal seat won by 494 out of
10000 votes in 1851.
Printing Of leaflets, handbills,
window cards and posters consume
most of a candidates expenses.
These made up So per cent Of the
costs in typical city district five
years ago; paid employees accounted
for only IA per cent. A detailed
expenditure report must be filed
with election officials.
A candidate has few personal ex-
penses. To be listed on the ballot,
he must post bond of $500. He
loses it II he fails to obtain one
eighth Of the total votes. Other.
wise he gets it back. His other
costs are low. thanks to law which
forbids any candidate or any of his
supporters from entertaining con-
stituents, He may not even buy o
voter q drink.
Free Mail, Air Time
How does the candidate get his
message TO the voter2 First, he
mails free Of charge an election
address" 70 every registered voter In
his district. He may follow this up