The Progressives on the County Council weary very quickly in
well-doing. As they were hopelessly beaten at the elections, they were bound on their ctwn principles to regard the Moderates as the depositaries of the popular "mandate," which for them is the voice of God. They agreed therefore to allow the Moderates four out of the nine new Aldermen, to elect four themselves, and to elect a man approved by both parties, Sir Godfrey Lushington, as the ninth. Then they got tired of decency, and clutched all the three Chairmanships. Mr. Arthur Arnold was elected Chairman by a majority of 9, Mr. Benn was appointed Vice.Chairman by 65 to 62, and Mr. Dickinson was made Deputy-Chairman by 68 to 60. The Mode- rates only claimed the Vice- Chairmanship, but it was snatched, though the Moderates only lost it because two of their members were outside England and one was in bed with influenza. If the Committees are organised in the same spirit, the total effect will be that, in spite of the vote of London, all power will remain with the Progressives, who clearly belong to the party whom the French describe as "authoritative" Radicals. Their doctrine is that if the will of the people is on their side, Radicals ought to obey it but if it is no then, the people having been deceived, the Radicals should take power by force. The doctrine will not be popular in this country.
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