The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-06-15
ASQUITH
DEFEATS
PREMIER
Chamberlain'S Plans
Riddled by the
Liberals
A BackSlider Brought Home
by the Gentle In
fIence of the
Chancellor

London, June 10.-That the lnteres
in the political situation has beer
enhanced by the dramatic develop
ments yesterday was fully evidenced
today by the remarkable animation
and alertness of everybody in and
about the house of parliament when
the time approached for the resump
tion of the debate in the house OF
commons on the amendment of Henry
Chaplain, conservative, to the budget
bill
Answers TO the questions not refer.
ing to the great problem OF the day
passed almost unnoticed, so keen was
the anxiety to get to the all-absofb
ing topic.
The debate was resumed by Major
seeley, conservative. who as a con.
vlnced free trader rejoiced in the re.
peal Of the grain tax.
Sir Charles Dixie, advanced radical,
contended that the house had,the right
to demand an opportunity for pro.
nouncing judgment on this important
financial question. There was enor.
nous exaggeration in in the statement
that II was foolish for this country to
maintain a policy differing from that
Of the rest Of the world While the
United States and Germany were reap.
ing much prosperity under protection
Great Britain's foreign exports TO the
present moment were equal to the
combined exports OF the United |
States, Germany and France, which,
considering the enormous expansion |
OF the population Of the United States
was truly a surprising trade.
The speaker denied that protection
In the countries named was cutting
out Great Britains markets OF the
world. Germany had not even hurt
Great Britain's markets In South
America and when one considered the
great natural advantages of the United
States, her size and her highly cult.
waited population. II was marvellous
that she had not years ago attained
first place in the trade OF the world,
The commerce of the United States
had progressed independently OF pro.
lection. but II had been retarded rath.
or than advanced by the adoption OF
protection.
III, II. Asquith. advanced LIBERAL de,
clared that the reason for the abandon.
ment OF the grain tax remained an un.
solved and inscrutable mystery. Mr..
Chamberlain told the public that the
tax did not fall on the consumer. II
that were so its repeal was "magni.
hcent display OF international attach.
ment,' as IL practically meant that
Great Britain was making a present to
the United statets OF the sl2 SOC, 900 |
which the tax brought in.
Describing the situation as "politi. |
cally indecent Mr.. AsQuith urged an
explicit declaration Of the collective |
judgment OF the cabinet In regard TO
the large question of finance policy |
and. turning TO Mr.. Chamberlain, who |
at that moment entered the house and |
sat down beside Premier Balfour, Mr. |
Asquith asked tho colonial secretary |
what was his position In view OF yes
torday's speech of the chancellor CT
the exchequer, Mr.. Richie.
Was Mr.. Chamberlain a brand |
plucked from the burning? A back, |
slider brought home again by the gen. |
tie, persuasive influence of the chan, |
cellor OF tho excheQuer? Was the
word requiesoat or the ford resurgam
TO be carved on the tombstone OF the
grain taxg He was glad to see that
Mr., Chamberlain was stin sitting in
the cabinet bench. although II was
quite unprecedented 10 see two minis
tors on the same bench holding funda-
mentally and irreooncilably divergent
views on a matter which affected more
vitality than any other the unity OF the |
empire. its fiscal and commercial pros.
naritv