By-Election

Politicians live and politicians die; therefore politicians come and politicians go, while by-elections go on forever.

Sometimes a by-election is important; but, when a Government such as Mr. Baldwin's has the support of 'an overwhelming vote in the House of Commons, a by-election rarely casts a shadow over the political world, and the man-in-the-street is left stone cold.

Last week a graduated howl arose from Britishers. The Forest of Dean constituency of Gloucestershire preferred A. A. Purcell, extremist Laborite (or Communist in all but name), to a Liberal candidate. Ex-Premier Ramsay MacDonald and most of the moderate Laborites frowned; for was not Purcell's victory also a victory for John Wheatley, the extremist opponent of Mr. MacDonald, whom Mr. Wheatley fondly hopes one day to oust?