SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 924, 17 September 1910, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS.

INTENSE EXCITEMENT. SOSE INTERESTING CONTESTS. ' ; LOUIS BOTHA DEFEATED.; IMPORTANT SPEECHES BY LEADERS. The following are the results of the polling up to date:— Nationalists (Government) 34 ' Unionists , 33 , Labour 2 ; Independents .............................. 6 Tho total number of seats is 121, divided up as follows Cape Colony 51, Transvaal 36, Orange River Colony 17, Natal 17.

, By Telegraph—Press Ass Capo Town, September 15; Tho 'South African elections are now proceeding, and the . following returns aro to hand:—' ; . .'For Pretoria East Sir Percy Fita- ' patrick defeated. General Botha, the voting being Sir Percy Fitzpatrick (Union- . ist). 1231 General Louis Botha (Prime Minister) 1136' Majority 95 General Smuts (Union Minister for the"lnterior, Mines, and 'Defence)- was returned for Pretoria West. Sir George IJarrar (Unionist, and Leader of the Opposition in the Trans- • yaal), defeated Mr. H. C. Hull (Minis- : ter for Finance in tho Union Government) for Johannesburg (Georgetown). . . The.voting is as follows:—. ; Sir G. Faxrar -1109 Mr, Hull ;...- .......; 515 Majority 594 ' For Johannesburg. (Commissioner Street), Mr. Samson (Labour) was returned. ,' ■ .. Mr. Christian. Botha (Unionist) was . returned for Bloemfontein (Urban). The' four Capo Town seats, were secured by; Unionists, including Dr. Jameson. . , . ; " 1 LATEST RESULTS. MR. ABE BAILEY DEFEATED. (Rec. September 16, 10.40 p.m.) Cape Town, September 16.' The following Unionists- have been elected:— . , , . East London: Colonel Crewe..; ; . ■ Braanifont'ein (Rand): Sir ' Aubrey Woolsharapton. " 1 < :. Geriniston: Mr. .Chaplin, who defeated Mr. Coward (Labour). ' . .:. Trozeville (Rand): Mr. J. W. Quinn, who, defeated Mr. Mulligan (Nationalist). '■ \ ■■ . . Turffontein" (Rand): The Hon. H. A: Wyudham. ' • K - . Langlaagte: Mr. W. Rockey, ■ who defeated Mr. W. J. Wzberg (Labour). ■ Zeonville (Raiid): Mr. .Lionel Phillips,.who defeated Sir William i Von : Hulsteyn. . , , ! ' : ■•'. ' Fordsburg (Rand) : Mr. Patrick.Dun- - can, defeating Dr.. Krause (Nationalist), whose efforts during the war-saved tho Rand.',mines from destruction. Mr. DuncanV oilier opponents were a' Labour candidate and a Socialist.' ' ■ 'Other returns. so far received are ; as follows:— . J.eppe (Transvaal): Mr. F. H. P. Creswell, an Australian mining engineer; who. stood as a Labour candidate. He defeated Mr.. R. Feethani. Durban Central: Sir David Hunter, formerly manager of the Government railways at Durban. - ■ Greyville:- Mr. R. Ma'ydon, es-Minis-ter of Natal. . ; v The voting for the Krugersdorp.seat was as follows:— • v ' . Mr.-J. ,W. S. Langerman (Nationalist) ....; 1091 Mr. Abe Bailey/ 1 981 . Majority ........................ 113 SIR PERCY FITZPATRICK'S VICTORY. . < GREAT EXCITEMENT. (Rec., September 16, 10.40 p.m.) Cape Town,- September 16. . • Sir '• Percy Fitzpatrick's ~'victory created • the greatest excitement . at Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. '■ In the course of a speech after the announcement of the poll, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick said he sincerely hoped the' outcome, of tho . contest would be peace and prosperity for; South Africa, wherein General Botha would play a leading part. V ■ General ■ Louis Botha said, he would still do his utmost to kill 'racialism in South Africa. STROiNC OPPOSITION NEEDED. VIEWS OF DR. JAMESON. Cape Town, September 15. Addressing a gathering .of 4000 people at Cape Town, Dr. Jameson, Leader of the Unionist Party, said - the forces of reaction had prevailed in the -Cabinet, and, that a strong Opposition was required' to prevent General Botha being overwhelmed by. the Hertzogites. GOVERNMENT SURE OF A MAJORITY. THE NATIVE FRANCHISE. ■ London, September 15. The Johannesburg correspondent of "The Times" states that ) General Botha's Government is assured of a greater or less majority. Both sides disclaim the idea of extending the Cape native franchise to the northern provinces.

