Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-05-30
MORTAL BLOW 70 CABINET
Chamberlain Ambitious to Build Party Of
His Own en- Ruins.
MEANS BREAKUP IN PRESENT PARTY LINES
'beral Leaders, However, Are Ju-
'ant and Assert Their Party
il United on Free
Trade.


il United on Free
Trade.
Copyright, 1908, by Press Publishing Coz
| LONDON, May @.-(New York World
Cablegrarn - Special Telegram.) - Joseph
Chamberlain has deliberately given Premier
| Balfour's cabinet its death stroke. 1t may
linger on for this session, carrying the Irish
land bill, but dissolution cannot be delayed
beyond fall. Chamberlain is serving Bal
four now precisely as he did Gladstone in
1886 His only chance Of attaining his iife's
ambition, the premiership, is by breaking
up the present tory ministry and establish
Ing party of his own on an entirely new
basis
The colonial secretary's speech Thursday
was an utter surprise to Balfour. 1t had
been agreed that the ministry should stand
on Balfour's statement of the new protec-
tion policy which was so vague and nebu-
lous that 1t committed them to nothing.
but Chamberlain was determined and re-
solved to force the situation. He unex-
pectedly jumped up and stated a definite
plan, pledging himself to appeal to the
country upon It. This will inevitably split
the tory party, but his calculation is that
liberal cabinet can last only a couple of
sessions, when he will have his new party
consolidated TO win him the premiership.
1t is said the whole of the present cabinet
is against Chamberlain, and Balfour only
consented to coauette with the protection
proposal to keep him quiet
Liberals Are JubiIant.
Chamberlain probably would not be sorry
to resign, as he would then be freehanded
to further his new propaganda and be re-
lieved from the tremendous responsibility
of the South African problems which he
has failed to solve. The situation which
he has created is the most momentous for
the British parties in fifty years The min
isterial editors are stunned by the sudden
ness Of the plunge and are using every art
to minimize its immediate effect. The lib
erals are jubilant. They are united on free
trade and foresee certain victory at the
polls.
THE only possible meaning of Mr.. Cham
berlain's action" said Sir Charles Dixie to
! the World correspondent in the House of
Commons lobby Immediately after the
colonial secretary's speech Thursday even
ing "is he wants to break uo Balfour's
cabinet and rally party of his own, with
a new policy, calculated to dazzle the work
ingman voter
2 ''The first object is quite within his power
{ to attain. but the second is certain to be
> defeated by the commonsense and shrewd-
I ness of the working class. The speech was
! exceedingly clever and adroit and opens up
3 new era in the history of British parties,
but am convinced majority of the Brit
ish electorate viii never sanction a return
/ TO protection.''
wipes out Party Lines.
LONDON. May 2s.-Colonial Secretary
Chamberlain's protsctionist policy is the
all-prevailing topic Of discussion here His
masterful assertion that he would make
reciprocal treaties between the nation and
it's colonies the question has been sensa-
, tlonally fulfilled. Columns of comment fill
the afternoon newspapers ana everyone is
asking. Does 1t moan dissolution"
Some people maintain that the govern
: ment contemplates appealing to the coun-
: try on preferential trade and old-age pen
sions Immediately after the close Of the
present session of Parliament at the be-
ginning OF August, while others maintain
that tho government has not the slightest
intention of giving up it's unexpired term OF
- office.
!. The Telegraph which generally seems
=, inspired says:
, The issue could not be voted on for al
least eighteen months, but in the meantime
l. the government will give the country anC
= Parliament every opportunity TO discuss 1t
A definite decision will probably be arrived
s at shortly and will depend almost entirely
y on the result of the propaganda now under
e discussion by the members of the House o.
n Comons II the indications show that Mr.
Chamberlain is likely to have the country
10 at his back a general election at the ent
10 of this year is extremely probably.
h The colonial secretary himself. the Asso
a ciated Press learns, is doubtful If he coulC
Is win out just at present but he is enthusi
astically positive that with political agita
is tion the constituencies can be brought I;
y see the wisdom of his policy. Those VIII,
l. have discussed the preferential schem,
E with its author say he never expected sucl
le keen interest in any topic,
Is In this crusade the colonial secretary Il
le absolutely in harmony with Premier Bal
Il four and harbors no designs on the premier
ship. II a general election occurred to
- morrow and Mr.. Chamberlain's program
n was carried out, Mr.. Balfour would again
take the reins Of government.
The only development likely to occur Il
the near future is a series OF politica
speeches from the leaders on both sides
The opposition is almost solidly opposed L
a modification Of free trade and will en-
deavor to arouse that ferment which wa
associated with the corn tax days
Il CndIhDeflhllt N1r. bdlIOQF and sue
- unionists as agree with them will try I
y extract from the public that degree OF sup
/" port which they may interpret as a popula
~ mandate.
- All signs point to a lengthy campaign o.
the lines OF protection against free trad
- which is likely to destroy party lines almos
a. as much as did the home rule question.
In all the arguments the example an
probable attitude OF the United States wi
" figure largely.
- The sugar convention bill, enabling tn
British government to carry out the pro
visions OF the Brussels sugar convention
= which passed its second reading In tn
House OF Commons Thursday. is taken b
the liberal papers 10 be an importan
80 feature OF Mr.. Chamberlain's attack O.
free trade" The text of the bill issued 10
day provides for the prohibition Of the i'm
portation bounty-fed sugar that the oriKl
- OF imported sugar be proved and that ther
~, be provision by the customs or internal an
-, revenue ofhcers OF all British rennerie,
~ which must be worked only by person