Mexborough and Swinton Times April 3rd 1909

The Elections

Bolton.

A seat in the comfortable and commodious Council Chamber has attractions for twelve citizens of Bolton and Goldthorpe, more of Goldthorpe and less of Bolton. Dearne bids fair to provide one of the old-time electoral struggles, in which the battle goes to the physically strong. For to contest .a. seat here, one must have an infinite capacity for taking pains, and a constitution above question.

The people of Bolton and Goldthorpe nearly love a fight, and they are in a fair way towards enjoying one. With 12 candidates in the field, anything may happen.

Only three can be selected, and it is hopeless to attempt to prophesy who they, will be.  Allthree retiring members, Mr. Washington, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Bakewell are members with excellent credentials to place before the electors. They have a capital record of work done. Shrewd judges are saying that Mr. Washington and Mr. Bakewell are almost certain to get back, but that Mr Russell friends of the Labour Party may doing more harm than good .

It is understood that Mr Washington will have the support of local Labour, though officially, Mr Russell and J Williams of the Labour candidate. But Mr Umpleby, Mr Newell and Mr Murphy also have a claim on Labour, and, after all, only three votes can be given.

It would seem that in a district like the Bolton urban district, Labour has the key to the situation, and if the Labour men vote straight , according the wishes of their local leaders the men who will be returned will Messrs Washington, Russell and Williams.

But the electors generally cannot afford to ignore the good work of Mr Councillor Bakewell, was given three years of self-service, and who possesses the instincts of the businessman.

And the council not compromise were two men liking, Bolton would not have had a finger in the gasworks pie. The Socialists – who supports to vote dead straight Labour – should pause and consider this.

Then the claims of Mr Eliza Turner and GW Turner of Goldthorpe, both ratepayers in a fairly large scale, should have some weight.

When men have something at stake, lazy during it will be cautious and businesslike. Mr Umpleby, Mr Newell and Mr Dickinson, all of whom had been rejected before, come up smiling again. The graveyard question having been thrashed out, they have no election cry, but they conduct their campaign none the less vigorously for that.

Mr. G. A. Thompson, of the Horse and Groom Hotel, Goldthorpe, has a record of good service to recommend him. He was chairman of the Council in that conspicuous period of the opening of the Library and the Council Offices. Doubtless he will be none the worse for the year’s rest from municipal worry which he has allowed himself. He is sure to get the hearty support of the rate-payers Association, which is growing in, strength. Mr. A. E. Wilkinson may find favour among both classes.

One cannot tell what will happen. The candidate who is, apparently, the rankest outsider, may come out right on top.