BRITISH BY-ELECTION

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 87, 21 March 1931, Page 6

BRITISH BY-ELECTION

ST. GEORGES DECISION LOYALTY TO~MR BALDWIN OFFICIAL CANDIDATE WINS THE PRESS BARONS' PACT LONDON, March 19. Widespread interest was aroused in the by-election for Saint George's division of Westminster, in which 'he polling took place to day. The candidates were: Mr Dull Cooper (oflicial Conservative) and Sir Krnest Letter (I ri<lcji<■ 11<I(■ tll. (!onsor\ ativc).

Sir 1-.'. Letter, who made Mr Bald win's leadership of the Conservativ Party one of the principal issues of tin election, has been actively sup|-oric throughout the campaign bv Lord Le.i verbrook, and by the newspapers con trolled by him and Lord Kothermerc. St. George's election resulted:— Mr A. Diifi Cooper (Conserva-

tive) 17.LML' Sii- E. Letter (Empire Crusader) 1 !,")•">- The seat became vacant owing to the death of Sir L. Worthington-Evans. Mr Duff Cooper says that the election is of nationa! importance in that it is a demonstration to the public,;w!iatever its political faith it will not. he dictated to by a certain section of the press. Sir Ernest Letter declares that the election at least stirred the complacent mandarins of the Conservative Party to tense excitement. At the close there was a great crowd outside Caxton Hall, Westminster, while the voting wits in progress, including many society women in evening dress, who came from the restaurants ami theatres to hear the declaration. There was a force of mounted police in the vicinity in case of disorder, but they were not used. The crowd certainly was the most aristocratic ever associated with a by-election. They cheered loud-

big liberal supporters who would help the club along. lie drew attention to the opportunity to help by patronising the socials now being run by the committee. lie felt that the position would improve and that at the end oL' the season I hey would be in a heifer position, allowing always thai members supported the socials the deficiency would be wiped out. What was wanted was combination among the members. The players should practise and help to improve and hold together their best men. Nighl after night belli seniors and juniors al (ended poorly, and sometimes there were more conn y tteemen present than players, while the latter were generally fhen from the bach country. Seniors and juniors should go together for the good of the club. Mr. Tunbridge thanked the Press for their good support in the past and their lenient treatment in criticising the play and the players. lie hoped the Press would not be in a position this season to say that Celtic was "whacked." This would be impossible if training was carried out, systematically, and all worked together as a team. He referred to a certain amount, of slackness in mustering .for matches away from home, a case at Now Plymouth being cited in support of his remarks. The win against Star was due to their good skipper, and everybody played a wonderful game. lie thanked Mr. ►Smith also lor the use of the room for the meeting, and Mr. .1. Ryan, of the Commercial Hotel, for his generous treatment of the club.

The Times, in a leader says: "The Westminster by-election deserves its prominence in current political history. .\i; • Duff Cooper's victory is a discerning tribute to his high political courage and capacity, Also the verdict will he greeted with wide unqualified satisfaction for reasons embracing much more than Mr Baldwin's future or the Conservative fortunes. St, George's has done a good day's work for democracy and the press and the electorate has tested the contemptuous assumption that it could be swayed by crude asseverations, some of which were unbelievably puerile, especially that of the panic at the name of Gandhi. I f Gandhi becomes as much an object, of timid supi ist itut ion in Kngland as in India, he owes his prominence to thi.discreditabh; newspaper campaign. Tin l victory is a most welcome assurance that the immense imperial interests and obligations now committed to adult sufferagc are not necessarily at the mercy of the daily demagogues, eve,, i in a constituency exposed at. elose'rangd | to a foaming torrent, of misrepresentai tion." \ Silent Newspapers, i The section of the press which supI ported Sir E. Petter is silenl editorially ' regarding the result, of the by-election.