Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-05

I've got no accommodation for passen-
gers; but the old gentleman to
Mr.. Collinss-''can have my bunk and the
youngster must rough it on the sofa.'
The "yourgster' was a cabinet minister
over fifty years old. and less than five
years younger than his white-haiccd com
panion.
Shortly before Mr. Chamberlain was
married a second time a woman who met
him in birmingham for the first time eX-
claimed in establishment:
rs that Mr. Chamberlain? Why,
hear he's Il widower and "a great man il
old enough to be married. He looks just
like a clever. well-dressed boy" At that
time Mr.. Chamberlain was over thirty.
Although the son is the double of the
father it must be imagined that he is
a slave to his influence and example. Or
the contrary, Austen is a man of great in
dependence of spirit.
Years ago when he was young man
birmingham. Now and then his father
already & worldfamous statesman
would drop in to ''amuse himself with
the boys" He would take part in the de-
bates with his usual keenneSS, but Aus
ten delighted in using his power as chair
man to suppress his father and turn
him down" for violating the rules OF
parliamentary procedure. The other
members of the society would gasp with
horror, but Mr. Chamberlain was amused
and pleased at the boys independence.
1t would be absurd to contend that Mr.
Austen Chamberlain has become a great
er man than his father, or that he is
even, as yet, the lattcrS serious competi-
tor But the son, at comparatively
early age, has fulfilled an ambition which
his father was never able to crafty. lie
has become chancellor of the eXchequer-
a position which, by ancient tradition, is
the third if not the second, in import
ance in the British cabinet.
Mr.. Chamberlain has always wanted tc
besChancellor of the exchequer, and has
made no secret of his ambition. He was
''sla ted for that post by Mr.. Gladstone
but he left the liberal fold before he coulc
reach it.
When he first took office under LORD
Salisbury he would have been made
chancellor except for vigorous conser-
vative revolt. The old-fashioncd tories
who looked on him with dislike and sus
picion, and with whose views Lord Sails
bury himself sympathized, urged that
Lord Goschen then Mr.. Goschen) and Sil
Michael Hicks Beach and prior claims by
reason of seniority and past services. Mr.
Chamberlain had to content himself with
the office of colonial secretary.
At a bound Austen Chamberlain, has
taken the position which his father has
coveted for many years. Those who
know the two men well believe that the
son is simply keeping the place warm fol
his father. They say that Joe hopes to
sweep the country on his new tariff cry
and so back into the government after q
general election, more powerful thar
ever. Then Austen will step down from
his new pedestal, and his father will he
come chancellor of the eXchequer. Ir
that position he can best carry out his
new tariff scheme, provided the country
Endorses them. The son, so the prophets
say, would probably take the fathers oil
place as colonial secretary in Il recon
Structed cabinet.
That seems to be the present idea. It is
plausible enough. If true. it shows tina;
the two Cha berlains double one another
in politics just as they do in dress. in
speech and in manner.-W asningtol
Star.