AN INDEX ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 227, 30 October 1909, Page 2

AN INDEX ELECTION.

Till-: lIKH.MOXIJ.SEV SKVr. WIN I'Olt THK I'XIOXISTS. SL'I'FH AC KITES' VIOLEN T ACTION. By Cable.—Press Association.—OopyrigM Received October 21), 10.10 p.m. London, October 29. The bye-election for-Soutlnvark, Bermondsey district, owing to the death of Dr. (leorge Cooper (Liberal) resulted:— •Mr. .1. Duinphreys (Unionist and tiirill' reformer 4378 -Mr. S. H. Hughes (Liberal) 3291 n-.ictor Suiter (Moeialist) .. MJS The Opposition papers arc jubilant, believing that Itcrmondsey is an index constituency, always swinging in sympathy with natiolial feeling. The Chronicle declares the result illustrates the failure of the British representative system and the need to* electoral reform. Mrs, Chapman and Miss Miclans, members of the Women's Freedom league, entered two polling booths and emptied I bottles of corrosive fluid into the lallotI boxes. Only a few papers were spoiled. 'The acid splashed on the face of Thorley, the presiding oiricer. The hospital authorities state that he will probably lose his eye. The League admits Uie existence of a deliberate plot to invalidate the election, but denies that vitriol was used. At the general election the voting for the seat was' as follows:-Dr. Cooper (Liberal), 4775; 11. Lust (Conservative), ■iOlfi.