Milford chronicle., 1903-06-12
STICKS TO FREE TRADE
Secretary Chamberlain's Tariff Pro
gram Showed Under.

London, June 10-The rumored re-
signation Of Colonial Secretary Cham
berlain is the most startling develop
ment of the proposal of the chancellor
of the excheQuer, Mr.. Ritchie, to abol-
ish the corn tax, the debate on which
kept the house of commons packed
and spellbOund until midnight. Even
if Premier Bahour persuades Mr..
Chamberlain to remain in the cabinet
the colonial secretarys preferential
tariff program is hopelessly showed un-
der and his influence as political
power in Great Britain at least tenn
porarily eclipsed
All the members of the government
who contributed to the debate visor-
ously declared themselves as free
traders and frankly opposed Mr.. Cham
berlain's proposals. Except for Mr.
Chaplin. not a voice on either side Of
the house was raised in effective sup
port Of Mr.. Chamberlain's campaign.
Former members of the cabinet and
private members, irrespective Of par
ty, protested against any dtckering
with Great Britain's fiscal policy. The
Unionists We'd with the Liberals in
declaring themselves out and out free
traders All that was lacking in the
complete rout of the protectionist
cabinet minister was Mr.. Balfour's Of
fetal pronouncement, as premier, and
on behalf of the government that the
cabinet as a whole refused to adopt
Mr. Chamberlain views. Both the
pronouncemont and the premier were
absent from the debate, because, ac-
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.
Upon the resumption of the debate
Mr.. Chaplins amendment to the bud
get bill, which is the cause of this
sensational political crisis, will be
taken up. Sir Henry Campbell Ban
herman will demand the right of the
Liberals to know the premier's atti-
tude towards free trade before they
support him in the repeal Of the corn
tax Mr. Balfour will reply. and Mr.
Chamberlain is also expected to speak.
There are many members who believe
that Premier Balfour will also resign
and that a dissolution of the house is
involved. but these rumOrs lack con-
firmation. the best opinion being that
a solution OF the crisis will be arrived
at by Mr.. Chamberlain resignation
or by an open declaration that he is
willing to drop for the present his
pre-. .erental tariff proposals.
James Bryce, Liberal. followed, de-
claring that the reference to the Unit
cd States by Mr.. Chamberlain and 9TH
er speakers in support Of the protec-
tiCnist argument was quite erroneous.
as American prosperity was due great
ly to the cheapness of food under
system by which free trade prevailed
between all the great states compos-
ing the American nation. The colonial
secretary's idea. said the speaker,
would disintegrate the empire and
produce a network of protective tar
IFS such as that in which America
was now enmeshed.
Then came another sensation, when
the Hon. Arthur Elliot, the financial
secretary Of the treasury, replying on
behalf of the government to Mr..
Bryce's inquiries, made a bitter at
tack on protectionists and preferential
tariffs. He declared that the financial
policy Of the government was clearly
exhibited by its decision to revoke the
corn tax. which savored of protection.
This direct attack on Mr.. Chamber
lain by a member Of the government,
who, it is believed, must have spoken
with authority ELECTED loud cheers.
and is considered even more important
than Mr Ritchie's denunciation, as in
dicating that the majority in the cab
met is overwhelmingly opposed to any
system Of preferential trade.