The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-17

PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD
TN THE NEW GLADSTONE ADMINISTRATIONS.
During the second incumbency of Mr.
Gladstone as Prime Minister, Sir Charles
Wentworth Dixie, Bart, was President Of
the Local Government Board. The interval
is only short one from June last year to
early February this, before his intimate
friend and fellow Radical, Joseph Chamber
lain, takes the same Office.
Unquestionably the appointment now
filled by Mr.. Chamberlain is significant Of
legislative changes in the direction which he
has advocated earnestly from the time when
heifrst became political leader. That of
Local Government is the Board or Depart
ment to which will be entrusted all the de-
tails necessary to the structure and passage
of laws extending the operation of local self
government, and OF such as look to the ele-
walton of the farm laborer by giving him
proprietary rights in land On the SUBJECTS
indicated, as on others Mr.. Chamberlain is
intensely Radical in his views and he is re-
sarded with the greatest dislike by the tiny
Tory autocrats of English countrs life.
He was born in London, between forty
nine and fifty years ago, and educated at
the London University Academy. In his
politico-reigious views he is an ultra-Dis-
senter. and in doctrinal views, Unitarian.
Speaking lately at a banquet given to JO-
seph Arch, the first agricultural laborer re-
turned to the Parliament of the United
Kingdom, Mr.. Chamberlain. who was chair
man OF the gathering. gave prominence to
the fact that the subject OF his eulOgy was
Dissenter, and said of the Church OF Eng
land: lis it not a singular thing that all the
great movements which have abated the
claims of privilege or destroyed the power
of tyrants, which have freed the nation or
classes from seryitude and oppression. or
raised the condition of the great mass OF
the people. there is scarcely one which has
owed anything to the initiative or encourage
ment of the great ecclesiastical organization
which lays claim to exclusive national au-
thority and support
At twenty years OF age Mr. Chamberlain
became member of wealthy firm engaged
IN the manufacture OF screws, at Birming-
ham. In the year 1865 he entered local pol
itics, and eight years after was returned to
Parliament. Before entering the House of
Commons he had twice served as Mayor of
birmingham, and was also President of its
School Board. He was the organizer of the
Birmingham caucus, and he also organized
agricultural laborers' movement began, in
1901, Mr.. Chamberlain lent his presence
and gave his money to its advancement, re-
ceivlng its leader, Joseph Arch at his resi-
dence. In 1873 Mr.. Chamberlain became a
recognized power IN English politics, by
means of papers on the Liberal programme
which he published in the Fortnightly Re-
view. 1t was in these papers that he first
outlined bis pleas for the landless and dis
inherited" and ended by declaring that the
Radical programme must be Free church,
free land, free schools. and free labor
His entry into the House in 1876 was one
of great public interest, and was a surprise to
most persons A writer graphically de-
scribes his appearance on that occasion:
All were surprised when they found him
to be a gentlemanly, slightly built almost
boyish-lOOking young man, faultlessly
dressed. scanning the benches from behind
eyeglasses. and talking, when he did talk,
in clear tones, admirably pitched voice, and
calm and collected manner"
lie rapidly advanced to the front rank as a
Parliamentary orator and as a leader among
the Liberals.