An Electioneering Incident

Observer, Volume X, Issue 624, 13 December 1890, Page 9

An Electioneering Incident

' Traveller ' tells the following yarn : — Having to pass throngh a well-peopled suburban borough, I entered one of the principal hoatelries to obtain some light refreshment. In one of the parlours I passed by, a popular employer of labour was energetically gesticulating and vociferously declaiming to a select knot of apparently eager and pleased listeners. ' Yes, gentlemen, I am proud to say I have mada council ors, elected the Mayor, and will at this election return for our electorate our old well-known member, in spite of all the mob of farmers and country people, now joined to our district, may say or do. Yes, sirs, lam thoroughly independent of everybody, and determined that the agricultural crowd shan't change our member for a new one of their nomination at this election.' A quiet individual asked this popular employer of labour how he could do this while the ballot was afloat. He replied ' that he was an emplajer of labo<\r, and his employees knew well how their bread was buttered, and acted accordingly or take the consequences.' At this there was qaite an ovation. They imbib 'd his drinks, dubbed him a jovial, good fellow ; none like him, no, not one, and he would be the borough Saviour. The surveying of this made me tremble for the aecreoy of the ballot.