isociation—Copyright. . - FITZPATRICK AND fiOTHA. .. Sir Percy Fitzpatrick opened" liis campaign in the. first week of July.. The gravamen of his indictment of. the Botha Ministry, with the party '"compleiion, .was that" the whole, settlement of the National Convention had implied, not only in its final form but throughout the discussions which. led up to the i settlement, the formation of a ilon-party Ministry at' the initiation of .-Union. The passage , of the speech in which this thesis is developed is remarkable for its logic and ; its detail. The conviction Which underlies it is ' unmistakable,. anil it has made an enormous impression throughout .South Africa. Sir Percy Fitzpatrick said that—"Before the Convention it was he (Sir Percy) who 'put his. oards on ;tho table anjl proposed to. General Botha a fresh'start an-d to .promote'an'agreement which would remove the real differences between the races and giv« a chance of perpetual peace to South -Africa.- To his credit, and. to the credit of his colleagues. he accepted' that in the spirit in which it was made. They, came to terms; they stood together. -Those .terms never ■embodied a single advantage for them-, selves or for their parties or sfor . their I Colony.,, They were designed entirely for I the benefit of South Africa and to rc= move the differences • between the. races. ..When they met ih the Convention oneof- tho' first questions was unification or, federation. Now'..they knew unification involved a tremendous amount; of faith in each other—mutual, faith and trust. It was in. the bqlfef- that the work would be carried out in What was .called the spirit of tho Convention, that they worked for. unification together. He ' was not charging anybody with making definite undertalcings or promises,> but they most, .certainly gave every . colour and took' every step to, encourage the belief that' there would be a' genuine non-racial fresh start. and t that : moved, them largely in supporting' unification -and 'the abandoning' of those" little safeguards.-' which would have existed for, parties and races or Colonies under a system of federation.. But .they'wont further. They voted then that the first Government should have the -power., to. nominate eight Senators— that was, .one-fifth 'of one House of Par-.' liament. .Did they suppose for a'second that anyone would■have fought for that i-as a/ precedent to a racial .party ? Was it not obvious, on the face of, it ■ that thero was a taoit understanding that- that work should be carried out. in the spirit of co-operation, and not. ih : the snatch-dog fashion of : one; party , against the other. He would give them one more convincing proof. When they, sat in Capo Townhe did not want anyone' to. criticise him for talking about things which took place in ,thd -Convention; he .Was. not ,'.talking :about-.anyone,' but he thought it. was right, to make things clear—the. first, proposal in regard to the. Union Ministry w;as that there should be six or ■ seven Ministers. He .proposed that there should be ten; members, and said . that ' the" first Prime Minister would of necessity be compelled . to provide in Miis Cabinet for the representation of, four Colonies and two : racial'parties. He waj. supported ; by. . others whose names he would not mention, to . do so would bb to give an indication as to who supported the proposal. However,'it was supported by a sufficient number, of broad-nunded men, and it was carried without a division. . . ... .-.The Convention spirit had moved them in their debate about, tile. Administrators., It was at once pointed out. that they would be appointed bj the first Government, it was promised times out of number by all the prominent members that' these . appointments would never .be made without 'eo-operation. Of . ccurse, it was, said both parties and races Would be coilsuited as to tho Administrators; and- prominent oliicials. This tacit promise of the Convention spirit in the first Union " Ministry. was always there when- they discussed tho Protectorates; it was very much there when they , discussed Bhodesia, and the Rliodesinn ,men 'were present. He ventured to point 6ut the'.extraordinary folly, the amazing folly, of this departure from ;that Convention spirit , which had taken place, the particular folly of that contest in Pretoria: The Rhodesians had stood by and watched. Did they think they, would want to, come in now ?" Nevertheless, although Sir Percy thus gave'chapter and verse, for his contention that, the formation of the. Union Ministry on a party basis was a direct violation of .the understanding that had underlain the whole settlement arrived at by; the National Convention, -he gave General. Botha personally every credit for a. sin-cere.-.desire to" form a non-party. Administration. "He could not • give General Botha too much credit for the effort. It might be bad policy, it might be an unconventional thing, to crack up one's opponents, but he would not detract' from the broad kindly, assurance, the generous disposition of the man because of the efforts he had made ih tho past. ; . . General Botha was perfectly sincere in these negotiations, but- |ie broke down at the finish and changed his mind. He ohanged his mind, nndei; pressure." The determination of General Botha to fight the seat at Pretoria East was the >best sign of the extent to which General Botha had changed his mind and the best evidence of the amount of pressure that had been brought to bear upon him. ; In a speech at Johannesburg on July 12 General Botha declared for a non-racial policy on the education question. He also laid great emphasis on the -promotion of white immigration and closer setno doubt realising that, there is iio detail of policy, which is so likely as this.to ip home to a.Johannesburg audience. "Does tho General, one-wonders,'' the "Morning Post's" Cane Town" corres- . pondenti ' commented, i insist ,'. equally strongly on this, detail of his policy .When he holds one of his favourite meetings with the committee of some ; country branch of Tlet Volk'? To be just to him it is quite possible that he does." "HERTZOGiSM." In connection with tho ci\blo message to-day reporting Dr. Jameson's reference to the Hertzogites, it is interesting. to recall his specch at the Wanderers' Club in Johannesburg on August 3 last.' He made an appeal for the unity of South Africa as a great factor in eliminating the reoen't, recrudescence of raoial feelings. The formation of a "best, mail" Government had failed for tho present, but he did not intend to abandon'.that ideal.. He believed that General Botha was absolutely in agreement with this view, butt that ho failed to persuade his reactionary colleagues at the last moment owing to ayvant of moral pluck. The past record of tho minority of the monitors of the Cabinet, Dr. Jameson continued; was inimical ' to the policy of General Botha, and this made, necessary tho formation of a Unionist party-.to help the Premiea- against the reactionaries, the , best proof of whose.activity was tho inclusion of General Hertzog in tho Cabinet. General Botha, had said that he i

