Radical Questions

for Parliamentary candidates.

Persons seeking votes naturally prefer to set forth only such of their opinions as are likely to escape disapproval or controversy. On all really "burning" questions, except the party cry of the moment, candidates are apt to be either silent or purposely vague and ambiguous. Thus, a capitalist manufacturer will very likely be eloquent on Home Bule; but he will dodge, if he can, the subject of a Graduated Income Tax or the Eight Hours Bill. Many election addresses nowadays might be signed by "Mr. Facing-Both-Ways.' A candidate who talks about "Reform of the Land Laws" may mean either "Land Nationalization" or its opposite, "Peasant Proprietorship," or perhaps only "Abolition of Primogeniture and Entail"; whilst "The Better Housing of the Poor" may stand either for the real remedy (Municipal Dwellings) or merely some scheme of 5 per cent, private philanthropy.

It is the duty of earnest electors to get at the truth by probing the candidate's mind with carefully framed questions. These can best be asked at the semi-private meeting at which the candidate usually is selected. They should be mercilessly pressed, and clear answers insisted upon.

Practically, however, the bulk of the electors can only ratify or reject at public meetings the choice already made by the Executive Committee of the local political association. The questions on sucn occasions should be clearly written on slips of paper and sent up the Chairman. Questions may also usefully be addressed to the candidate by post (stamp for reply being enclosed). It would useful if the candidate's answers were reported to the organizations (if any) which are working for the particular reform referred to.