THE VETO ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 14531, 6 December 1910, Page 6

THE VETO ELECTIONS.

PRESS COMMENTS ON FIRST RETURNS, SANGUINE ANTICIPATION S. RADICALS ALREADY COUNTING .THEIR CHICKENS." Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 5. Tho Unionist newspapers consider the pollings encouraging, while the 'Standard' (0.) argues that the Ministry aro already condemned to impotence. The 'Daily Chronicle' (G.) declares that a crushing blow has been dealt to the hopes of the pro-Peer and the food-taxing party. London has given a magnificent lead to the country. The discouragement of the Tarifntes over Mr Balfour's referendum trick and tho announcement that Tariff Reform was not an issue at the election is shown by the fall in the Tory vote at Birmingham, where the aggregate fell from 20,682 to 15,981, and by the increase in the Liberal vote, which nearly captured West Bromwich. The decrease in the' Tory vote in London was 15,596, as compared with a Liberal decrease of 5,873. The polling so far throughout the country showed 348,740 for tho Liberals as against 306,489 for the Peers. Tho Tory majority in Gloucester was four, and in West Bromwich only live. The cause of Freetrade and a free House of Commons is already safe. The 'Daily News' (G.) states that any hope of the Peers' party that they will be victorious has been shattered. AN OTHER STANDPOINT. LONDON, December 5. (Received December 6, at 8.5 a.m.) Tho 'Financial News' says that there are two outstanding features from Saturdav's polls. One, and the more prominent, is Lancashire's recoil from a nonrepresentative Government, and the other is the overshadowing of Mr Redmond's hopes and Mr Asquith's and Mr Churchill's ideal of an irresponsible Cabinet. It adds that " the Junto is too much even for Lancashire's strong Liberal stomach." COMFORT IN THE COLONIES. AUSTRALIAN WITH US. A TORY VISION. LONDON, December 5. I Received December 6, at 9.2 a.m.) Tho 'Pall Mall Gazette' (0.) says that the outer portions of the Empire are able to judge in juster proportion than those in the thick of the conflict, therefore the paper is nut surprised that Australians are welcoming the referendum as a long stride towards democratic government. The ' Pall Mall' agrees with the statement of Mr Xesbitt, a Canadian ex-Judge, that if the Oversea Dominions find that the Empire is to be administered at tho dictates of political passion they will take some thought for their own future, politically and materially. The Oversea Dominions, says tho 'Pall Mall,' aro not ready to make obeisance to President Keir Hardie. MORE METAPHORS. LORD ROSEBERY AND FOOLISH VIRGINS. LONDON, December 5. (Received December 6, at 8.5 a.m.) After his Edinburgh speech, Lord Roscbery, acknowledging the vote of thanks, said that two Ministers had respectively compared the House of Lords to one of criminal lunatics and the foolish virgins of the parable. He was aware the Government were turning the key on the Lords and keeping them in subjection and confinement; therefore they wero treating them as criminal lunatics. Their other metaphor was less applicable. Tho foolish virgins forgot to trim their lamps, but tho Lords had been trimming theirs for a year, but one of the principal accusations against their House at this moment was its impotence at tho eleventh hour to trim its lamps and to present itself well prepared before the tribunal of the constituencies. UNDER WHICH KING? PEERS VERSUS COMMONERS. A DUKE CLAIMS THE PEOPLE. LONDON, December 5. In the course of an address on Saturday the Duke of Norfolk said that it was not a question of the Peers versus tho People, but of the Peers and the il'cople against the House of Commons. The 'Daily News' (G.) says that tho Duke's suggestion is not a question of the wolf versus Red Riding Hood, but of the wolf cud Red Riding Hood against the watchdog. Tho Duke's remark is an admission of the wolf trying to kill the watchdog. Red Riding Hood realises that it can be safely left to her as to which she will sido with. " WILLIE " REDMOND'S FLAG. LONDON, December 5. Mr William Redmond, who was accorded an ovation by his supporters in Cork, spoke from a brake with the American Stars and Stripes on his right. A MAKESHIFT PROGRAMME. LONDON, December 5. In a letter to Welsh candidates the Chancellor of the Exchequer describes the Unionists' programme as a makeshift. In proposing it, the House of Lords, he says, have advertised their surrender.

LOUD TENNYSON'S PLEA. LONDON, December 5. Lord Tennyson, who was prevented by illness from actively participating in the elections, sent a message earnestly begging Nonconformists resident on the Isle of Wight not to desert their fellow-Noncon-formists in Ireland, but to vote against Home Rule, which means breaking up the Constitution and involves the dismemberment of the Empire. PART OF A GREAT SCHEME. LONDON, December 5. Speaking at Alnwick, Sir E. Grey said that Home Rule was part of a great scheme, including the reform of the House of Commons, a redistribution of seats, one man one vote, and local power in all parts of the United Kingdom. DISSENTING IRISHMEN. LONDON, December 5. (Received December 6, at 8.5 a.m.) The O'Brienites emphasise what they claim as Mr Birrell's practical avowal that the election has no bearing on Home Rule claims. FOREIGN OPINIONS. BUT HAZY. BERLIN, December 5. The ' Frankfurter Zeitung' regards the referendum as that stage in constitutional evolution where the representative system has reached its highest development. VIENNA, December 5. The ' Neue Freio Presso' says it is very doubtful whether the Liberals will be, strong enough to escape from the Irish embrace and to win that independent majority which they scarcely possessed in the last "Parliament.

A SOLITARY RETURN. ' LONDON, December 5. (Received December 6, at 1.40 p.m.) Farringdon: Cassel (U.), 3,384; Collins (L.), 3,376. [There is no such constituency as Farringdon, cither in Hampshire or Berkshire, nor anything resembling it; nor was there a member named Cassel in the last House, and though there were three of the name of Collins, none sat for such a seat.] THE LATEST RETURNS. LONDON, December 6. (Received December 6, at 1.40 p.m.) At midnight the returns were: Government 116 Unionists 115 [Wo have only been supplied with some thirty-five .detailed returns out of the above. The elections referred to in a previous cable summarising London and Birmingham results have not been received.]