The statement was advanced several times that the new member was floated into the House on beer.... Lest others should infer from the words that the electors constitute a drunken community, may I, being in a position to know the facts, indicate them.... During the ten days of intense tension in canvassing and speaking, there was literally no insobriety.... The charges at the police station fell much below the usual low average, ... and there was not a single assault case.... In my opinion a high moral tone was imparted at the beginning by the presence on the Rye of the ladies who took part in the proceedings. Their dignified demeanour and cultured oratory made a profound impression, and I think this should not be overlooked when considering the result. Mr. St. John G. Ervine wrote to the Liberal organ, _The Nation_, on March 28th, saying: There is not a man in the National Liberal Club to-day who does not know that Mid-Devon was lost to the Liberals because of the adverse action of the militant suffragists, a fact which was patent even to the rowdy mob who rolled Mrs. Pankhurst in the mud when the result of that poll was declared. There is not a Liberal member to-day who does not dread the prospect of a General Election with the absolute certainty that he will have to fight, not only the usual enemy, but also a very determined body, which, at the present time, has no political creed other than that expressed in the three words "Votes for Women." I am wrong, there is one man who does not seem to realise all this, to whom Mid-Devon was not a warning, to whom Peckham will convey no sign of further trouble, the Premier elect, Mr. Asquith.... This Peckham election has been a revelation to me of the perfectly wonderful forces which the Women's Social and Political Union are bringing to bear on by-elections.... As a purely impartial observer of the Peckham election I submit to you, Sir, and to the Liberal party, that it is time they started doing something for the women. The mandate might not have been there in 1906, but it most certainly is there now. Mr. Gooch, the successful candidate, stated: "A great feature of this election has been the activity of the supporters of women's suffrage." And even the _Daily News_, which published a correspondence from its readers dealing with the Liberal defeat at Peckham, stated in its issue of March 31st, that the majority of the letters received referred to the action taken by the Suffragettes. FOOTNOTES: [25] The figures were: Mr. C. A. Gooch (C) 6,970 Mr. T. Gautrey (L) 4,476 _____ Majority 2,494 The figures at the General Election had been: Mr. Charles G. Clarke (L) 5,903 Sir F. G. Banbury (C) 3,564 CHAPTER XII APRIL AND MAY, 1908