Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-20
Opinion Freely Expressed that Hs Should
Have Been Named
NUMBER OF CHANGES CONTEMPLATED
Names of Important PersOnages Suggested
for Positions.
DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH HAS A CHANCE
Popularity of His wife May Win for
Him Cabinet once without Re
gard to His own
Ability.


the absorbing subject of discussion here.
During the week the public was regaled
with more or less shrewd prophecies, but
no intimations were given out Of the inten-
tions of the premier, A. J. Balfour, re-
garding the successors of the ministers
who have already resigned or as to how
far the changes in the ministry may be
expected to extend.
1t is undeniable that a very large sec
tion of the conservatives and liberal
unionists are strongly dissatisfied with the
ministry as at present constituted and 1t
Is increasingly apparent that In spite OF
all the Parliamentary euiogies of Mr.. Bal
four many unionists believe that a govern
ment of greater strength and capacity
could have been established with Joseph
Chamberlain, the colonial secretary, as
leader. The opinion is freely expressed on
all sides by unionists as we'll as the lib
erals that the interests of the empire now
adays are so vast and complex that they
are sorely in need Of the oversight Of q
man of broader and more forceful powers,
who should be disassociated from the at
mosphere of constant debates of such
measures, for instance, as the education
bill or the question of releasing Patrick
a.. McHugh, the member of Parliament for
North Leitrim, from the penalty of petty
Irish court.
The appointment OF Mr.. Chamberlain to
the premiership would have been received
with cold disfavor by the opposition and
would have been a red flag to the Anglo
phobes, but nevertheless there is a multi
tude Of government supporters who would
be glad to have him as chief, and the As
sociated Press is informed from sources of
undoubted authenticity that Mr.. Cham
berlain's claims to the premiership would
have been recognized as being better than
Mr.. Balfour's had he not whenever occa-
sion presented itself urged Mr.. Balfour's
succession against his own.
strong Point of Salisbury.
One important and strong point of
the late administration which has not
III ahecnnaA. zgenaEall ~ known. and appFe7
[ ciated and which 1t is feared Mr.. Balfour
will not fully inherit, was Lord Salisbury g
persistent resistance to Emperor Will
liam's efforts to entangle Great Britain in
an alliance with Germany. These efforts
have been made at intervals since 1895 and
are likely to be renewed now that Lord
Salisbury has retired.
The chief immediate cause Of the ap-
prehension, however, is that Mr.. Balfour
the size of the unwieldly cabinet, now num-
bering nineteen, or make sweeping changes
in It. Nowhere is its complete recon
struction more earnestly urged than
among the conservatives themselves, some
of whom profess to fear that unless the
ministry is strengthened it's support in the
House of Commons will rapidly dwindle.
The conservatives are doubtful whether
Mr. Balfour is sufficiently resolute to
recreate the ministry against the wishes
of most of his political official associates.
Possible Cabinet Changes.
The consensus Of best informed con-
servative opinion points to a list of ap-
pointments something like the following
as being the most likely: Mr.. Hanbury, the
president of the Board of Agriculture, to
succeed Sir Michael Hicks Beach, the
chancellor of the excheQuer, the announce
ment of whose resignation was not received
with favor by the conservatives. with the
exception Of those who desire to see the
post of the exchequer filled by a man CON-
mitted to the principle of preferential
trade with the colonies. Other candidates
mentioned for the exchequer are Rt. Hon
James w. Lowther, the former Parlia-
mentary secretary for foreign affairs; Lord
George Hamilton. the secretary Of state
for India, who was not considered to be q
fnancier, and Sir Edgar Vincent, the
former financial adviser to the Egyptian
government and ex-governor OF the Inn
perial Ottoman bank at Constantinople.
1t is now considered probable that Lord
Halsbury will be succeeded as lord chan.
cellor by Sir r. B. Finlay. at present at
torney general. The manner in which Lord
Halsbury exercised his prerogative in the
appointment OF Judges has caused consid.
cradle dissatisfaction. 1t is asserted thai
many Of the appointees do not reach the
high standards previously maintained in the
English courts.
Chance for Marlborough.
Earl Cadogan, the lord lieutenant OF Ire
land, will probably be succeeded by the duk,
of Marlborough, the earl OF Pembroke ant
Montgomery. or the earl of Dudley. II thu
duke of Marlborough is appointed It will
be due to his wife's popularity as much a!
the dukes merits. The dukes name is als'
mentioned as the possible successor OF thu
earl of Hopetoun as governor general o
Australia.
Should G. T. Ritchie resign the home sec
retaryship George Wyndham, now chief sec
retary for Ireland. is considered a promising
candidate.
Lord Ashbourne's position as lord chan
cellor of Ireland is acceptably flled
The Right Hon. Sir Edward Carson. tn,
solicitor general. and the duke OF Bedfort
are strongly urged to succeed Lord james
of Hereford in the anomalous cabinet posi-
| tion OF chancellor of the duchy Of Lancaster
Lord Hopetoun is a second possibility.
The resignation of LORD George Hamilton
as secretary Of state for India is considere'
probable.
]. Austin Chamberlain, eldest son OF Jo
seph Chamberlain and financial secretary I,
the treasury. will doubtless become a cabi
net minister in some secondary position.
The Right Hon. Gerald Balfour presiden
Of the Board Of Tradei and brother Of tn
premier, cannot be said to be popular witt
his party, but he is not expected to retir
| from the cabinet
The retention Of Lord Lansdowne as fer
eign secretary and the duke of Deyonshlr
as president OF the council is eonsidere
foreordsined, and II is not believed that tn
changes will 90 beyond those mentioned