The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-15

ord lieutenant. Mr.. Balfour issued an
,sneal to the public for funds to relieve
~ d;etress caused by the failure of the
| no,ato crop Large contributions were
received.
Upon the death of w. II. Smith. Mr.
Ba,four was unanimously elected leader
of the House of Commons and First Lord
Of the T, easury, and throughout the ses-
sion of 1892 he continued to show in
creased ability in leading the Unionss
party. In the following year his
speeches against the home rule bill
greatly added to his reputation
On the return of the Unionst party
to power in 1895 Mr.. Balfour again be-
came leader of the House. The crises
through which the country has passed
since that date have called for tact and
patience. as we'll as skillful leadership.
on the part of Mr. Balfour.
A DEGREE MAN.
Mr.. Balfour has been the recipient of
many university honors. He was elect
ed Lord Rector of St. Andrews Univer-
sity in November. 1856. and also of Gas
gov University in 1890 and Chancellor OF
Edinburg University in 1891.
Mr. Balfour is an honorary IL y; OF
Kingdom, a D. c. L. of Oxford and F,
R. s. He has been president OF the
committee of the Council Of I Educatii ION
Seal SCI i in Ireland. In 1851 he was appoint
ed member of the Gold and Silver Com,
mission: and mention. should be made 81
his bias in favor of bimetallism; with
regard to which he has said: That if
hinetalisss could by international ar
rangement fix some ratio OF exchange pe,
tween gold and silver coin they Wo W.
create an automatic system by which the
demand and supply for gold and SILVER,
respectively. would maintain that ratio
at the point they fixed it.
HAS CHANIBERAIN'S SUPPORT.
7. Austen Chamberlain. financial sec
rotary Of the Treasury. said his 1ather
wished him to say how greatly dlsap-
pointed he was at the fact that ne could
not be present to welcome Mr.. Balfour
to the leadership and say with what pride
and pleasure he would give all the as
Sistance in his power.
Turning towards Mr.. Balfour the
sneaker continued: My father bids me
to say to YOU. Mr.. Balfour that you will
find in him a colleague equally attached
to YOU by private friendship and public
regard as that in offering you his sup
port he feels he may speak also in the
name of the whole Liberal-Unionlst Par
ty of the House of Commons"
After Mr. Chamberlain had delivered his
message the conference dispersed.
\ CHAMBERLAIN VICTORY.
on entering the House Of Commons sub
seGuently Mr. Balfour met with great
rece ption. not only from his own support
ers, but from the members of the opposi-
ton The resignation of Sir H1icha ell
Hicks Beach caused intense surprise 1t
was generally taken to be almost more
Important than Lord Salisbury's and was
regarded in some quarters as being dirct-
l. due to the more important voice which
Mr.. Chamberlain will have in the new
Cabinet
John Redmond leader of the Irish Ma
tionslist party said to a representative
Of the Associated Press:
1T will have a more important and
n aterial result than Lord Salisburys re-
tilement Sir Michael Hicks-Bcach was
an excellent check on Chamberlain, who
is now practically allpowerful. I do
not regard the general political situation
as being at all changed by Lord Sails
hury's disappearance from active life
Several other changes are due to occur,
including the retirement of Earl Cadogan,
the lord lieutenant of Ireland, and the
cleva ton of George Wyndllam the chief
secretary fer Ireland. to a seat in the
Cabinet. Speculation Is already rife as to
who will be Sir Michael Hicks-Beach's
Successor. The name of R. ". Hanbury
president of the Board of Agriculture, is
|c1. n