The Irish standard., 1903-09-19

Lieuleliilll. we DelleVe that the
King, who is an intimate friend of
Lord Dudley, inspired his appointment
and backed up his policy from first to
last. One thing is certain. While Lord
Dudley remains at the head of the
affairs, there is not likely to be any
serious trouble in Ireland"
Lord Dudley, the great peacemaker,
is remarkable man in many ways.
lie is one Of the richest peers in Great
Britain. He has no need of his salary
of 100000 a year as Lord Lieutenant
OF Ireland. Indeed, the cost of main
tanning his viceregal office far exceeds
that sum- His collieries in the "Black
Country alone return him over $780,
900 year, and he also OWNS deposits
OF minerals in Staffordshire and
Worcestershire, iron works, agricultur-
al estates in various parts of England
and plantations in Jamaica and other
West Indian islands.
At first sight nobody would take
him for the thoughtful statesman and
clever administrator he has proved
himself to be. He is just a jolly.
bluff, good-natured country squire to
all appearances-the typical Master of
the FoXhounds whose principal worry
is the health of his horses and hounds
There is, indeed, no better sportsman
i'll England. His word is law in the
Jockey club, the Raneagh club and
the Royal Yacht Squadron-tlree Of
the most exclusive sporting clubs in
the world
Yet this wealthy peer, who has all
the money and titles man can wish
for, and every inducement to live
life of idle luxury, works as hard
ut the difficult trade of government
as any professional politician.
In 1895 he was elected mayor of
Dudley, a grimy colliery town from
which he takes his title. He proved
| himself such a good chief executive
that he was rewarded with second
term.
Week after week he attended the
meetings Of the town council and it's
committees, gravely debating with
butchers and bakers and candlestick
makers the dry details of sewerage
extensions and building regulations.
No public business was too petty or
tiresome to receive his personal at
tention. He would give up house
party or a yachting trip in order to
| check the vouchers of an assistant
surveyor, or attend a meeting Of the
subcommittee OH street cleaning.
Once in 1895, the House Of Lords
had to decide momentous question,
and Lord Dudley was asked to attend
and swell the vote of the Conservative
majority, to which he belongs.
"I'm sorry 1 can't" he said. "Our
town council meets the same night
and I must be there"
Hang your parish pump" ex-
claimed the Conservative whip. '"This
is national question. Parliament is
more important than the Dudley town
council.''
81 don't think so," replied Lord
Dudley. "The British empire is big
enough to get along without me, or
without the House of Lords either, for
that matter. But the town of Dudley
needs lot of looking after. NUM-
cipal administration is far and away
more important than anything one can
do in Parliament. It's better to mend
one sewer than to make hundred
eloquent speeches about preserving the
unity and dignity of the empire"
Lord Dudley made a strong stand
for honesty in municipal affairs while
he was mayor. He left no loopholcs
for graft" Once he discovered some
defalcation by subordinate clerk. a
young man of good character, who had
Just been married. He ordered his ar
rest
| The wife begged, even with tears
for mercy. but the mayor was i'm
| placable. "Your husband must be
punished for the sake of the example,"
he told her.