The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-06-13
ALL AGAINST CHAMBERLAIN |
IN HIS PLAN TO PUT ENGLAND ON
PROTECTIVE TARIFF BASIS.
House Of Commons In an uproar When
Question Came uP-AII Freetraders
--Rumors That Colonial Secretary
Chamberlain Is to Resign-6alfour
Is Worried over the Outcome.

London, June 1.-THE rumored
Chamberlain is the most startling de-
yelopment OF the proposal of the chan
cellor OF the exchequer, Mr.. Richie,
to abolish the corn tax, the debate on
which kept the house OF commons
packed and spellbound until midnight.
Even If Premier Balfour persuades Mr..
Chamberlain to remain in the cabinet,
the colonial secretarys preferential
tarin program is hopelessly showed
under and his influence as a political
power in Great Britain at least tenn
porarily relapsed.
All members of the government who
contributed TO the debate vigorously
declared themselves as free traders,
and frankly opposed Mr.. Chamber
lain's proposals. Except for Mr. Chap
lin, not voice on either side was
raised in support of Mr.. Chamberlain's
campaign. Former members of cabi-
nets and private members, irrespective
of party, protested against any tinker
ing with Great Britains financial pol
icy. The unionists voiced with the
liberals as declaring themselves free
traders.
All that was lacking in the COM
plete route OF the protectionists' cabi-
net minister was Mr.. Balfour's official
announcement as premier and on be-
half of the government that the cabi-
net, as a whole, refused to adopt Mr.
Chamberlain's views. Both the
colonial minister and the premier were
absent from the debate, because, &C
cording to report, Mr. Balfour was
spending the evening endeavoring to
persuade the colonial secretary to re-
main in the cabinet, Notwithstanding
his differences with his colleagues. The
debate was adjourned at midnight,
when amidst a sensation Chancellor
Of the Exchequer Richie said he hoped
Mr.. Balfour would soon be able to give
the house a definite statement in be-
half OF the entire cabinet, though he
could not promise IT,
Mr. Chamberlain's amendment was
scarcely made before it became a Sec
ondary consideration. its defeat being
assured. Until midnight the fight, IL
an undefended struggle could be so
described, ragged around Mr.. Chamber
lain.
ION and Vitriol' is the only adequate
description Of Sir Michael Hicks
Beach's speech. which started the re-
volt. Amid intense silence this famous
tory ex-minister extolled the colonial
secretary's virtues and damned his
program.
BLACK Michael" as he is Familiarity
called, was never seen to better ad-
vantage The ministers sat with trou-
bled faces, Mr.. Balfour looking es-
pecially detected. Mr.. Chamberlain.
deserving his usual place. paler even
than usual, stretched himself at the
end of the treasury bench. Later in
the afternoon he never exchanged a
word with his colleagues. After Mr..
Richie had renounced the colonial sec
retary's ideas. Mr. Chamberlain stalk
ed out Of the chamber without even a
nod to Mr.. Balfour. After the dinner
recess the excitement was heightened
by the absence of both the colonial
secretary and the premier. bitter
attack on any tampering with free
trade was made by Sir John Gorst,
conservative, who declared that a.
great portion OF the rising generation
in the United E!7gdom was already so
degenerate and poverty stricken that
anything tending to increase the price
Of food would threaten a national dis
aster.
5alfour smoothed It Over.
London, June 12-By a dexterous
and extraordinary speech, Premier Bal
four temporarily smoothed over the
difficulties in the cabinet. and relieved
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain Of
any necessity for resigning and for the
moment ayerted a crisis Mr. Balfour