6 OCTOBER 1894, Page 2

On Tuesday, London witnessed the unusual sight of a poll

of the Liverymen to select two candidates to be submitted to the Court of Aldermen,—the Aldermen to choose one of these two as Lord Mayor. There were only two serious candidates, —Sir Joseph Renals, who got 1,462 votes, and Mr. Alderman Phillips, who obtained 1,360. Sir David Evans, who announced that he was only running in the interests of Mr. Alderman Phillips, polled 835 votes. The result was that the names of Sir Joseph Renals and Mr. Alderman Phillips were sent up to the Aldermen, and that they, according to custom, chose the first of the two names presented to them. This was exactly what would have happened if there had been no poll and the regular plan of taking the Alderman whose name was first on the list of those who had not passed the Chair had been followed. We know nothing, and care little, about the details of the civic squabble ; but the spectacle of the Alder- men scrambling for the coveted post has not been good for the City. It has heightened the feeling that the old Corpora- tion must give way for something wider and worthier.