Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-20
TOPICS OF INTEREST
Discussing the Results Of the Elec-
tons in England.
CHAMBERLAIN HOPES TO Be PREMIER
Plan to Store Up Food in the
Event of War.
THE CHINESE STU ALTON
THE CHINESE STU ALTON
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star


on the belief that in this period Lord Sails
bury will have resigned. that Mr.. Baifour
will have taken his position in the lords,
and that Mr.. Chamberlain will have as
Sumed the position of leader of the house
of commons.
Mr.. Chamberlain as leader of the house
of commons is, in their opinion, an imposSi-
bility. He is feared, and his abilities are
admired, but their contention is that the
oldfaShioned tory will refuse to be led by
him and that rather than continue under
his leadership they will overthrow the gov
eminent That is to say, the liberals are
looking forward to a spit in the conserva-
tive ranks similar to the radical disagree
ment over Mr.. Gladstone and home rule.
Many conservatives fear this very Tang,
and l believe it will ultimately happen,
not when the colonial secretary is made
leader of the house OF commons at least
when it becomes generally accepted that he
is striving to be Lord SaiiSburyS successor
The crucial point is can Lord Salisbury con-
trive to keep Mr.. Chamberlain quiet after
his extraordinary predUminance in the pres
ent election?
Chamberlain is Ambitious.
1t may be taken for granted that Mr..
Chamberlain's combative nature will never
be satisfied without the attainment of his
highest ambition. If Mr.. Chamberlain be
willing to wait. well and good but the col
onial secretary is now sixty-four years old.
and. to use his own expire sSion, the sands
are running low in his hour glass
1t is almost safe to predict that long be-
fore the natural life OF the coming parlia-
ment is ended MIR Balfour and MIR. Cham
berlain will be openly hostile to each other,
each striving to gain the premiership. 1t is
an open secret that Mr. Balfour. regards
with uneasiness the political prominence of
the colonial secretary. Mr.. BaIfour has
been regarded as the legitimate successor Of
his uncle. Lord Salisbury, for some time
and now suddenly comes Mr.. Chamberlain
with what almost looks like a demand for
a 'hs Rnn al,
tacks of the opposition on the colonial sec
rotary during this campaign have per-
suaded Mr.. Chamberlain that he is by far
the most popular man in the country today.
The Two Men Compared.
Admittedly he is the most prominent. but
his popularity is a doubtful quantity. He
can make speeches that appeal to the
crowd he can thrust himself forward as
being the cause of the British successes in
South Africa, he can gain sympathy by ap-
pearing to be singled out by the opposi-
ton as a scabegoat. but he cannot make
men enthuse over his personality. Talk
to an ordinary conservative about MI
Chamberlain; He will tell you he is
smart he is "scrapper' and he knows
his business None have l heard go fur
Their than this and express any sort of
affection for the man. 1 have often heard
him compared to an American politician.
but never termed a statesman His pug
nacity appeals to the Britisher more than
any other trait in his character.
Mr.. Balfour. on the other hand, is ad-
mired and respected chiefly because of his
strong ability. He, too, is a fighter, but it
is very seldom that he plays to the gallery
He has the esteem of every member of his
party, and if he and Chamberlain engage in
conflict it will be hard fought battle. 1t
| is said that Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Bal
| four hold no intercourse with each other
| except when official business demands, and
| neither would be unwilling to have trial
| of strength with the other. The liberals
! knowing this are counting on return to
power through causes similar to those that
made Lord Salisbury premier
RearranEinE the Cabinet.
| The reconstruction of the present cabinet
| is absorbing much political attention.
| 1t is not unlikely that Mr.. Balfour, If he
| goes to the house of lords. will act as nomi-
| nal foreign secretary, with Lord Salisbury
| as sort of consulting engineer. Mr.
| Chamberlain, whom it is now said absolute
! ly refuses to go to the war office, will. 1t is
thought. succeed Sir Michael Hicks Beach
as chancellor of the eNchequer. while the
latter will fill the vacancy at the admiralty
caused by Mr.. Goschens retirement.
| As for the minor posts in the ministry
| understand that the few able admins
| traitors now in the cabinet will not receive
| the promotion they deserve. Mr.. Hamburg
for instance, who is regarded as man OF
| considerable strength, is not very much ii
| favor with the prime minister, but he viii
| not be completely ignored If Mr.. Cham
! berlain can help it. Probably the younger
| ministers of only average ability. who have
| the advantage of aristocrataic connections
| will receive chief promotion. Mr.. Brodricl
is one and Mr.. Wyndham Is another.
In the War once.
| Whichever direction the ministerial
| changes may assume, 1t will be extremel!
difficult to fill Lord Lansdowne's presen
| position satisfactorily. Next to Mr.. Cham
| berlain the best man for the position i
| perhaps Mr.. Hamburg. but even Mr.. Cham
berlain's influence will probably be INSULT
| cient to place him there. The solution o
| the difficulty which Lord Saiisbury's pres
en-. timidity will allow him to adopt. lie
probably in the selection of mediocrity no
quite so hopeless as Lord Lansdowne
strengthened on the military side by Lor
Roberts as commander-in-chief and Lor
Kitchener as permanent under secretar
for war, in succession to Sir Ralph Knox
Kitchener would he. the very man for tn
under secretaryship il the reform Of tn
| army is really intended He is a terror
| the society swell who poses soldier
and it is significant that most of his off
GERS in Egypt were men who had worke
| up from the ranks and studied soldierin
as a science. His iron will and his unbend
ing character would effect a rapid trans
formation at the war office.
Election Surprises.
The most expert electioneers in Londo
| are staggered by the extraordinary vagarie
of the present election. The contrasts seeI
to upset every theory they have held o
the subject. In the north 1t was expecte
! that the influence Of Captain Lambton
candidature might spread through II
i ueighboring constituencies. but exactly tn
| opposite turns out to be the case. tn
poverty of the ministerial record in indus
4 trial legislation was said to be bound
i tell against the tories, yet in almost ever
l Instance large centers have returned the
/ with increased majorities. Most of the gair
scored by the liberals have been in con
Il paratively small and remote towns, whiC
Il were reported to be hopelessly khaki
The Food Problem.
Il Once again the question of estabishir
l huge granaries in England, to hold su
plus food supply in case of war. is comlr
I to the front. A society is in course of TO
4 nation in the city having for its object Il
maintenance of reserve food supply. II
society has already a number of supporter
i including the Duke of Sutherland, and VIII
the general election is over, an endeay
4 will be made to arouse public interest.
i this country now produces but fracti'
~ | ,ir,i II "a Itrrna