An exceedingly well-reasoned re-Jquest for guidance on the Municipal Election comes from "C.FJ." whose fietter appears elsewhere. "Whether his charge of lethargy on the part of the Executive Committees of the. three British organizations is justified this journal does not pretend to Jsudge. Nor is it really germane to the issue, The point is that the situation, as he recognizes, suddenly Jdemanded a decision. There was no me to consult the main body of the members and the Executive Committees—exercising the proper function of executives in. such an Jemergency—decided that, in order to jseoure a solid and emphatic British vote and at the came time preserve the convention. allotting two seats 10 Jeach of the American and Japanese Jcommunities, a definite recommendstion should be made for British electoral support of five British can-Jdidates, "It was necessary to condne the recommendation {0 five cap-Jdidates, otherwise there would be Jdanger' of breaching the convention }with the Americans and Japanese, fo. the spreading of the British votes lover six British candidates" would disturb the balance of the poll. Those five candidates were not, therefore, Jchosen by the three Executive Committees, but were selected by those [Committees from the nominations Jsiready announced in the press, possible, of course, to doubt the bona fides of the Executive Committees, but it is equally possible to imagine that they would have been Jaceused of lack of energy and decision they had not met the emergency us they did. This journal "advises "CE." to vote for the five British candidates whether he approves of them all or not, because the situation Jdemands a solid British vote and as strong a percentage of British votes possible. That conviction has in-Jspired this journal's unwavering sup-ort of the five candidates. en bloc. There has been no desire to "dragon lor "drive" the British voter. There has been a desire to emphasize the [importance of the issue; as the commuunity's apathy has received general comment it was felt that the empha Jad to leave no doubt of the ex significance of that desire. "OF.
obviously too sensible and public-spirited an elector to indulge in the process of cutting off his nose to spite his face—in other words to attempt the political sabotage of withholding hig vote merely on the ground that the recommendation for its disposal thas been lacking in delicacy. Whether he finds this a suitable thought for treatment of his quandary is left Jentirely to him to. determine. His suggestion that in future the Committees should take appropriate action to organize the British ratepayers Jeminentiy sound and has this journal junqualided support. A letter in a different vein requires a brief comment, Mr. Ranald McDonald is thrilled.
find that the "North-China Daily /News" is in agreement with the views jot Mr, Harold Porter." This is cone jsoling. In fact this journal confesses that if it had any doubts of the wisdom of the support which it has given to the five "ticket" candidates, Mr, McDonald's letter would have removed the last vestige of that hesitancy. Mr. McDonald has been such a hospitable champion of lost Jcauses that his opposition is accepted. Jeratefully as an unsolicited and welcome testimonial to the soundness of this journal's views.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.