Apr. 28, Elections for the People's Conference have been practically completed. There are more than 500 delegates who will yatiier in Nanking next week to pass judgment on the Governmeat and, if they so think fit, to indicate the form in which the administration Should continue to function. The elections have varied in degrees of intensity. It cannot Lo pretended, for example, that in many Provinces, the choice of candidate and the support which he has been able to obtain have had the slightest flavour of democracy in them, In certain provinces, such' as Kiangsu and Chekiang, reality has more strongly asserted itself. Of the purely rural classes, the farmers and the traders "have been lukewarm in their interest, far otherwise with the Student, scholar and professional elements of the community. In Chekiang it is reported that the elections have been remarkably Sreo from any signs of undue Influence, whether of money or physical persuasion. Other pro-Yinces record not merely indifference, but, actually, ignorance in Zegard to the Conference and ita Purposes, 'The recent split at! Nanking' has had its influence on contests where the closest. interest is taken in political affairs; if the merits of the rival policies, for which Genoval Chiang" Kai. shek and Mr. Hu Han-min are Supposed to stand, are not Specially in question,' there seems fo be little doubt that partssan-Ship. based on loyalty to one or of the two leaders, has ped some part in the contest. At will be interesting to observe how far General Chiang Kai-shek tins been able to carry the bulk Of the electors with him. Tt is almost certain that some Hu Han-min's champions will find their voices at Nanking. This much can be said: the Government's recent admonition to the coal "Tangpus seems to have Home fruit. Although the local Committees of the Kuomintang have a definite part to play in the conduct of the electios notably in the scrutiny of nam submitted from the districts the provincial centres—they a to have exorcised Power directly. "It must, however, be realized that the very Atrictly limits the national Position of the Kuomingt, of the elections, 'The Conference is faced with the necessity to decide whether the existing regime shall con tinue in its present form, on the ground that "the period Political tutelage ig not yet ended, or whether there shall' brought into play a transitional constitution in preparation for the ultimate creation of a matters of this kind it is seldom that a body such as the Conference can formulate decisions on the basis of formal discussions during its proceedings. Unless the Government are to be presented with a surprising landslide of opinion, carefully concealed by the delegates the course of the elections, it may be considered as unlikely that their plan, "spongered General Chiang Kai-shek, will fail to be adopted. A' Conference of over 500 people must, in effect, rely the preliminary spadework by committees or groups for the framing of decisions: Where the Conference may possibly be enlightening will be in the speeches placing on record cer-fain general points of view. The} beeches should give some indNM@on of the amount opp@mion which. the Governmen@ece to expect in carrying the process of political tutelage.
stage further their control of.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.