The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-11-28

T. f. ELLIS, THE NEW LIBERAL WHIP.
cipal function was to pay members for the
votes they gave in support of the govern
ment. That abuse has been reformed, but
he is still the recognized dispenser of such
political patronage as civil service laws and
rules have left to be disposed of. People who
want titles for themselves or their friends
and men who have parliamentary aspira-
tions find it to their advantage to stand
well with the patronage secretary, for he is
charged with the duty of looking after
those things, and his word in such cases
goes great way with the ministry Then,
too, he has practical control of the party
purse, and poor men who require assistance
OF financial kind to get or retain their
| seats in the commons are often dependent
on his recognition of their claims.
But these things are among the pleasant
est and least onerous part of the whips du-
ties, and to an unprejudced mind would
appear to be more than offset by the drudg-
cry he is compelled to undergo during the
sessions Of the house. He is almost literal
ly the first man in the house and the last
to leave 1t. He must be present when the
daily sessions open, and he must remain un-
til the very last vote has been taken, for 1t is
one of his duties to move the ad djournment.
The house meets daily at o'clock and sell
dom adjourns before 1890 or o'clock in
the morning-often even later-and during
all those hours the senior ministerial whip
does not dare to leave the building He
must see to 1t that enough members are
within call at all hours of the evening to give
the government the necessary majority on
every vote, and on every division of the
house when the members swarm out
through the lobbies and back into the house
again to be recorded for or against the
measure under consideration, he must act
as one of the tellers of his party.
Besides all this, he must keep the minis
terial supporters IL ')rmed of the status of
affairs in the house, summon them to be
present when important divisions are liable
to occur, prevent their leaving when he has
once corralled them, arrange pairs for those
unavoidably absent, tell them how to vote
when they rush up from the smoking
rooms, library or restaurants at the sound
of the division bells without the least no.
tion of what has been going on in the house
in their absence listen to their suggestions
and complaints, mollify their wrath, ar
range their differences and be suave and
courteous through 1t all for fear lest the
party suffer.
1t seems almost incredible to Americans
that men whose social position and wealth
assure them of the enjoyments of a life of
easy leisure should willingly undertake the
virtual slavery entailed by the acceptance
of position as whip. But it is a fact Just
the same, and Englishmen are fond Of as.
surfing us that 1t is a good illustration of
their exalted ideas of civic duty and virtue
1t Is just possible, however, that the han
kering after prospective leshpots may have
quite as much to do with it, for success.
full government whip is generally rewarded
| 4, ,s..s Il
Lord Stalbridge, for example, owes his
peerage to the fact that for the five years of
Mr.. Gladstone's third ministry he faithful
ly attended to the duties of chief miuis-
terial whip, despite the fact that he is
man of considerable wealth and brother OF
the Duke of Westminster. Mr. Edward
Marjoribanks, who held the Office Of pat
ronage secretary during Mr.. Gladstone's
lately ended term, and who would have
continued to hold IL under Lord Rosebery
but for the sudden death of his father,
Baron Tweedmo n, which gave him n seat
in the house of lords, has already had his
valuable party services requited with a seat
in the cabinet as lord privy seal, and 80 it
goes.
Mr. Thomas Edward Ellis, who succeeds
Baron Tweedmouth as patronage secretary,
is man Of mold very different from his
predecessors. He is the son Of poor Welsh
farmer and represents in the house the dis
trict Of Merionethshire, North Wales, a
nonconformist constituency with whom he
is very popular. He is hardly less popular
in London and was formerly junior lord of
the treasury, position which, though not
in itself Of particular Importance, is con
sidered a certain stepping stone TO honora-
BILE preferment. There are those who think
that Mr.. Ellis has in him the making of II
future premier, but whether his ambition
aims so high or not, If he achieves success as
government whip, his future will assured
} ly be comfortably provided for.
H. =. WHITE