New-York tribune., 1903-07-10
rglMBERLAIN'S POLICIES
Illustrated By Sir Gilbert Parker's
cropesend Vote of Confidence.
London, July /.

hnG
hsA- 1,-s,i.uencies When Lord Rosebery, after
tne 49,. government on the diversions of
VIZ -,-,ste-ial family turned suddenly tow
h1PS. 7,,,t,e Of Devonshire il was with
az oir of despair over his attempts to Sc
t'l0 ,,-..erv,ent on a dark subject. is the
cur ,.,trv' % he asked. intended TO inform
-, or IS II a mechanism for keeping
'I ~.t,ns- together" This was a plain ques-
"a II might easily have been answered
-. but the Duke of Devonshire was COM
= ~ Official restraints TO evade II. He
- -, blurt out the truth that the fiscal
- z,as political device for enabling min
- qain tine and To round out the session
-. year without a reorganization Of the
80. and that the constituencies rather
=. government would conduct the fiscal
'-- nv methods OF their own. The minis
[ rs-,ains in Office under an implied obliga-
=, ., make an exhaustive economic examina-
- -ssnecting the results Of half century OF
e.. ,-ade but Il viii be an impossible under
-. MIL three or more uncompromising free
.--ss-s are dropped from the cabinet and their
-. sUed by fair traders and imperialists.
-. froury. which neither the Cabinet nor
.,.--,,ssion Of experts nor committee Of the
c.7 Service can conduct, has been relegated
:. +bs constituencies at their own convenience
- i.is,-e The partlsans Of Mr.. Chamberlain
-,-..5. sneak of Il as "a national inquest on
g.. trade" That is an apt expression from
.tsi- point OF view. An inquest" in the popu-
,r sense seems TO imply that Cobdenism is dead.
ono of the earliest constituencies consulted
-, members OF Parliament on this subject is
4ravesend Sir Gilbert Parker. elected as
Conservative. but convinced imperialist and
q --re representative Of the colonies by virtue
~ his birth II Canada and his residence in Aus
,-sIis vas unwilling either to remain neutral
NJ 10 keep out of touch with the electorate. He
accordingly summoned the main committeeman
and workers Of his party 70 consultation at
,ls Conservative Club in Gravesend for an ex-
change OF views on the great question Of the
ssv As this was one OF the first attempts on the
pert Of q government supporter 70 subject local
oninlon 10 a practical test. I went down the
river 10 attend the meeting. and was an inter
ested observer Of an informal political confer
euce The riverside constituency includes
suburb where cement is manufactured on
large scale. and this local industry has been
exposed to destructive competition from Ger
many Belgium and France. Foreign cement
has been freely exported TO England during
recent years. and much Of this surplus stock
OF scientifically organized industries has come
IN under pressure Of manufacturing syndicates
and mercantile cartels. and has been sold under
the market. Much OF II has also been re-
shipped for export as British cement, and the
local manufacturers have been displaced both
IN the home rar-et and in foreign trade
Gravesend Va Consequently a good district for
testing local opinion respecting the benefits of
free trade OF, as the Duke Of Devonshire has
altered the phrasing, the advantages Of free i'm
porting. L was not surprising, therefore. TO
find that this representative audience was more
deeply interested in the proposals for restoring
2 tariff upon manufactured goods than in the
colonial or imperial aspects Of the fiscal ques-
ton
Sir Gilbert Parker. In meeting the most innu-
entail men in the district did not profess to
have open mind on the subject which had
caused divisions among ministers. He had not
only been elected as an imperiaIist profoundly
interested in the welfare OF the colonies, but
also IN his earliest speeches at Gravesend he
had definitely forecast the economic and fiscal
policies with which Mr.. Chamberlain and the
Prime Minister were destined 10 become fdenti-
fed In addressing the local workers OF the
party had nothing 10 take back. and was
justified in de---ring that he had started on the
road Of fiscal reform when he was honored with
election 10 arliament He was unwilling. how
ever, 10 drag his supporters against their wills
track Of imperial policy; and was prepared 10
discuss the subject OF imperial reciprocity with
The utmost frankness and even 10 enlarge II
into the comprehensive theme Of the raadtus+
ment Of the Whole fiscal policy Of Europe and
america be began with proposing a resoIu-
non committing the local Conservative workers
70 me opinion that the time had come for a
cose inquiry into the present fiscal svstern
"--" d We" 70 oevising needful measures ror
0-'s~Al--g me increasing inroads upon home and
export trade by protected foreign rivals and of
-Urlher developing trade Oh a preferential basis
ueLNeeI the mother country and the colo,i.s
a. 1he nest means Of securing the most stable
prosperity and promoting the unity snd
s1shgln Of the empire. He ended bv secur-r.
ne unanimous adoption Of this resolution after
"e Aaa presented bold ana outspoken nIaa fo-
.7'eTslng the time honored British princfpIes 90
free trade - iiIlelpies OF
NiioN-hg mat Sir Gilbert Parker was e., IN.
Wy q sharing Mr. ChamberIain's confidence
particularly interested in following bis az
e---'7- respecting the taxation OF ir,no~te5 food
Ielsatlons for the working class EJa
1lal ne shilling registration du+v On
--'>- moi increased the price Of bread bUt
- ,--.-Ie 10 say whether the prop0sed
-. oe TWO three or four shilIings a
~ ms is an important detail which
80. '--.,leF'-in himself is not in a position 10
- --.-aHa' and his followers are forced 10
slto-. men they discuss the question. Sir
5f-,s-..LI- taxation Of imported food in
cora-,.- 80 . me development Of trade with
crs-r =. ---lA were friendly and we're making
80 o- great remission OF tariff sobaa,,1a. =,
e'or OF England; and although be .ooreo-.aI
- bread tax was "a ticklish o,a-.+t,r >, -,
70 no5 think it wise to lock m tbeSe -,
s'oaly proposals in q secret d-avrar a., :. 60.
=, 4 about them. especially uber ~ 80
--l Canada and Australia could fe aa,,h,os -
-e'sa ia single decade Duties ~, t-,ro.-od
-, ~ooi' be an essential element ~ the new
- system. bur thare rro..,a !, -