The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-23
POLITICS IN ENGLAND
M. P.'s Lot Is a Very Hard
One.
CHAMBERLAIN AFTER HIM
That Great Mans Method of
Getting Him.

London, Aug. 22.-The English member
of parliament is much-to- be pitied man.
To begin with, his holiday is foreshorten-
ed by the knowledge that before the
leaves begin to fall the political grama-
phone will be at work again in every con-
stituency, and that. whether he has con-
victions or not OF the great question OF
the hour, he must declare himself for or
against the new Characterization, and
show the hecklers of every political meet
ing that he is thoroughly versed in the
thousand and on intricacies of the most
complex economic question that English
men have had to face for fifty years.
There are not far short of two hundred
Ministeralists now sitting upon the fence.
Their position is almost desperate. They
know that is they go against Mr.. Cham
berlain they will get no mercy from that
quarter. Are you with me or are you
against me? is the first question that
seems conveyed by the hard. keen glance
OF Mr. Chamberlain, as he meets the NJ.
P, and the NJ. z. knows only too well
that, with the immense funds at their
disposal the Chamberlains can make his
own political life absolutely independent
upon his answer to their Questionings.
There is nothing easier in English poll
tics that to GUST a sitting member from
an otherwise safe seat by the intrusion
of a third candidate. who, being in this
case an Imeperialist. would be certain TO
split the Ministerial vote. and let the
Liberal in. If, indeed. the Chamberlainite
did not himself succeed in getting TO the
H. 9TH f,or
the doubling NJ P. declares for Mr.
Chamberlain. he knows that terrific
fight has to be made for cause which
is associated with that most unpopular of
English political cries. 1.-The cheap loaf
in danger"
Mr.. Labourchere tells that in all his
long parliamentary experience he never
remembers a session which came to an
end with its members so entirely in the
dark as to what would occur. Mr.. Cham
berlain's position is not, of course. open
to question Despite all rumors to the
contrary. he means to fight. and to fight
to a finish. No one who really knows him
and has watched his career will look for
any other issue. He will win or die
There are plenty of people just now ready
to believe that when Mr. Chamberlain
finds against him such powerful mem
bers OF the cabinet as the Duke OF Devon
shire, Mr.. Richie the Chancellor OF
the Exchequer, and Lord Bolfour Of Bur-
leigh, not to mention others, he Will &C
cept defeat and withdraw from public
life. Others are again confident that Mr..
Balfour means, as an opening to the aut-
umn campaign, to give to the Conserva-
tive associations whom he will address
in mid-September a distinctive anti-Cham-
berIaiu line. and that after that there
will be nothing for Mr.. Chamberlain but
resignation, and a single-handed fight.
That is not Mr. Chamberlain's way of
carrying on a campaign. Unless those
who had opportunities OF knowing are
all astray, Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Chamber
lain are harnessed together in this cam
paign Mr.. Chamberlain has won over
to his side Prime Minister who never
had any very definite convictions on the
subject of free trade. but who has learned
in the course OF years and intimate asso-
citation, to entertain great respect for the
fighting powers OF his chief colleague
If one were given to prophecy, it would
Mr.. BaIfour. in his September address TO
the Conservative associations, declare
himself on the Chamberlain side, and
should the free trade members OF the
Cabinet, such as the Duke Of Devon
shire. and Mr. Richie, feel called upon to
resign. Mr. Balfour will patch up his
Cabinet as best he may until Mr.. Cham
berlain feels the time to the ripe for
dissolution and the great political fight.
If this be a sound prophecy, a Cabinet
crisis may be expected some time to-
wards the end OF September or the be-
ginning of October, and a dissolution OF
Parliament may be expected between the
hay and wheat harvests of next year.
A general election is always something
in the nature Of horse race in its re-
suit at least in England, and there are
few politicians who today would venture
to predict with certainty what the issue
of the coming contest will be, there are
so many uncertain factors. Beyond all
question, Mr.. Chamberlain's personality
accounts for great deal in England. es-
pecially among the middle classes. He Is
a fighter More than that, he is the only
member of the Cabinet who has shown
any faculty for efficient administration.
and when he squares his fist there are
plenty of people who will rush to his side
out of sheer despair at finding any poliu-
cal leader who really knows what he
wants, and Is not afraid to risk all in
trying TO get #.
There really IS no other political lead
er. Mr.. BaIfour is too much Of phloso-
pher and even those who are most charm
ed by his personality are bound to admit
that a. leader Of the House Of Commons
and leader OF the government he has been
dismal failure. Among the Free Trade
Unionis.s there is an equal 6earth Of COM
manding men-a fact best attested per-
haps BY the prominence which Winston
Churchill has managed 20 secure for him
self OF late When one looks across the
House at the Liberal ranks there is
equal restitution. Indeed. though II seems
q bold thing 70 say. there Il really only
one man In the whole Liberal party who
has shown himself competent 20 stand up
10 Mr.. Chamberlain II Parliament and
on the platform. and that man Il the
b.ck-bench Welsh Radical Lloyd George
Of whose name probably few people on
your side Of the Atlantic have ever
heard
But the uncertain elements 60 far be-
yond the personne! % the hght- What Is
the HFht aboutz Mr. Chamberlain has !
done 10 more than throw out hints and I
suggestions OF prefsrential-c,ra- retail 1
alton policy. under which. in some un6e- /
fined way. the colonial IS 70 benefit ard I