The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-10-01
GIVEN ASURPRISE
,,>G EDWARD TAKES HAND IN
CABINET CRISIS.
S.id to Be Using His Power of
Veto in a Very Unexpected Man.
ner and Will Refuse to Allow
apv Unfit Man to Serve--Army
scandals to Be Probed.

London, Sept. 25.-The political cri-
ia has taken on phase which lends to
.bo nresent situation a historical and
Institutional Importance of almost nm
nrpeedented interest. The king has in
tprfered, not uncnnstitutionally nor be-
vond the powers vested in the crown.
INT in the exercise of his prerogative to
- axtent never dreamed of in the Vic
torian era.
Premier Balfour's continued presence
Of Balmoral has given rise to much sur
MISE and comment, but the Associated
press is able to state definitely that it
il the kings determination not to as
cont 70 the formation of new cabinet
unless entirely satisfied that it's person
nel and combination is such as to in
sure the efficient carrying out of ma
tonal affairs pending tne resumption
Of parliament.
For wears previous cabinets were APP
nointed or ministerial vacancies filled
bv the mere presentation to the sover-
zion of the names of the new ministers.
King Edward has done away with this
tradition. He has spent the last few
davs in constant conference with Mr..
Balfour as to the advisability, from the
noint of view of the welfare of the ma
ton. of the latter's suggested appoint.
ments.
Questions the Minister'S.
Ministers now holding Office and
those nominated for Office have been
summoned to Balmoral to join in these
conferences and all have been subject.
ed to degree of interrogation such as
has surprised even those who knew
King Edward intimately as the Prince
Of Wales. To such an extent is the
king holding luis power of veto in re-
serve that he is now almost regarded
by the inner circles as more the cabinet
maker than Mr.. Balfour himself.
Though with his usual tact the king
has RETAINED from expressing any po-
litical views or infriDgementa on the
ministers prerogatives this has not
prevented him from expressing his de-
sres, amounting to almost command,
that steps be taken to remedy the scam
dals in the army revealed by the report
of the South African war commission,
and insisting that the new cabinet
shall be one adapted to deal with That
question.
After the long conversations he has
had within the last few days at Bal
moral with Lord Lansdowne and Mr..
Broderick, Lord Esher, who was presi-
dent of the South African war commits
sion; Lieut.. Gen. KenneyKelley and
other military authorities, the king is
said to have expressed the opinion that
Lord Lansdowne's record as war secre-
tary was due more to the badness OF
the system then in vogue than to any
defect in Lord Lansdowne's own judg-
mert.
King Edward has not shared the keen
public Indignation against Lord Lans.
dOwne aroused by the report of the
South African war commission, and af-
ter minute examination of the cir
cumstances he is understood to have
consented to his lordship continuing as
foreign minister. This decision has not
not prevented his majesty from telling
the ministers that he wanted some
thing done to improve the military
middle and that he hoped some man
would be appointed who with the CON-
MISSIONS report as basis would be Ca
pable of changing the system which
rendered inefficiency unavoidable.
Consider Gen. Kitchener.
The question: of having some general,
notably Lord Kitchener, sa head OF the
war office, has been discussed at Bal
moral. but the Associated Press under
stands that the concensus of opinion
was that such an appointment would be
interpreted as modified form of mill
tary dictatorship, which the public
would net sanction. Meantime every
detail of the negotiations for filing the
vacancies In the cabinet is submitted to
the king, who for the time being has
transformed Balmoral into the political
center of the empire, from which, ow-
Ing to the unusual influences at work,
several surprises may emanate. What
ever the results may be they can be at
rlbutel to large extent to the kings
interest in the crieic