The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-25
TELLS WHY HE QUIT
 THE BRITISH CABINET Duke of Devonshire Makes First
 Speech Since Resigning HAD GRAVE MlSGIVlNGS
Could Not Express Unqualified Conf dence In Policy of Cabinet-Free Food Leaguers Attend Demon
 stration in Queens Hall.


 London, November 24-The Duke of Devonshire presided and was the speaker at a demonstration in Queens Hall here tonight under the auspices of the Free Food League. It was the Dukes first public speech since his resignation as lord president of the council and the first really important meeting of the free food CTS, as an offset to the active propa- ganda of the tariff reform league. l The Duke outlined the object of the constitution of the free food league, which he pointed out was formed few months before the governments declaration of it's fiscal policy, and therefore could not have been formed for any purpose of hos tility to the government The name of the league indicates the purpose thereof. Ther might be differences of opinion con- corning the act to which retaliation might legitimately go
 Some members of the league were not altogether opposed to some form of pro- tection but they were all united and pre- pared to resist to the utmost the imposl- tion of any protective taxation on food or protective duties generally. He himself claimed the right to oppose anything in the nature of return to protection
 Prolonged cheering followed this state ment of the Duke. The speaker said that while the fiscal policy was not yet party question: there was nothing which the advocates of the scheme which ema- mated from the brain of single eminent hatf A eral election which would turn on this question alone. This reference to Joseph Chamberlain was greeted with mingled cheers and misses.
 The duke said the meeting was one or unionists, desiring to urge on the gov ernment the danger of taking certain course, and the expediency or resistihs d l,certain course, It was not the policy or isthe -unionists. government which was be- fore the country. The public liked a clear issue and such an issue had been placed before them by Mir Chamberlain, who left the government in order that he might be free Cheers and misses agaln followed this mention of MT. Chamber lain.
 The speaker said he had rendered his resignation because he could not as the representative of the government in the house of lords. express unqualified con-
 
 corning which he had grave misgivings, and insufficient knowledge. Had he been assured that a moderate use of the pro- posed power of retaliation would be made by the premier he still might be a mem Der of the government
 He was opposed to the taxation of food because he thought such taxation was the keynote of the entire policy to which he took exception. Should the price of food be raised some compensation must be given to the working men. The Duke Of Devenshre said he was prepared to prove that MT. Chamberlain's Glasgow budget would entail tremendous loss to the consumer, while the working mans ex- penses would be increased 10 per cent The following resolution was passed by an overwhelming vote:
 This meeting, while prepared to con- sider in friendly spirit any measure the government may submit to parliament in special cases for mitigating the effects of hostile tariffs is of the opinion that strenuous opposition should be offered any fiscal policy involving the protective tax ation of food and the establishment of d general preferential or protective sys- tenn"
 ally of that leader throughout the con- f1ict. He referred especially to Marro- quins confiscations and decrees and said that President Roosevelt must have known of them.
 At this point, and after speaking for about three hours. MT. Morgan conclud- ed his prepared speech by saying that he had no objection to the adoption of the motion to make the committee assign ments, which motion had been utilized by him as the basis for his speech.
 Mir. Hanna challenged the statement of MT. Morgan that President Mckinley had been favorable to the Nicaragua route.
 Hanna and Morgan Clash.
 '1 know of my own personal knowl- edge" he said, that when in 1899 it became known that the Panama com panys property could be purchased, he gave the question serious consideration and investigation. and at his instance provision wah made in the river and har- bor bill for an appropriation of s1O0,O00 for the investigation of all routes. That this request was made because of his interest in the Panama proposition, I know of my own personal knowledge. President Me- Kinley had decided to follow the recom- mendation of his commission, and that is what the present executive is doing; so there has been no change of policy"
 MT. Morgan replied that he had spoken only from the public record of President Mckinley and not from knowledge of his private views.
 'I know" he said, that he entered into compacts with Nicaragua and Costa Rica to secure the Nicaragua route and there Is no record to show that he changed his mind'
 MT. Hanna--It Is incorrect to say that President Mckinley preferred Nicaragua. l know better. It was only the high price of the Panama property that deterred him"
 At 4:10 p. m. the senate went into execu- tive session, adjourning a. few minutes later.