The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-10
Joe ChanberIain's Campaign $ FierceIy Dividing the Eng
 fish UniOnist Party
INTERRUPTIONS NUMEROUS
 WHILE REFERRING ID J, 5,
Speaker Said If Any One Expected to Hear a Denunciatlon on His Part
 of His Late Colleague He
 Would Be Disappointed.

London. October 10.--The mixed recep- tion given to MT. Ritchie at Croydon is regarded as an indication that MT. Cham berlain's scheme is taking hold of the country, and is fiercely dividing the union- ist party. Incidentally MT. Ritchie re- vealed that he was solely responsible for the abolition of the shilling duty on wheat. He said that MT. Chamberlain proposed to retain the duty and give the colonies preference, but the speaker, believing that it was only the beginning of larger scheme of protection, threatened to resign if the duty was not forthwith abolished
 Confirming the published accounts of MT. Balfours concealment of Chamberlain's resignation, MT. Ritchie said the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Balfour of Burleigh. Lord George Hamilton and himself met after both cabinet councils, and decided to send in their resignations without having heard a word to the effect that Mr. Chamberlain would resign. That, however, did not affect MT. Ritches position. be- cause he could not have continued a mem- Der of the government after the publea- tion of the correspondence between MT. Chamberlain and MT. Balfour.
 Would Raise Cost of Everything.
 MT. Ritche strongly attacked the Cham berlain policy and declared that 1t would raise the cost of everything. He aroused the greatest opposition from the audience and also of the Chamberlain journals this morning because of the United States.
 He said: "The country must guard against giving the United States any cause for resentment against this coun- | ,.,ll l,a fanfr neighbors. the Canadians, were allowed to send their wheat into England at twd l or three shillings a quarter less than | America could. America would certain | ly punish Canada.
 This statement was met with cries o1 No, they exclude us now" and shouts of "The Mckinley tariff" rubbish. and nonsense" The general disturbance was such that Mir. Ritehie was unable to continue until the chairman had appealed for order.
 Reception Not Harmonious. The reception of MT. Richie was de- cidedly not harmonious, consisting of cheers, hoots and counter cheers for Joseph Chamberlain.
 Mr. Richie said that if any one expected to hear a denunciation on his part of his late cabinet colleague, he was happy to disappoint them. He believed MT. Bal four and MT. Chamberlain were aotuated by the highest motives. MT. Chamber-. lains administration of the colonial office had been the most successful of the pres- ent generation.
 The speaker later precipitated a scene of disorder by declaring that Mir. Cham borlain had been inconsistent because he upheld free trade, while president of the board of trade and protection while CO., lonial secretary.
 Mr. Ritchie said that as chancellor of the exchequer he could not consent to fiscal revolution, and the overturnng of the policy of his conservative predeces- sors on the strength of the arguments of MT. Chamberlain, whose strong point al- ways was his ability to present any scheme he championed in the most fa- vorable light
 An Entering Wedge.
 The former chancellor of the exehequer felt convinced that the present preferen- tial proposals were merely an entering wedge. which would ultimately land the country in the same position as Germany. where food taxes had driven the working men to socialism"
 Continuing, MT. Rltchie asserted that one of the principal questions to be con- sidered was the attitude of the United States This country must try to guard against giving the United States any cause for resentment. which would TO- suit in her punishing Canada.
 The above statement resulted in fresh disorder on the part of the audience and the singing of Rule Britannia"
 MT. Ritchie concluded with statement to the effect that he opposed with all his strength the new mysterious policy. which was ravaging the country like an epidemic"
 The speaker resumed his seat amid a storm of disorder. and a resolution of thanks was carried amidst boisterous