The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-24
EDWARD VII KING IN FACT British RuE ovcrrldes
 1rz 7: tion. HAS cAT1T ; HsED BALFouR War 0..-e Matters the Point at Issue. Balfour's Continued Pres ,ncs at Bal
 moral Explained by the Attitude Assumed by the Ruler of the Realm.

London. Sept. S.-The political condi ton has taken on a phase which lends
 to the present situation a historical ant constitutional importance of almost un. precedented interest
 The King has interfered, not unconsti. tutionally or beyond the powers vested
 In the crown. but in the exercise of his prerogatfves to an extent never dreamed of in the Victorian era
 Premier Balfour's continued presence a, Baimoral has given rise to much surmist and comment, but the Associated Press Is able to say definitely that it is due to the kings determination not to as- sent to the formation of a new cabine, until thoroughly satisfied that its per. sonnei and combination are such as tc ensure the efficient carrying on of the affairs of the empire pending the resump. ton of Parliament.
 Has Torn Down Tradition. For years cabinets were formed or min. isterial vacancies filled with the mere formal presentation to the sovereign et the names of the new ministers. Kine
 Edward has done away with this tradi- ton. He has spent the last few days fin constant discussion with Mr. Balfour as to the advisability from the point of view of the national welfare of Balfour,s sug- gested appointments.
 Ministers now holding office and those nominated for office have been summoned
 to Balmoral to join in these conferences and all have been subjected to a degree or interrogation such as has surprised even those who knew King Edward in- timately as Prince of Wales.
 To such an extent Is King Edward hold ing his power of veto in reserve that now he is almost regarded by the inner circles as more the cabinet maker than MT. Balfour himself. Though, with his usual tact, the King has refrained from expressing any political views, or hiring ing on the initiative belonging to the min- ! isters, this has not prevented him from expressing his genuine desire, amounting almost to a command that steps be talk | en to remedy the scandals In the army | administration revealed by the report of
 the South African War Commission and | insisting that the new cabinet shall be one adapted to deal with that question. Permits Lansdowne to Stay. After the long conversations he has had
 during the last few days at Balmoral
 with Lord Lansdowne, MT Brodrick. Lord Fisher. who was president of the South African War Commissions: Lieutenant General Sir T. Kelly-Kenny and other military authorities the King is said to have expressed the opinion that Lord Lansdownes record as war secretary was due more to the badness of the system
 then in vogue than to any defect in Lord Lansdownes own judgment.
 King Edward has not shared the keen public indignation against Lord Lans- downe aroused by the report of the South African War Commission. and after a minute examination of the circumstances. he is understood to have consented to his lordship continuing as foreign minister. This decision has not prevented his ma jesty from frankly telling the ministers that he wanted something done to i'm prove the military mudde and that he hoped some man would be appointed who. with the commissions report as a basis, would be capable of changing the system which rendered inefficiency unavoidable.
 Kitchener in Cabinet.
 The question of having some general. notably Lord Kitchener, as head of the war office, has been keenly discussed at Balmoral between the King and the min isters, but the Associated Press under stands that the consensus of opinion was that such an appointment would be in- terpreted as a modified form of military dictatorship which the public would never sanction.
 Dealing with the surmises of some of the foregoing points. The Morning Ad- vertiser to-day said:
 "The King has in this national emer- gency, resolved to play the part of a ruler instead of being content with that of a figurehead."
 Meantime, every detail of the negotia- tions for filling up the vacancies in the cabinet are submitted to the King, who. for the time being, has transformed Bal moral into a political center of the em- pire. from which, owing to the unusual influences at work several surprises may