The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-04-19

7. Z. 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-
tons find 1t 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 a 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 pl, isant-
est and least onerous part of the viii 5 du-
ties, and to AN unprejudiced mind would
appear to be more than offset by the rude-
cry he is compelled to undergo durii q the
sessions of the house He is almost teral-
ly the first man in the house and the last
TO leave it. He must be present when the
daily sessions open, and he must rems IN un-
I'll the very last vote has been taken, for il il
one of his duties to move the djourI, ment.
The house meets daily at o'clock al sell
l-sbU OF q CLOCK Ill
the morning-often even later-and curing
all those hours the senior ministerial whip
does not dare to leave the buildint He
must see TO It that enough memb, rs are
within call at all hours of the evening o give
the government the necessary major " on
every vote, and ON every division II the
house when the members swarm out
through the lobbies and back into the house
again TO be recorded for or agains the
measure under consideration, he NUT act
as one of the tellers of his party.
Besides all this, he must keep the linis-
terial supporters II lrmed of the sta us OF
affairs in the house, summon them 70 be
present when important divisions are liable
TO occur, prevent their leaving when / has
once corralled them, arrange pairs for those
unavoidably absent. tell them how tc vote
when they rush up from the SIN king
rooms, library or restaurants at the sound
OF the division bells without the least no
tion OF what has been going on in the Louise
in their absence, listen to their suggestions
and complaints, mollify their wrath, ar
range their differences and be suave and
courteous through II all for fear lest the
party suffer.
.. IL seems almost incredible to Americans
that men whose social position and wealth
assure them Of the enjoyments of life of
easy leisure should willingly undertake the
virtual slavery entailed by the acceptance
of a position as whip. But IL is fact Just
the same, ,'and Englishmen are fond Of as
suring us that it is good illustration OF
their exalted ideas OF civic duty and virtue.
1t is just possible, however that the han
kering after prospective heshpots may have
quite as much TO do with IL, for success
full government whip is generally rewarded
with title or a ministerial portfolio.
Lord StalbridRe, 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 minis
terial whip, despite the fact that he is
man of considerable wealth and brother OF
the Duke Of Westminster. Mr.. Edward
Marjorlbanks, who held the Office Of pat
ronage secretary during Mr.. Gladstone's
lately ended term, and who would have
continued To hold it under Lord Rosebery
but for the sudden death Of his father,
Baron Tweedmo IA, which gave him seat
IN the house of lords, has already had his
valuable party services requited with a seat
In the cabinet rs lord privy seal, and 80 IL
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 lori Of
the treasury, position which, though not
in itself of particular Importance, Is con
sidered certain stepping stone to hon )ra-
BILE preferment. There are those who Il ink
that Mr.. Ellis has In him the making 4
future premier, but whether his ambition
aims 80 high or not, II he achieves success as
government whip, his future will assu ed
ly be comfortably provided for.
II. Il. WHITE.