The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-23
Liberals Seriously Divided on Issues
and Conservatives Certain to
BE Kept I'm Power.
MR.. CHAMBERLAIN A TARGET
EFFORT TO INVOLVE THE COLONIAL
SECRETARY IN A SCANDAL.
His Wife, Sons and Daughter Said to
He Members of a Firm of Ad-
miralty Contractors.

copyright, 1900. by the Associated Press.l
LONDON, Sept. 22.-The political cam
paign has commenced in earnest Only an
other week remains before the polling be-
gins and it will be only a little over FIVE
weeks before the new Parliament as
sembles. That it will be a Conservative
body is a foregone conclusion. Herbert
Gladstone admits that it is quite impossi-
BILE for the Liberals to win over the 160
seats necessary to give them a victory.
Thus, from the outset, the election loses
its interest, practically resolving Itself
into an opportunity for politicians on both
sides TO air their views and to discuss the
momentous issues of the last year, un-
trammeled by the conventionalities of st.
Stephens. This outbreak of oratory, judged
from the initial stages. promises to develop
no new or startling facts The Conserva-
tives confine their energies to defense of
the war in South Africa and of it's manage
ment; while the Liberals attempt to ignore
1T, concentrating their attacks on the fail
ure of the Conservatives to fulfill the prom
ises OF beneficial home legislation. Though
this is officially the Liberals main plank
the division of their ranks over the war is
so great that II is quite impossible to keep
all the candidates in line. Thus. while Sir
Edward Grey and the Right Hon. III. H.
Asquith and others are telling the voters
that 1t is useless to discuss the war and
are admitting that annexation of the Boer
republics is the only logical outcome, Mr.
Morley and other well-known members of
the party are telling them that the war
was unnecessary and that the annexation
Of the republics is blot upon England's
fair name.
On one point, however, the Liberals all
unite; and that point is the unfairness of
Lord Salisbury in bringing about dissolu-
ton at the present moment, when the reg
lister of 1898 is expiring, so that all who
were not registered two years ago are dis
franchised. The new register comes into
force in February. Thousands are affected;
and the Liberals maintain that Lord Sails
bury's action is not only without precedent
but Is unconstitutional. On the other hand,
the Conservatives claim that Lord Sails
bury acted fairly, as. had he waited until
after February. he would have the I'M
doubted advantage of the votes of soldiers
returning from South Africa In their
with SO little warning the Liberals are not
alone
Business men, regardless of party, are
furious over the disintegration of trade
which always accompanies election con-
tests. Publishers for instance. after a
wretched year, seeing the war in South
Africa ending and affairs in China becom-
ing more quiescent made all prepara-
tons for a revival of trade Just as thew
were beginning To put new books out the
announcement of the dissolution of Parlia-
ment came like thunder clap, spelling all
their prospects The Stock Exchange, on
the same grounds, has got great griev-
ance against Lord Salisbury, as it will be
well into December before the publican
can be expected to take keen interest in
stocks.
The question of home rule except i'm Ire
land, Is scarcely mentioned. Herbert Glad
stone, who represents West Leeds adj
vises his constituents to let the matter
rest; but the Earl of Sandwich strikes a
much franker note in renouncing his adj
herence TO the government and returning
TO the ranks of the Liberals, because home
A miniature bomb has been thrown into
the Conservative camp by the Liberal
Morning Leader, which publishes lengthy
story, showing that the wife, sons and
daughter of Joseph Chamberlain the sec
rotary of state for the colonies, hold almost
all the shares of the firm of Hoskins's Sons,
contractors TO the Admiralty. Among the
81
Chamberlain (the eldest son of the secre-
| tary), who is a civil lord of the Admiralty.
| To put worse complexion on the matter
kinses now connected WITH t Are b mo Mos
which Is practically family concern and
apparently prosperous. The only answer
so FAR youchsafed to the accusations is
| letter from Mr.. Chamberlains secretary
| saying the minister is not disposed To
notice the cowardly insinuation contained
| In an indirect charge"
Rumors assign the war ministry to Mr.
| Chamberlain in the new Cabinet the sup
| position being that the Marquis of Lans-
| downe will retire, and also that Mr. Cham
berlain will then have Lord Roberts as
| commander-in-chief and Lord Kitchener as
| adjutant general Earl Halsbury, the lord
| high chancellor; Earl Cadogan the lord
| lieutenant of Ireland; Viscount Cross. the
| lord privy seal, and Mr.. William Court
| gully. the speaker of the House of Com
| mons. are all said TO be likely to retire.
| Lord Roberts's laconic report that Moth.
ing is left of the Boer army but a few
/ marauding bands" came OPPORTUNITY fol
the government. II was indeed announced
| that Lord Salisbury awaited ii before Ego
| ing to the country" Marauding bands dc
not require the presence OF a field marshal
| so Lord Roberts's homecoming Is eagerl,
awaited, though it would seem that these
| same marauders will detain several arm,
corps in South Africa. But. to all intent:
| and purposes, with the exception of tn,
casualty and sick list, the war so far a.
| the British public is concerned. was ovel
| weeks ago and the doings of Mr. Kruge,
4 are now followed with only half hearte.
| interest, mainly owing TO the belief. ap
/ parently well founded, that he will be abb,
/ TO accomplish nothing by his projected yisi
| TO the European capitals.
Regardless OF party, the influential dailie.
| and weeklies urge that there should be nc
| delay in correcting the abuses in the Brit
| ish army which have been shown I'D Sc
| prominently by the present war. A com
| mittee OF inquiry is now investigating tn,
| question of officers expenses, and is ex
| pecfed TO recommend that colonies be in
structed to repress the extravagances o.
| the officers who set the pace so that i
will. IN the future, be possible for a youn,
man to enter a crack regiment without :
| minimum private income of $500.
| Joseph Chamberlain in opening the Bir
| mingham canvass this evening delivered
/ an address to a great open air meeting
| His speech was an impassioned arraign
| ment of the opponents of the war i'm South
| Africa in the course of which he said. 81
| was going TO call them traitors but / vii
| instead say misguided individuals" Mr.
! Chamberlain challenged the Liberals I,
| point out a single provocative word or sen
/ tence in the dispatches EXCHANGED durins
the ante-war negotiations. He charged IN,
| Beers with having broken every pledge ans
| promise made to the British and declared
that they had long been planning to kicl
/ the English out of South Africa
Mr. Chamberlain criticised the address O.
| Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, LIBERIA
leader in the House of Commons and ST,
| William Vernon Harcourt as lacking IN
| breadth and clearness. The country h,
| said wanted 10 know their views: but wher
s-~-t~A 49,