The Asquith Liberals won another by-election last week in Central
Hull. The late Sir Mark Sykes, a Coalition Unionist, won the seat in December by 13,805 votes to the Liberal candi- date's 3,434. At the by-election Commander Kenworthy, a well- known officer who is the Navy's heavy-weight boxing champion, polled 8,616 votes for the Liberals, defeating the Coalition Unionist, Lord Eustace Percy, who polled only 7,699 votes. The transformation of a Unionist majority of 10,371 into a minority of 917 within four months is so, surprising that we are inclined to attribute it in no small part to the luck of the Navy. After all, electors--and especially women electors—are human, and by no means such profound politicians as the wise- acres think. The Unionists had a very al, candidate in Lord Eustace Percy, but the Liberals could count on all the non. political admirers of the Senior Service. Nevertheless the result is a sharp reminder to the Coalition that it must justify December's vote of confidence by wise administration and by making a speedy and satisfactory Peace.
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