would pursue an educational policy acceptable to everyone, but were thov jusli-. fled in trusting the Premier in the .face' of General Hcrtzog's policy and attitude? Other speakers warned their hearers against "Hertzogism," that it threatened to spread everywhere if unchecked,- wliicli would mean the enforcing of the Dutch language, not only in the Free State, but throughout South Africa, in Union as well as in provincial affairs.

THE RACE ISSUE. On the general racial question, Sir J. H. de Vilhcrs, Chief. Justice, at a recent banquet in memory of Cecil Eliodes,said: "The,-truth is that 'although much; is said about racialism there does not exist any radical antagonism between English and Dutch. It so happens that'our political parties are divided broadly into tho town' party and the country and that townsmen are mainly English and country people mainly Dutch, but, except during tho unhappy interval of the war. and two or '. three ' years ' afterwards, the relations between, individuals have always been friendly. Dutch and English, as we all- know, freely' intermarry, they intermix socially, -they have similar political aspirations, and if only newspapers and the party politicians would leave the newly-coined word out of their vocabulary the thing itself would soon entirely disappear. No Dutchman in South Africa' will. withhold his regard for an Englishman who .has v iheant well by this country merely because, he is an .Englishman. The name' of Sir George Grey .still remains a household word in many'a home in South Africa, and I entertain the confident hope that as the years roll on my fellow-countrymen will prefer, to dwell upon that side of Rhodes's. character which was of pure gold rather than upon that which was partly of iron and partly of clay. 1 His admiration for the Dutch remained with him to the end, although they" sometimes thwarted him in his schemes, and South 'Africans of Dutch descent will .not- withhold, their- trt. butes to his memory merely because-they-cannot approve of every part of his career." ; : ■ ■ i'