Without Prejudice

It was election day in Bombay last week for three seats in the British-controlled Legislative Council of Bombay Presidency. Nationalists (Gandhites) are convinced that the only way to obtain a legislature that is "truly representative" is to boycott the present one. Early at the Town Hall polling place appeared 600 Hindu women in bright orange saris, grimly determined to keep their weak-kneed brethren from voting. More than 600 British police, many mounted, were ready for them. Events moved in a routine that has become traditional in such affairs.

Women picketers stood in the street, cheered on by Gandhi-capped bystanders, shrilly squealing Nationalist songs. Police, swinging heavy six-foot bamboo lathis, charged. Picketers clenched their teeth, took the blows as they fell. Injured were rushed off to hospitals, other pickets took their place, the singing recommenced, the police charged again, and so on through the day. By nightfall 250 people were badly injured, 400 arrested. Out of a registered electorate of 60,000, only 1,473 succeeded in recording their votes.

Returned to Liverpool from the U. S. last week sad-eyed Sir John ("Simon Report") Simon, Chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission. Said he:

"My very strong impression is that in the United States, just as in Canada, while there is very great interest taken in the Indian question, interest takes the form of greatly wishing to learn more about the facts. I do not at all share the view that there is any prejudice."--

-- I. e. anti-British prejudice, as charged by the London Times and certain Conservative statesmen (TIME, Aug. 25).

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