The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-11
.BALF0UR
SAVES DAY
Magnetism Of Premier Saved
Mr.. Chamberlain.
BIG GOVERNMENT VICTORY
The Tariff Scheme Of the Colonial
Secretary. However, is Shelved.
Differences Of Opinionn Cab
met Are Not Serious.
CBy Associated Press.)

LONDON, June 1o.-By a dexterous
and extraordinary speech, Premier Bal
four tonight temporarily smoothed over
the differences in the Cabinet, relieved
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain OF any
necessity OF resigning. and for the mo-
ment averted a crisis. which threatened
the Unionist party. This Mr.. Balfour
accomplished without committing tho
government either to protection or free
trade, though the effect OF his speech will
generally be taken to mean that the
tariff issue is to be shelved for the pres
ent.
Henry Chaplins amendment, which
gave rise to the most interesting debate
of the present Parliament, was defea ted
by the overwhelming majority Of 3ys
votes, composed OF Unionists. Liberals
and Irish members. The minority. who
supported Mr.. Chaplin's amendment,
were almost all followers OF the govern
ment. while many others OF the Con-
servative party ahstained from voting.
BALFoUR CHEERED.
1t was half-past 10 o'clock tonight when
IIeulcEgs od.LcuI tSpld1lB " illS a1teLa "
reply to the taunts OF the opposition and
appeals from his own party For two
days the House of Commons has r,ing
with echoes OF dissension within the Cab
met and dissatisfaction without. The
Premier was loudly cheered. He had
scarcely commenced to deal with Mr..
Chaplin,s amendment before he was In
terrupted by a hurricane of applause and
ironical cheers at the entry OF Mr. Cham
berlain who had been absent hitherto
throughout the evening. The Colonial
Secretary dropped into his accustomed
place. The House was. now packed with
peers, members OF the House and specta-
tors as 1t has not been since the days
OF home rule. and they waited and lis
tened in tense expectation. hlr. Baltour
explained that the only reason the corn
tax was put on was because the govern-
ment wanted money. and the only reason
It was taken OF was because the gov
'ernment wanted money no longer.
Averting to the charges Of vacillation
made against him, the Prime Minister
took tone Of unusual vehenlence. He
declared that he himself. though a be-
lever In free trade (Which statement met
with loud applause), did not regard
1t as a fetish, and he had absolutely an
open mind regarding the necessity for
any alterations In a system Which was
founded to suit conditions OF fifty years
ago. He refused not only to make a
statement of any flnality upon such an
important question. but he also refused
to compel his colleagues to conform to
a standard OF opinion upon which he
himself had an open mind. He admitted
! that differences Of opinion existed within
the Cabinet, but these were not serious
enough to cause the resignation of any
member
IMPRISONED PLEA.
Mr.. Balfour made an lmpassioned plea.
enforced by the precedents Of friction IN
Mr.. Gladstones ministeries for allowing
the premier to retain an open mind upon
question so difficult and SO superior to
all party Issues,
The speaker did not believe that the
country would ever return to The old pro-
tect!ve system, and no tax on food would
ever be imposed without the full assent
of the working classes, They We're con.
fronted, howAver, continued the premier,
by three great phenomena high tariff walls
against the United Kingdom. the growth
OF trusts and the desire of the colonies
for closer fiscal union With the nsssher
country These factors could not be ig-
nored.
This non-committal speech and appeal.
made with all the eloquence and mag.
netism which Mr. Balfour wields so SIG
cessfully, for an open mind, brought a
salute of cheers,
Sir Henry Campbell- -Bannerman, the
Liberal leader. briefly replied, appealing
for an oportunity for the House to mora
fully go into the case OF the issue raised,
SAVED CHAMBERLAIN.
AS the members OF the House went into
the lobbies after the vote on the Chap
lin amendment, the general comment was,
tBalfour has saved Chamberlain The
Colonial Secretary himself said: Our
friend the enemy, Is nonplussed this
time
The debate was resumed by Major
seely, who, as a convinced free trader,
reioiced In the repeal OF the grain tax.
Sir Charles Dixie (advanced RadfcaD
contendsd that the House had the right
to demand an opportunity for pronounc,
Ing Judgment on this important fiscal
question.
While the United States and Germany
were rcaplnE much prosperity under
protection. Great Brltain's foreign ex,
ports at the present moment We're equal
States. Germany and France,
Fl. II, Asquith (adyanced Liberal, for-
merly homo secretary, who followed. de-
clared that the reason for the abandon
ment of the great tax remained an un-
solved and inscruptabe mystery, Mr..
Chamberlain had told the public that the
tax did not fall on the custamer. II that
was so It's repeal was magnificent dis
play OF international attachment, as II
practically made to the unltSd States
a present OF $l2.6oo.ooo. which the tax rep
resented,
Sir Charles Dixie. said Mr. Chamber
ain's suggested inquiry into the subject
vas merely another name for crusade,