Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-14
Public Surprised.


London, July 14.-Lord Salisbury's
quiet laying down of the premiership
| and the present connection, anxiety an6
rejoicings come this morning as a great
establishment to England. SO little die
his countrymen know of the momentous
proceedings of the last few days that ali
the Sunday newspapers, describing
General kitchener's audience with the
king Saturday afternoon, said that he
was the first visitor outside of the royal
famly and the doctors whom the king
had received. There was not hint
that the king had said farewell to his
first prime minister and appointed his
second.
In discussing Lord Salisbury's de-
fsire to resign after the coronation
which was known to his intimate
friends for many months, it has al
ways been pointed out in these dis
patches that there was the greatest
likelihood that Mr.. Balfour WOULD sue
coed him. His appointment IS on the
line of least resistance. The admin
|istration, moreover, in it's governing
characteristic, is certainly conservative
tho its troubled career sometimes has
made it appear otherwise.
The question on everybodys lips is.
Where stands Chamberlain? The
answer on full consideration is that il
would have been the greatest surprise
to the political world if he had been
selected as the official leader of 1hs
present cabinet or to form one of his
own in the existing situation.
The position so far as Lord Sails
bury is concerned will be explained by
him al a meeting of conservative lords
and commonerS at the foreign office
this afternoon. He spent Sunday quiet
ly at Hatfield house, where Gen. kitch
ener is his guest. No doubt the reas-
on he will give for his retirement will
be old age. He can hardly be i'll weak
health. for he was seen one morning
a week ago tricycling energetcaly in
st. James park with his daughte,
GWendolin.
The newspapers, which are unani :
nous in paying tributes to Lord Sails
bury's personal character, are divided
as to whether to expect new departures
in policy to follow the resignation.
Much depends on whether Mr.. Balfour
will go to the house of lords. His per
sonal amiability and amateurishness
made him q failure as leader in the
house of commons. where the govern
ment's democratic legislative program
is now in such hopeless confusion that
a special autumn session has already
been decided upon.
Ii Balfour accepts a peerage 1T is
certain that Mr. Chamberlain Will be-
come government leader in the house
Iof commons, probably still retaining
the colonial secretaryship.
The Telegraph says that as soon as
Lord Salisbury was assured that his
desire for lest could not retard The
kings recovery he formally rendered
his resignation. 1t was accepted with
expressions of regret. A message was
Immediately sent for MIR. Balfour.
whose first act was to visit Mr.. Cham
berlain, who declared his most cordial
readiness to serve under him Mr.. Bal
four then visited the duke of Devon-
shire. president of the council, whose
answer was similar to Mr.. Chamber
lain's. After consulting with other
members of the cabinet. MIR. Balfour
was justified In accepting the premier
ship.
A Chamberlain administration would
be an impossibiity at the present time,
for many excellent reasons; first, be-
cause loyalty, mutual admiration and
affection between him and Mr.. Balfour
made rivalry impossible.
Mr.. Chamberlain has made no secret
of his infleXible determination not to
accept a posi- which sby seniority be-
longed to Mr.. BaMUnr and, secondly,
because for a long .tIHss Mr.. Chamber
lain can not be spared from the colo
NAL office, where he has done more
than all his predecessors put together
to weld all Britons into one great har-
.nonious family. NO technical promo
;tion cold raise Mr.. Chamberlain to a
higher position than he occupies at this
moment in the hearts and minds of his
countrymen
Salisbury.
Lord Salisbury's resignation practi-
cally ends political career covering