THE TRIUMPHANT LUKE.

Free Lance, Volume XIV, Issue 722, 2 May 1914, Page 7

THE TRIUMPHANT LUKE.

Emphatic Citizens Verdict Against Red Fedism WIT any doubt lias existed relative to B the position of the Red Federation in the estimate of the citizens of Wellington, that doubt has now been completely set at rest. Mr. Luke has been re-elected Mayor with a huge majority of seven thousand. He has passed the complete vote polled by his two opponents by three thousand. This result proves two things—first, that Mr. Luke still holds the respect and confidence of the citizens; second (and more emphatically) that the citizens will not support the candidature of' any Red Federation candidate. The> whole extremist force— including the force of organised sedition and disorder—was concentrated in the effort to secure Mr. Gloyer's return, and Mr. Glover came seven thousand short. Mr. McLaren, at all points a vastly better man than Mr. Glover, polled no better, merely because he was once understood to hold extremist opinions. Since the strike, Wellingtonians generally have been out of sympathy with the claims of the Social Democrats and all that noisy family. * * * * Mr. Luke stands for industrial peace, commercial integrity, and the moderate view. He is not brilliant or showv. but he is safe. He can be trusted to fill the position of Chief Magistrate with a certain dig;nity. Mr. McLaren lacks dignity. Being a Red Fed, Mr. Glover is impossible, although otherwise a citizen above reproach. '