THE  ELECTION  OF  PARLIAMENT	193
party supporters, and finally the central mass who will attend to
a certain amount of propaganda, read their newspapers, talk with
their neighbours, and then use their own judgment. The size and
variety of the electorate makes it impossible for the active politician
to predict election results with certainty. He cannot afford to
ignore any method of approach since each may be successful
with some electors, and the uncertainty rouses in him an unjustified
exasperation, particularly if he is defeated. For the electors are
not foolish; I9th century opponents of votes for all declared
that the people would follow demagogues who promised a
new heaven and a new earth without regard for facts; but the
prophecy is unfulfilled. To judge from results, the elector in
post-War Britain likes best the party which seems to know
its own mind; which has a definite, if small programme, on
which it is united. Now this is by no means a bad criterion,
though it is insufficient. The commonest defects in the elector's
judgment are two: first, he does not sufficiently consider what
the results of a given policy may be in eight or ten years', rather
than two or three years' time; second, his better judgment can
be upset by the sudden introduction of some new issue. These
are exactly the weaknesses to be expected, when one considers that
the majority have their livings to get and their children to mind,
and cannot all be eager students of politics. The electors' judg-
ments are liable to error; but it is the error of sensible folk with
limited opportunities for consideration, not the blundering of fools.
The House of Commons which emerges from the election,
contains, as has been shown, representatives of very many
walks of life. It also contains people of very different character.
A few, who have been attracted by the prestige of being an M.P.,
find the work more than they expected and take little part in
it; there is nothing in the law to oblige an M.P. to attend the
House at all, but the continual slacker is unlikely to be returned
again. Even his party supporters will feel insulted and look
round for a new candidate at the next election. The conscientious
M.P. has much to do; every day there will be letters from his