The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-24
KING TAKES A HAND
TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER CABINET
CHANGES.
BREAKS ALL TRADITIONS.
POLITICAL CRISIS OF UNPRECE-
DENIED INTEREST.

King viii Not Assent to Appoint
ments Until He Has Satisfied Him
self as to Their Fitness-Careful
Not to Trespass on PrerOGatives
of His Ministers, hut Stands Firm
for Men Who viii Make Certain
RefOrms-Wants Military MIDDLE
Strengthened Out.
London, Sept. 23.-The political crisis
has taken on a phase which lends to
the present situation a historical and
constitutional Importance of almost un-
precedented interest. The King has in
terfered not unconstitutionally or be-
You'd the powers vested in the crown,
but in the exercise of his prerogatives
to an extent never dreamed of in the
Victorian era.
Premier Balfour's continued presence
at Balmoral has given rise to much
surmise and comment, but the Associ-
ated Press is able to state definitely
that it is due to the Kings determina-
ton not to assent to the formation of
a new cabinet until thoroughly salts
fed that its personnel and combination
are such as to insure the efficient car
rying on of the affairs of the empire,
pending the resumption of Parliament.
For years previous cabinets were
formed on ministerial vacancies filled
with the mere formal presentation to
the sovereign of the names of the new
ministers. King Edward has done away
wit this tradition. He has spent the
last few days in constant discussion
with Mr.. Balfour as to the ACCESSIBILITY
from the point of view of the national
welfare of the latters suggested APP
pointments.
Ministers now holding office and those
nominated for office have been sum-
NOR ed to Balmoral to join in these con-
ferenceS.
King Cabinet Maker.
To such an extent is King Edward
holding his power of veto IN reserve
that now he is almost regarded by the
inner circles as more the cabinet maker
than Mr.. Balfour himself. Though
with his usual tact. the King has re-
Trained from expressing any political
views or infringing the initiative be-
longing to the ministers, this has not
prevented him from expressing his
genuine desire amounting almost TO
command that steps be taken to rem
edy the scandals in the army admins
tration revealed by the report of the
South African War Commission, and
insisting that the new cabinet shall be
one adapted to deal with that ques-
ton.
King Edward has not shared the
keen public indignation against Lord
Lansdowne, aroused by the report Of
the South African War commission
and after minute examination of the
circumstances he is understood to have
consented to His Lordship continuing
as Foreign Minister
Get Rid of Military Middle.
The decision has not prevented His
Majesty from frankly telling the
ministers that he wanted something
done to improve the military middle
and that he hoped some man would
be appointed who, with the commits
sion's report, as a base would change
the system which has resulted in in
efficiency being unavoidable.
The question of having some general,
notably Lord Kitchner, as head of the
War Office has been keenly discussed
at Balmoral between the King and the
minister's but the Associated Press
understands that the consensus of
opinion was that such an appointment
would be interpreted as a modified
form of military dictatorship, which
the public would never sanction.