Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-01-31
ABsoRBs ATTENTION.
Public Interest Diverted from War
News by Opening of Its lScssfon.


London. Jan. 3i.-Pubiic attention is
diverted from the bulletin board of the
war office to the lobbies of the houses Of
parliament, which. as write, are tllrob-
hing With eXcitenlent In the first place
Lord Salisbury's defense is eagerly dis
cussed, its most Interesting point being
thought to he the frank avowal that the
secret service has been starved. This is
an undoubteG fact, as the secret service.
| fund always has been regarded With
suspicion and aversion by the public.
the general yiem being that it affords
an opportunity for jobbery of all sorts.
No government cver has been strong
enough 10 carry a vots Of large appro-
Ep.iation for this purpose thru the house
tof commons.
Apart from this point the speech is
judged a failure waning. us ii IS con-
lceded to have wanted, the strength and
llcftiness and purity of Lord lSimber-
lley's utterances The latter according
| to lobby critics puts off opposition
without rancor and With simple arsu-
ments.
The evenings doings in the house Of
commons. however, attracted most at
Eten.ioa, especially the motion of LORD
i F'itznsaurice, amounting almost To a
Ilvote of no confidence.
1t was generally considered a tactical
Terror On the part Of the opposition to
force the issue thus early in the session,
wlich can but result IN bringing the
/ iGisaffecteed nlinisterialists into line an5
iinsuring a government majority Pub
Iiie opinion is Clearly averse to compi-
lcating the present situation by adding a
ministerial crisis and general elections
Ito the military and International diff
lcuIties which are occupying the mind Of
1.-THE country.
1t is understood that Lord Rosebery
Estrcngly aisapproved, aitho Lord Kim
bcrley consented TO, Lord Fitzmaurice's
lmo,ion. Lord Rosebery taking the pre-
Imier's View that to make u party ques-
4 tion OF national military disasters
w3uld only serve to arouse enthusiasm
/ at Pretoria.
Mary tory members of parliamen.
who had fully Intended severely To criti-
Icise The government on account OF the
war office maladminis,ration have re-
4 solved. owing 10 the action Of the apI,o-
sition, to keep silent. So Lord FitZ-
4 maurice's motion is likely 10 resolve il
lself into a practical vote of confidence
lin the governments even tho the latter
IappaIentlv is determined TO stick by its
4 departments.
4 There was electricity in the air wher
i the speaker OF the house of commons
i took the chair Outside the house
4 5lerouds Of people had lined up in front
lof TIL entrance gate OF parliament court
and lad stood there for hours in the
!. damp keen cold just for the sake OF OBJ
tanning u glimpse Of the best-knowr
|mcInbers
/ MILNER SCORED by WHITE.
TransvanI Consul Says British Com.
missioner Is Responsible Tor bad
Feeling.
/ New York Jen 81 Montagu White
Iwho WAS consul general OF the Soutl
!; african republic in London until TIL,
outbreak of the war. contributes an ar
+ ticle 10 the February North American
$ Review on the South African war Th,
circumstances commonly held To be re
i sponsble for the present situation h,
e merely glances at. Among these h,
r points to the discomfort Of the British
e element in Johannesburg. the clums,
: diplomacy of Mr.. Chamberlain the ac
tiyity of MIR. Rhodes. whom he describe
: as IA disappointed capitalist poitcai
+ who had ruined his career as a states
: man by an act of mad folly and wh,
s was burning to be revensed on thos
Whom he had bitterly wronged." Their
Q were three immensely powerful but un
/. avowed forces, namely, greed of gold
II lust of empire and thirst for revenge.
j. Mr. White devotes very particular at
d tention to one influence which has com
: monty been overlooked. namely. tn
n growth of personal ruic as embodied il
I the high commissioner of South Africa
: Mr.. White is especially severe on tn
present high commissioner, Sir Alfre'