Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-12
PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATISM.
A Change of Front by the Brit
ish Tory Party.
Radical Principles Adopted at the
Edinburg Conference.
The Necessities OF the Timos Met In q
straightforward Manner-Moriey's
Evicted Tenants Commission
IL Failure.

LONDON, Nov. 1l.-[Copyright, 1892,
by the New York Associated Press. j
No event in the recent history OF the
Conservative party approaches in i'm
portance the adoption of the new pro-
pramme by a conference of the Conserva-
tives' association in Edinburgh. The
platform, which is frankly democratic.
even goes beyond the Newcastle pro-
gramme of the Liberals in admitting
popular control of party legisla-
tion. and further contrasts favor
ably with the Liberal federation's policy
as allowing greater independence of
opinion among the adherents of the
principle of unionism. The rigidity of
the old Toryism has absolutely van
ished, and has been replaced by elastic
constitutionaliem which Balfour and
others accepted, though certain OF the
members of the party continue to think
it is incompatible with genuine Con-
eervatism and dangerous to the success
OF the party government.
The programme includes electoral reg.
istration reform, with an equalization OF
seats, and reduction OF the period OF
occupancy required to qualify voters.
This in itself trumps the Liberal pro-
poesls in the same direction. The con-
ference next approved the extern
sion of the franchise to female
rate payers; the disfranchisement
of illiterate voters; popular con-
troll of the liquor traffic; state
provision for old age; the assistance OF
workingmen to enable them to acquire
land for building purposes; the amend
ment to the employers liability laws
and factory acts in the workingmen's
interests. Finally come tough home
ruleiem is Infused in the programme by
the approval of the transferrence OF
private billie of procedure from parlia-
ment committees to local bodies,
The transformed spirit of the party is
attributed largely to the liberalizing in
fluence of the Unionist allies, and partly
to the leaders recognizing the necessities
of the times.
John Molley's evicted tenants COM
mission seems doomed to disastrous
failure. Neither Lord Salebury's jibes
nor Bsliou,'s denunciation is causing
the collapse OF the commission,
but internal disputes and partisan mis-
management by Justice Mathews are
the chief factors in the breakup. Be-
sides Murphy, who has resigned, MUIR
rough O'Brien will retire, and another
member, Roche, has intimated desire
to be replaced. The desertions are
attributed to Justice Mathews
procedure. The Withdrawals leave only
two members of the commission, but it
is rumored the government will fill the
vacancies with home rule nominees and
continue the commission, though its
end is foul smoke in the nostrils of par
lament.
The Radicals have abandoned all hope
of any legislation for evicted tenants
during the coming session. The plan
now discussed by the ministerial circle
is 10 not ask the house of commons to
vote grant for their relief, but
to evade a decision of the house
by drawing funds enough from the
land purchase commission to COM
pulsorily purchase portions OF estates
from obstinate landlords, with enough
to make loans to the tenants to enable
them to start farms anew. With an
other general election within sight, the
prudent Liberal members o. the COM
mons hesitate to approve the course
which is certain to arouse general repro
baton.
Sir Charles Tupper's negotiations in
Paris for the conclusion Of commercial
treaty between France and Canada are
making favorable progress. France
makes minimum tariff concessions to
Canada.
The Independence Beige of Brussels
announces that Montefiore Levy, one of
the Belgian delegates, will preside over
the international monetary conference.
The Bering sea arbitrators, who were
to meet in Parie, will probably not meet
before February. In official circles here
the opinion prevails that the arbitration
proceedings will be protracted.
Visitors returning from Woodstock
testify to the general regret felt by the
townepeople, due to the death of the
duke of Marlborough.
The latest trade union development
in London is the formation of domes.
tic servants union. Seven hundred
servants have already joined, and the
union intends to hold an open air
meeting to give expression to
the demands that the government estab-
lish a servants labor exchange where
no fees are exacted; fix the hours of
labor; regulate salaries and force en-
pioyers to give suitable character to
servants on dismissal.
F0unds