The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-24
CABINET CHANGES.
Chief Topic Discussed in English Po-
litical Circles.

New York, Sept PA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says:
Lord Salisbury's manifesto is remark
able for the elevation of style and argu-
mentative force. It contrasts strongly
with Mr.. Chamberlain's Birmingham
speech, which is open to criticism for
faults of taste. Mr. Chamberlain evil
IDENTIFY aimed, however. at drawing the
fire of the radicals and setting them
talking about South Africa. and in this
way hoped to swell the unionist major
itieS
The air is heavy in the political clubs
with rumors of cabinet changes. Mr..
Goschen'S retirement from the admiral
ty is now regarded as a foregone con-
clusion. since his health is broken and
he is weary of official responsibilities,
and cannot be induced to remain at the
post Lord Salisbury, who considers old
age poor excuse for retirement is re-
ported to be greatly annoyed by Mr..
GoSchen'S determination to abandon Of
flee, but will be forced to find a success
sor for the admiralty. Lord Lands
downe'S tenure of the war office will also
be short, but he will not leave the cab
met. Lord SaliSbury'S relations with
Lord LanSdOwne are most intimate, and
he is not convinced that any change in
the office is required, but in any event
he will insist upon having him remain
in the cabinet. Well informed men who
know what is going on, behind the
scenes assert that Lord Salisbury, when
forced to admit that the logic of the sit
uation requires a new head for the war
office, since military reorganization is
heralded as the first work of the next
parliament, will transfer Lord Lans-
downe to the foreign office. This result
has been predicted by leading members
of the diplomatic service, who have rea-
Soned from the intimacy of the two
statesmen that Lord Salisbury will be
likely to choose Lord Lansdowne as his
in 1a Ion
transfer would leave Mr.. Balfour leader
of the commons, where the old Tories
are not yet ready to take orders from
Mr.. Chamberlain.
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 carrying
out thorough and far-reaching reforms
in the military system. The reformers
however, are overzealous when they as
sumo that the emergency requires the
services of Mr.. Chamberlain at the war
office. Lord Roberts as commander-irl-
chief and Lord Kitchener as adjutant
general of the British army must be in
a bad way if the concentration Of so
much talent is indispensable. One of
the freshest rumors in the air points
to another field of activity for Mr..
Chamberlain. This is the report that
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, as well as
Mr.. Goschen, is weary of office, and
bent upon retiring from the cabinet. If
this rumor be will founded, Mr.. Cham
berlain may become chancellor of the
exchequer and leave Sir Alfred Miner
to work out the settlement of South
Africa. This solution would delight mill
itary men, who know that Mr.. Chamber
lain cannot be. controlled from Alder
shot, and possibly it would tend to pro-
mote a reconciliation of the white races
in South Africa, where the Dutch are
bitterly prejudiced against him.
If Mr. Chamberlain does not take the
war office, George Wyndham may sue
coed Lord Lansdowne. He has earned
promotion by his debating skill, and is
the most promising among the younger
men on the Conservative side
The retirement of Viscount Cross, the
Duke of Devonshire and Lord James is
also strongly limited at from many
sources of information. Lord Salisbury,
unless all signs fail, will be forced to
reconstruct his cabinet after the cleo
tions. 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 re-
Gently seen him as more uncommuni-
cative than ever as haraSSed and wear
led with public life and as disinclined
to part with his colleagues, or do any
thing but brood in silence over cabinet
perplexities and Chinese complications.
There is, however, no lack either of
power or skill in his appeal to the con-
stitl1encies