Democracy Triumphs in By-Election

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1940, Page 8

Democracy Triumphs in By-Election

(Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, February 25. The press comments on the Silvertown by-election on Friday and points out the merits of the democratic system which, even in war time, allows absolute freedom to Communists and Fascists to seek election to the nation's government. The publicity value of such defeats as Fascists and Communists suffered yesterday is immense says the “Man- ' Chester Guardian.” The by-election for Silvertown, West Ham, resulted: — J. H. Hollings (Labour) 14,343 Harry Pollitt (Communiset) ... 966 —. Moran (Ind.) 151 This election was due to the resignation of Mr Jack Jones (Labour), owing to ill-health. -Cambridge University. The by-election for the Cambridge University seat in the House of Commons resulted: Dr. A. V. Hill (Ind. Conservative) 9840 Prof. J. A. Ryle (Ind. Progress.) 5386 The by-election was due to the death of the former member, Sir John Withers. Reply to Berlin, Moscow “When the ablest figure in British Communist circles, standing in a wholly working class constituency, spending lavishly on all electioneering aids, cannot raise more than 966 votes in a poll of over 15,000, even Moscow must sit up and take notice,” says the paper. “The still more derisory 151 votes of the Fascist may help to bring home to Eerlin what a miserable following Sir Oswald Mosley can muster. “Some people grumble that we tolerate these freak by-elections in the war. But they are a valuable safety valve, and a barometer of the state of public opinion. Paltry Percentages “The first contested by-election was at Clackmannan and East Stirling in October, when a pure Pacifist polled only 2\ per cent of the electorate. “The second was at Stratford where,' against a Conservative, an I.L.P. Pacifist polled nearly 6 per cent and a Communist only 2 per cent. “In the third by-election, in Central Southwark, against Labour, a ‘ Stop the War ’ candidate polled 4 \ per cent, and an Eccentric 4 per cent. “In Silvertown, a Communist and a Fascist together can Taise only a little more than 2£ per cent. “These are significant figures which show what tiny fractions of the population are ready to vote against the war, and particularly how very few are ready to vote Communist. Indeed, experience is that the presence of a Communist is the best means of whipping up a good vote on the other side.”