The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-15
His Resignation "a Surprise, and WILL
1t Is Believed, he Followed
by Other Changes.
SPEECH BY THE NEW PREMIER
WHO ADDRESSED GATHERING OF
HIS PARTY FOLLOWERS.
Mr.. Balfour Persuaded by King Ed
ward to Assume the Responsible
ties of Ministerial Chief.

LONDON. July 14-Sir Michael Hicks
Beach to-day resigned as chancellor of the
exchequer. The announcement caused In
tense surprise IL was generally taken TO
be almost more important than Lord Sails
bury's resignation and was regarded IN
some quarters as being directly due to the
more important voice which Mr. Chamber
lain will have in the new Cabinet. John
Redmond, leader of the Irish party in the
House of Commons, said: 1T will have a
more immediate and material result than
Lord Salisbury's retirement. Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach was an excellent check on
Chamberlain who is now practically all
powerful. l do not regard the general po-
iftical situation as being at all changed by
Lord Salsbury's disappearance from active
life"
A. j. Balfour was to-day formally greeted
as Great Britain's premier and the new
regime began its work. The mOmentous
change was marked by only one really dra-
matte incident-the resignation of Sir
Michael Hicks Beach, stated above.
Yet this lack of outward show and public
prelude to a new chapter in English his
tory is by no means representative of the
/ disturbance which the sudden transition
/ created with the under current of political
! life 1t is safe to say that Sir Michael
! Hicks Beach is only the first of several OF
/ those whose names have figured largely IN
public and who will not disappear from the
political arena. Nothing absolutely definite
! is yet settled, but the Unionist party expects
| shortly 70 hear OF the designations OF Earl
! James of Hereford, chancellor of the
/ Duchy of Lancaster, and Earl Cadogan,
| lord lieutenant of Ireland. For Sir Michael
'Hicks-Beach's place Rt. Hon. Hamburg,
now president of the Board of Agriculture
is the favorte.
TO REMAIN A LEADER.
In the pending reconstruction, which may
not be completed for some time TO come,
Mr.. Balfour, much TO the delight of the
| Unionists will remain the leader in the
House of Commons and first lord of the
treasury, with Mr.. Chamberlain, still in
| command of the colonies his first lieu
tenant If Earl Halsbury, on account OF his
great age, fulfIs predictions by retiring,
! Baron Alverstone will succeed to the wool
| sack, Sir Richard Hem Collins becoming
! lord chief justice, Sir r. B. Finlay succeed
! ing him as master of the rolls, Sir z. H.
/ Carson, now solicitor general, becoming
| attorney general, and probably Charles AL
fred Cripps, attorney general to the Prince
| of Wales, succeeding TIC the solicitor gen.
eralship.
of Commons, who throughout the day ami
/ matedly discussed the new state of affairs,
seemed practically unanimous, and that
was that Austin Chamberlain, financial sec
rotary to the treasury, would be promoted,
a majority mentioning him as likely to
succeed Mr.. Hamburg should the latter
take the chancellOrship Of the exchequer
| Friends of Mr.. BalfoSr also said he was
certain to require the advlge in his Cabinet
councils of his great friend, George Wynd-
ham. now chief secretary for Ireland
There is little gossip concerning some
change in the position of Lord George
Hamilton, now secretary of state for In
dia, one well-knOwn member of the House
of Commons saying he had heard that Lord
George Hamilton among those who
would throw up their portfolios. Lord
Hamiltons brother-in-law, the Marquis
of Lansdowne, is regarded certain to
remain in the Foreign Office, where he is
carrying out lines laid down by Lord
There is apparently no serious antcipa-
ton of a general election, though in some
quarters it is thought the desire attribu-
ted to the King to have a new Parlis ment
after his coronation might cause an appeal
TO the country, though the new premier is
not believed to see any necessity therefor.
BALFOUR IN THE COMMONS.
Mr.. BalfouF's first appearance in the
House of Commons as premier was charac-
teristic of the man and of the assembly
From the party meeting at the Foreign
Office the members trooped over embloc
l ana SnOrIlN AFTER o CLOCK the mouse was
packed Both front benches were filled
with ministers and ex-ministers except for
d vacant place opposite the mace, where
Mr.. Balfour was such a familiar figure.
Peers came into the strangers gallery and
| leaned expectantly upon the rails Amid
a nervous. ceaseless chatter of questions
which were ratified through. Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach sat gloomily among the col
leagues he was so soon TO leave. Suddenly
the clatter ceased and there stole from
behind the speakers chair the long, thin
figure of the prime minister From all
sides of the house there arose a chorus OF
Hear, heart" The members stood and
kept up the applause till Mr.. Balfour who
sided along the treasury bench. nearly
falling over Sir Michael Hicks Beach $
feet. reached his seat and buried his head
in a voluminous question paper. He was
blushing like a schoolgirl
! Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. the Lib
, eral leader, stopped further business by
making such a feeling personal reference
TO Mr.. Balfour as is seldom heard in legis-
lative bodies and which delivered with
an emotion that quite unnerved the pre-
mier When Mr.. Balfour rose TO reply the
ovation renewed, but his voice faitered
and he was only just able. hestatingly. 70
declare that he was too overcome to find
words OF thanks. After Mr.. Balfours trib-
, ute TO Lord Salisbury. which was unfver-
sally commended for its tactful reserve
the house was emptied. the members gath
, ering on the terrace and in the Hobbies. dis
GUESSING the important features that the
day had brought forth.
The court circular announces that King
. Edward conferred upon Lord Salisbury a
last Fridays audience the grand cross of
the Victorian order, set with brilliants
Late tonight the talk in the Parliament
, airy Hobbies resolved about the highly inter.
esting and apparently well-founded state.
ment that Mr. Chamberlain desires 10 ex.
change the Office Of colonial secretary FOL
/ the chancellorship Of the exchequer Il
that be il cannot be doubted that Mr.
/ Chamberlain Will carry his point
SPEECH BY MIR. BALFOUR