Gilpin observer., 1902-07-17
SALISBURY Y IS OUT.
REcIoMs PREMIERSHIP AND A. j..
BALFOUR SUCCEEDS HIM.
Speculation is Now Rife as to Per-
scnnel of New Cabinet-chambcr
lain May Retain His Place-Passing
Leader Declines All tionors.


London, July 14.-The Marquis OF
Salisbury has resigned the premier
ship of Great Britain and Rt. Hon. A.
j. Balfour, the first lord of the treas
ury and government leader in the
house of commons, has been appoint
ed to succeed him. The Marquis OF
Salisbury rendered his resignation at
an audience which he had with King
Edward last Friday. Yesterday Mr..
Balfour visited the king and accepted
the premiership.
The liveliest speculation is rife 8
to the personnel of the new cabinet.
The most discussed feature of the
pending changes Is the position of
Mr. Chamberlain, the colonial secre-
regarded as the most promising can
didate for the premiership.
A representative of the Associated
Press learns that prior to the accept
ance of his new office, Balfour first
had an interview with Chamberlain
and then consulted with his other cab
met assistants. This is regarded as
assurance that the future relative po-
itions of Messrs. Balfour and Cham
berlain will be satisfactory to both.
Chamberlain friends say he always
recognized the reversion of the pre-
miership to Balfour's right as leader
of the house of commons.
The changes in the British premier
ship have been officially announced in
the court circular and the announce
ment has been announced from Dowl-
ing street and will be ratified at a
meeting of the whole Conservative
party, peers and commoners, convened
for today. Chamberlain's wound is
healing well, but the doctors still en-
join absolute rest, so he will be unable
to attend this meeting.
At the political clubs various opin-
ions were expressed regarding Sails
bury's retirement, and Balfours acces-
sion. The Liberals and Nationalists
generally expressed relief to find that
Balfour. not Chamberlain, was to be
the new premier; but small section
of both Conservatives and Liberals
were in no way reconciled to the idea
of the "perpetuation of the Hotel Ce-
Gill; as the change from Salisbury to
Balfour is called, and openly regretted
that Chamberlain had not been ap-
pointed or a compromise found in the
appointment of the Duke of Devon
shire.
The Times states that Lord Sails
bury's resignation was not caused by
any political differences with his col
/ leagues in the cabinet and says: 1--WE
understand that the king was very
anxious to mark in some special man
ner his high sense of the great SER
vice Lord Salisbury has rendered to
the state and expressed a desire to
bestow upon the retiring minister
some conspicuous promotion or deco
ration, but Lord Salisbury begged to
be allowed to decline the proposed
honor. There is reason to believe
that the king sought Lord Salisbury's
advice as to his successor and that
the retiring prime minister suggested
Mr. Balfour"
o'connor's Views Of Resignation.
Thomas Power O'Connor. NJ. p, in
an interview had with him by rep
resentative of the Associated Press.
summed up the situation in connec-
! u
Salisbury and the appointment Of Mr..
Balfour. as follows:
"The resignation of Lord Salisbury
was expected in connection with the
coronation of King Edward, but when
the coronation did not take place there
grew up an idea that perhaps the pre-
mier's resignation was indefinitely
postponed Old men cling to powe-,
and 1t was supposed that Lord Sails
bury was not free from the weakness
of so many others. This prospect did
not satisfy his colleagues. Lord Sails
bury's health has been notoriously in
different, especially since the death
of his wife: his extreme obesity. is of
course. inconsistent with activity.
either of mind or body. and there
were whispers that he sometimes was
overcome by sleep In the midst of
momentous cabinet councils and that
he only awoke when the dlscordant
voices of Joseph Chamberlain and Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach, two of the chief
opponents in the cabinet reached an
unusually high pitch. Once or twice
lately in the house of lords he has
shown lack of grip that was almost
painful. For instance. when the terms
OF peace in South Africa had to be an.
nounced he calmly asked the house
of lords whether they desired to hear
the words of Lord Kitchener's dis.
patch. as though the communication
was really of little or no Importance. =