The prognostications of the pro phets have been subjected to searching scrutiny and examination, with the result that many of the earlier predictions have been abandoned by their authors.
Many new influences have been actively operative, and have confused the situation to an extent paralleled in any of the great politi cal contests of the past fifty years, Since the last election not only has the electorate increased than 5,000,000 but the new regi discloses the fact that in all but a few constituencies, and these of a special character, the predominates of the women's vote is marked 8 wholly unexpected degree, This has added enormously to the com: plexity of the problem that has con fronted the party organizers. I Brighton, at the last general ele= Lion, men were in a majority of 2,403, but they are now outnumber by 2101 similarly surprising changes have taken place up and down the country. That these new women voters will exercise the franchise on party lines, and not as aex, is fully recosenized, but certain nepects of the position are causing much speculation, The Unknown Factor The crowded hostels for women and girls in some of the central yeas of London and the leading cities and towns, the female mem hers of the ataifs of the big hotels and boarding establishments rear army of girls who "li fare, even at the eleventh battling the party agents, and addinse to the difficulties of forecasting the result with any assurance of accuracy, in constituencies wher> their numbers are substantial. Throughout the industrial areas the new voters are mainly to be found under direct home influences, and the general expectation is thatthe di tribution of votes will follow the usual Jines and will not materially affect the results.
The continued depression in the agricultural industry, and the signs of a measure of discontent with the Conservative admi vative candidates in the rural areas.
For many months past indications of dissatisfaction, and warnings of revolt, have reached the party headquarters but in spite of the de: rating of all agricultural land there are movenients hostile to Conse: candidates. in places which for long, been regarded Whether these will culminate in opposition at the polls is still in doubt.
Throughout the country the strongest possible opposition hat persisted, among the members of the many thousands of working-men's clubs, to the continuance, in any: shape or form, of the ' so-called "Dora" (Defence of the Realm Act). Unless a change of attitude is 4e-cided upon at the last moment there is reason to believe that many Conservative working men will abstain from voting as a protest agains: What they declare to be an unwacranted interference with their liberties, Under "Dora" the hours for the sale of drink in clubs have boon restricted.
The policy of the Government for relieving the distress in the depressed areas by the transfer of men to places where work is availble has had the result of disfranchi ing a considerable number of voter ut no suggestion has been that the number of these transferee: is in any particular constituency, suificfently large to endanger the result, The Doubtful "11 the possible exception of 9 defeat at the poll lo that the Conservative G vent will meet Parliament. att the election, whatever the number of Cunservative members returned, If the Conservatives secure 303 seats they witl have a nominal majority of one over the other two frst half of June ker. The members would fol This pronyt week, Then comes mal opening of P it. the name of the King, followed the Debate Aditress. which gives: the opportunity For a vote.
When the Conservative ment was defeated in the Commons 192, its resiimnati was announced by the Prime Minister on the following day; a Labour Government was forniel on that Parliament adjourned for three ces.
In considering the possi a Conservative defeat in the new
Leved that when the Labour Minor. parliament. be remem. ity Government took office in 1921. Knowing that it could be defeated at any moment by a Consorvative-Liberal combination, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald announced that he woul only consider a defeat ital to the existence
position warranted that interpreta-his tion. Thus, the Labour Government How far the result will be affected by the political broadcasts of the past few weeks is extremely uneer-tain and introduces another factor of which there is no previous experience. The speeches of the Parts Teaders and the other outstanding Personalities of the conflict have reached audiences of millions, the vast majority of whom, from a variety of reasons would never have had. an opportunity, or disclosed any inclination to attend an ordinary defeated eleven times befor=
MacDonald accepted defeat and appealed to the country. One of the disregarded defeats was on the espite the opposition of the Gov-
All precedents marked that az a vital defeat, but it was not s0
Conservative Government therefore, has a strong pracelent for
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.