The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-06
Balfour's Cabinet,

Balfours Cabinet.
Altho King Edward himself under
took to help Premier, Balfour recon-
struct his cabinet after the late crisis,
the result does not appear to be of a
specially brilliant character, as wit
ness the retention of fhe very unpop-
ular Brodrick, late minister of war,
who is transferred to the secretary
ship for India, vacated by Lord George
Hamilton, free trader.
The king exercised his prerogative
In turning his attention to the Septem-
Der political crisis and exercising a
supervisory function as to the person.
mel of the cabinet. Under the Eng
ltsh constitution the sovereign may ap-
point his own ministry, but this has
not been attempted since the time Of
George III. and for long time it has
been customary only to present
the names of the members of a new
cabinet to the sovereign in a formal
way no change being made in the
membership, which is usually selected
by the statesman summoned by the
sovereign to form a new cabinet.
Austen Chamberlain has been trans
ferred from the postmaster general
ship to the very important position
OF chancellor of the exchequer vacated
by Mr.. Richie, free trader. The pre-
n1ier has extolled Austen Chamberlain
to the skies for consummate ability.
and, certainly, if ability runs in the
Chamberlain family, Austen ought to
hold down his office with marked
ability. ---
The vacancy in the colonial office
caused by the resignation of Joseph
.tsssn berlain, protectionist, and head
OF the new tariff reform propaganda,
IS curlosly enough filled by Alfred
Iytfieton, whose talents have been
mainly directed heretofore to promot-
ing the popular game of cricket, along
with the "muddied OATS" who have
been the subjects Of some of Kip
lngs severest criticism.
Arnold Foster, who has been placed
IN the war office, vacated by Broder-
lex, is admittedly one of the most ca
pable members of the government and
mas given great satisfaction as secre-
tary to the admiralty Brodrick's
place would have been filled by Lord
Kitchener had it not been for the fear
that the public would regard the ap-
polntment as tending to the creation
OF a military dictatorship, any ap-
preach to which would be very OBJ
noxious to the public. There is no
doubt that Kitchener could bring the
war office up to the full measure of
the requirements of the British en-
pfre. He has the best of organizing
talent.
Lord Balfour of Burleigh, another
Tree trade seceder, has been sue
ceeded in the secretaryship for Scot
land by Graham Murray, lord advo-
cate of Scotland. ~. a.
The duke Of Devonshire yesterday
resigned the lord presidency of the
council and would have retired when
Ritchie and Hamilton went out of the
cabinet, as he is free trader from
way back, buthe concluded to wait and
watch the wind currents awhile and
has concluded that the retaliation and
preference duty element mean bust
ness and war. It is said that the duke
was told by the premier on Sept. 10
that IF he remained in the cabinet
Chamberlain would resign and if the
duke resigned Chamberlain would
stay.
It appears that the ministry Of foreign
affairs is left by the king in the hands
of Lord Lansdowne, who has proven
himself a monumental blunderer and
has been savagely criticised, as Brod-
erick has, by the press Of both parties.
The retention Of Brodrick and
Lansdowne in the cabinet promises
nothing good for the party in power.
When parliament reassembles after
the recess the Balfour cabinet, having
committed itself strongly to the pref
serence duty and retaliation policy, will
have to face Immediately test vote
probably, which in all likelihood will
ditch them and compel a general cleo
ton on the tariff reform issue.
AS an assistant cabinet maker. King
Edward has not shown very impress
i've ability.
No satisfactory explanation ia forthconn