Page:The Slippery Slope.djvu/151

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POLICY OF DRIFT
131

the danger of a corrupt motive in local elections is becoming more and more evident on every side.

We have for a long time been drifting in these matters. It is evident that we cannot continue to do so much longer. We are near the parting of the ways, and must make up our minds whether we are to accept the position of the socialists or whether we are to revert to the older ideas as to the functions of local bodies. The decision rests with that great body of public opinion which has till now remained silent.

Elections of Guardians in 1904.
Name of Union. Wards
uncontested.
Wards
contested.
Number on
register in
contested wards.
Number
who voted.
Percentage.
Kensington  5  3  10,001 2,462 24
Paddington  5  3  11,478 1,405 13
Fulham  4  4  11,275 2,788 25
Hammersmith  6  1  2,721   714 26
Chelsea  0  5  12,029 2,958 24
St George's Hanover Sq.   5  2  8,568 1,646 19
Marylebone  6  3 no particulars
Hampstead  5  2  3,6l3 552 15
St Pancras  5  3  14,510 2,843 20
Islington  5  6  27,856 3,409 12
Hackney  12  3  13,132 2,684 20
St Giles  5  0
Westminster  1  4  4,734  1,355 29
Strand  4  1  1,618   356 22
Holborn no particulars
City no particulars
Shoreditch  6  7  16,083 4,198 26
Bethnal Green  1  3  14,453 3,376 23
Whitechapel  5  3  2,592   899 35
St George's, E.  0  2  3,659 (abt.) 1,800 50
Poplar  6  8 no particulars
Stepney  5  0
Mile End  0  6 no particulars
St Saviour's  4  6  20,746 3,945 19
Bermondsey  1 10  17,507 6,425 36
Lambeth  0  9  48,781 7,512 15
Wandsworth  16  8  33,465 5,086 15
Camberwell  8  12  27,456 12,953  47
Greenwich no particulars
Lewisham  0  8  22,293 4,325 21
Woolwich no particulars
Total 115 122 296,725 69,385