Labor Loses One!

In their small, gilded chamber at Westminster early last week, peers heard a favorite Socialist boast repeated. White-haired Viscount Addison, Laborite leader of the House of Lords, exulted: "It is a remarkable fact--indeed it is an unprecedented fact--that this government, with their large majority in the House of Commons, after two and a half years have not lost a single by-election."

Two days later, in the Glasgow slum of Camlachie, men in grimy cloth caps and women in shawls trudged out to vote. Result: Conservative Charles McFarlane, a black-browed hardware manufacturer, squeaked to a 395-vote victory over Labor's John M. Inglis, an engine driver. Winston Churchill wired "heartiest congratulations." It was the first time since 1945 (and in 23 tries) that a Tory had won a Labor-held seat in a by-election. But the "glorious victory" the Tories exulted in was not clear-cut; three independents had sapped about 2,500 votes from Labor's strength.

Many a Socialist pooh-poohed the result, but from the Manchester Guardian, Labor's wise friend, came a sharp, cautioning admonition: "An astonishing period of immunity from the natural ills of the political flesh is over. . . . Camlachie's chief warning is. . . that a government candidate cannot even rouse the slums."

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