The Helicity Injected Torus (HIT-II) (Jarboe T R 1998 Phys. Plasmas5 1807) is operated witheither cathode or anode central column (CC) during coaxialhelicity injection (CHI). The CC polarity has a strong effect on tokamak behaviour.For cathode CC operation, the magnetic profile is inferred from surface datato be more relaxed, and the n = 1 mode is stronger and more slowly rotatingthan for anode CC operation. Mode toroidal rotation follows theapplied E×B direction.Ion toroidal spin-up in the core is consistent with electromotive action.Apparently, some type of mode asymmetry, effected by the plasma flow and mode rotation,is integral to the current drive observed. This is discussed in terms of electromotive effects,and the picture is shown to be consistent with observations. Some possible implications are outlined, including thoseconcerning parallel fluid velocity shear and other magnetic confinement configurations.