The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-25
RUMoRs OF CHANGES.
British Cabinet Is Likely to Be En-
tireiy Reconstructed.

NEW YORK. Sept. PA dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
Lord Salisbury's manifesto Is remark
able for the manifestation Of style and
argumentative force. It contrasts
strongly with Mr.. Chamberlaius Bir-
mingham speech, which is open TO
criticism for faults of taste. Mr. Cham
berlain evidently aimed. however. at
drawing the fire Of the Radicals and
setting them talking about South Africa
and in this way hoped to swell the Un-
ionist majorities
The air Is heavy in the political clubs
with rumors OF cabinet changes. Mr..
Goschens retirement from the admi-
raltv is row regarded as foregone
conclusion. since his health is broken
and he is weary Of official responsible
ties and cannot be induced to remain at
the most. Lord Salisbury. who consid-
ers old age poor excuse for retirement
is reported to be greatly annoyed by
Mr.. Goschen's determination to aban-
don Office, but will be forced to find
successor for the admiralty.
Lord Lansdowne's tenure of the war
Office win also be short, but he will not
leave the cabinet. Lord Salisbury's re-
lations with Lord Lansdowne are most
intimate. and he is not convinced that
any change in the war Office is re-
ouired. Wen-informed men who know
what is going on behind the scenes
assert that Lord Salisbury. when forced
10 admit that the logic Of the situation
requires a new head FOR the war Office. |
since military organization is heralded
as the first work Of the next parliament. |
viii transfer Lord Lansdowne to the |
foreign office. This result has been pre-
dicted by leading members Of the dip
lomatic service. who have reasoned
from the intimacy OF the two statesmen
that Lord Salisbury will be likely to |
choose Lord Lansdowne as his success
sor in the foreign Office. This transfer
would leave Nr Balfour leader Of the
commons. where the old Tories are not |
ready to take orders from Mr.. Cham
berlain
The succession to the war office is
generally conceded to Mr.. Chamberlain |
on the ground that he is the only min
lister with sufficient force Of character
and administrative ability for carry i
ing out thorough and sar-reaching re-
forms in the military system. The re-
formers. however. are over-zealous
when they assume that the emergency
required the services of Mr.. Chamber
lain at the war Office Lord Roberts
as commander-in-chief and Lord Kitch-
ener as adjutant-general Of the British
army must be in bad way II the con-
centration Of so much talent is lndis-
pensable.
One of the freshest rumors in the
air points to another field Of activity
for Mr.. Chamberlain. This is the re-
Dort that Sir Michael Hicks Beach, as
well az Mr. Goschen. is weary Of office
and bent upon retiring from the cabi-
net. If this rlmor be we'll founded,
Mr.. Chamberlain may become chancel-
Tor of the exchequer and leave Sir AL
fred Miner to work out the settlement
Of South Africa. This solution would
delight military men. who know that
Ar Nhan,barIofn oan,a4 - aan4.otrza
from Aldershot and possibly it would
tend 70 promote a reconciliation Of the
whole race in South Africa. where the
Dutch are bitterly prejudiced against
him. If Mr.. Chamberlain does not take
the war office, George Wyndham may
succeed Lord Lansdowne He has
earned promotion by his debating skill
ard is the most promising among the
younger men on the Conservative side.
The retirement of Viscount Gross, the
Duke Of Devonshire and Lord James is
also strongly hinted at from many
sources Of information. Lord Sails
bury. unless all signs fail will be forced
to reconstruct his cabinet after the cleo
tons. His superannuated colleagues
have not learned. the secret Of perennial
youth nor has he himself found It in
his chemical laboratory at Hatfield. He
is described by those who have recently
seen him as more communicative than
ever. as harrassed and wearied with
public life and as hard to part from
his colleagues or do anything but brood
in silence about perplexities and Chinese
complications. This is. however. no
lack Of either power or skill in his ap-
peal to the constituencies.