The Indian extremists, led by Mr. Gandhi, failed in their
attempt to prevent the first elections under the reform scheme from being held. In only six out of 637 constituencies were candidates lacking ; 440 members were elected after contests and 188 were returned without opposition. In the contested elections in the United Provinces a third of the electors voted, and in some constituencies the poll was as high as 60 per cent. of the register. Neither the voters nor the candidates therefore paid much heed to Mr. Gandhi's cry for " non-co-operation " with the Government. The lawyers have not thrown up their briefs, and very few persons holding orders or decorations have renounced them. The threatened " strike " of schoolboys and university students has been checked by the strong disapproval of their parents and teachers. Mr. Gandhi's campaign has led to some rioting in the towns, and perhaps is not unconnected with the agrarian disturbances reported this week from the Rai Bareli district of the United Provinces. But the Indian peoples as a whole are evidently not interested in " non-co-operation."
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