The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-19
CBAABEMANFS
STIR RISES
Best Hated Politician in Eng
land Ruler of Country.
HOME LIFE OF MAN
His Phenomenal Success and
How He Conquered.
HOME LIFE OF MAN

London, April 1S.-Politicians Of ore
| sort tell you one thing and those of an
other stripe another thing; but, plain, un-
prejudiced observation says, in a way that
can't be mistaken, that it isn't likely to
be long before a quiet little American
woman's husband occupies the highest po-
sition within the gift of the British pep
ple-that of premier which signifies in a
way. as was explained recently, presi-
dent of the British republic.
1t has been apparent for a long time
TO the man up tree that Joseph Cham
berlain was coming on, and that nothing
could stop him. Since his triumphal re-
turn from South Africa it has been OBJ
vious, even to the man down in the street,
that in the ordinary course Of human
events the best-hated man in England
would have to be called upon to take
charge of the government openly which
he has been running from behind the
scenes ever since he became secretary Of
state for the colonies.
Like him or not, cali him either a
statesman or cheap politician, say he
is the right sort or say that he is
FOUNDER you can't get away from the
strongest man today In the tight little
island of which King Edward is the So
cial head Much as he is feared and
hated, the country began to turn In
stinctively to him in the dark days when
things looked worst in South Africa and
Butler was travelling back and forth
over the Tugela. '.Joes the only man
who can pull us through" seemed to be
the expressed view of the great middle
class of English voters, whose ballots
count for just as much as If they were
all dukes. OF course, there were all sorts
of political complications in the way, but
II is safe to assert that II Ladysmith had
fallen all these complications would have
been swept away. and Joe would have
been made premier without any effort on
his part to attain that distinction just
then.
He was probably rather glad to escape.
and he was certainly the first to assure
Mr.. Balfour of his loyal support when
that amiabIe gentleman succeeded mis-
Uncle Salisbury as premier. Having
better knack than most men of seeing
into the future, it was doubtless plain to
MIR. Chamberlain that Mr.. Balfour's days
inevitably would be numbered-that de-
lightful scholar being very beau ideal Of
the premier when the path was smooth
and everything pleasant, but quite unable
to originate and push through the bold
plans that are necessary when situ-
alton becomes dangerous.
So when the backbone of the govern
ment betook himself off to South Africa
the rest of the government had the sor,
of trouble that could be expected in the
absence of a backbone. Further develop
ments of the baneful effects of social i'll
fiuence in the army, the refusal of the
attorney general TO prosecute Whitaker
Wright for frauds in which a startling
number of great personages were involvo1
through carelessness in watching that
promoter and finally the political dis
aster of the election of a labor candidate
with one of the greatest majorities On
record by a constituency that had always
been strongly conservativerall these
things have turned the eye of the average
citizen once more to the Strong Man.
1t wasn't the intention, at the beginning
OF this article to reel off political dia-
tribe. but these manifestations OF the way
providence helps a man who has helped
himself seems fascinating as romance.
But let us go back to Mrs. Chamber
lain and wave the American flag for a
moment. IL the Duchess of Marlbor-
ough should achieve her pet ambition and
become the first lady of Ireland equal
izing the glory of the erstwhile Miss
Letter as first lady of India. We should
have, when Mrs. Chamberlain comes into
power. a political triumph for American
women as great as their social triumph
already has been as American women
would hold then the greatest there
places attainable. 1t is interesting TO
mention in this connection that the wife
OF Sir William Harcourt. who came with
In an ace of succeeding Gladstone as
premier is also an American, daughter OF
Matley, the historian. Furthermore, the
star Of Winston Churchill, whose mother
is an American could be expected 10 rise
still higher in the ornament under
Chamberlain government
Joseph Chamberlain himself has always
seemed more like an American than like
an Englishman.- Some of his faults are
those of which we Americans confess in
candid moments and without going into
too many particulars, and his quick in
telligence is surely American.
\ friend of mine. in the midst Of I'M
portant and secret negotiations which
brought him into touch with a number
of the heads of government departments.
observed to me recently:
Throughout the whole business 1 met
with great courtesy. l also met with de-
lay and red tape enough TO drive me we'll
nigh TO distraction The head OF the de-
partment would know nothing of the sub
ject IN hand IL would De necessary IN
wait until the under secretary. who was
believed to know ali about it. should re-
turn from a yachting trip. When tho
u I a NJ &C