was as Mr. OSWALD MOSLEM (Lab.)
Mr. J. Marshall Pike (Unionist) Mr. E. Bayliss (Lib.) • • Labour majority
The result of the 1924 election was :- Mr. J. E. Davison (Lab.) .. Mr. J. M. Pike (Unionist) ..
Labour majority .. .. 1,253
The success of Mr. Mosley was expected. There is no doubt that the furious personal ridicule directed at Mr. Mosley by some of the newspapers recoiled upon its authors. It should never be forgotten that by too sedulously making a man a laughing stock you may be making him a martyr, and that martyrdom on the political stage is always dangerously near to heroism. The Liberal candidate went through the experience which is becoming familiar to members of his party. He did not poll one-eighth of the total votes cast, and consequently forfeited his deposit. During the past year there have been fourteen contested by-elections, and at thirteen of these a Liberal has contested the seat. In seven cases, including Smethwick, the deposit has been forfeited.
* * * *
• •
16,077 9,495 2,600 .. '6,582 .. 14,491 .. 13,238
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