Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-19
VOTED AGAINST
BRITISH CABINET
Government Party Outwi ted by Ma
tlOaalists in House of Commons.
MINISTRY WILL NOT RESIGN

! London, March 16. - Premier Bal
tours government was defeated In the
house of commons by the combined
Liberal and Nationalist vote. This re
verse was due to the prohibition by
Mr.. Wyndham, chief secretary for
! Ireland, on the teaching of Gaelic ia
the junior grades of the irish Nation
alist schools. Mr.. Balfour, though de-
feated by a majority of IL on this
question, does not regard the vote as
| one OF want of confidence, and ne will
not resign on this account His deter
| miaation not to resign was strength
ened by the fact that shortly after the
foregoing defeat he was able to secure
majority of %.
Those terrible Irish," as they are
described for the moment by the Un.
ionists, were entirely responsible for
Mr.. Balfour's defeat. On the question
OF Catholic education. Monday night,
the Nationalist had voted with the
Un1onist government, but even while
so doing they were planning the down.
fal OF the Conservatives. The mine,
so ingenuously laid, was set off with a.
success that thrilled the country.
In the house of commons strange
scenes were being enacted. The house
resolved itself into COMMITTEES of sup
ply to discuss the vote for Irish educa-
sion, which had already been debated.
Profound peace reigned, and there was
not sign of the coming parliamentary
storm except to the few initiated who
Keenly watched the whispered confer
ence taking place between the Irish
whips. John Redmond made a COM
plant about the prohibition Of Gaelic
IN the schools. but instead of a. long
speech, which it would seem he had
prepared, judging by the volume of
notes in his hand, the Irish leader
said only a few words. Mr.. WynGham
replied with equal brevity. and il was
evident that he was saving himself
for string of protests from other
Irish members.
No one rose to reply to Mr.. Wynd-
ham. the Irish party for once utilizing
Silence as it's deadliest weapon Mr..
Redmond had said there were to be
NO speeches, and discipline triumphed.
and not one word came from the Irish
benches. The Liberals, too, sat ST
lent, though they were ignorant of the
projected coup, and without a reply
a division was inevitable. Only then
did Mr.. Wyndham and the government
whips realize how deliberately they
had been outwitted.
1t is learned that John Redmond
and Sir Thomas Esmonde had planned
the division for 3 o'clock. and the bells
therefore changed out throughout the
house at 2.55. In desperation the gov
eminent whips sent messengers In
cobs and with kilograms and TO the
telephones, but without avail, for when
the tellers of the vote returned the
clerk OF the house handed Sir Thomas
Esmonde the coveted little slip of pa
per which is given to. the winning
side
In a second the members who had
crowded in realized that the govern
ment had been beaten, and then there
arose such a cheer as Westminster has
not heard for many a day. The Irish !
and Liberal members clambered upon !
the benches and yelled themselves |
hoarse. and for nearly five minutes |
pandemonium reigned. Several times |
S1A lIlcu u TGdQ Out
the figures. but his voice was drowned |
In the uproar. Mr.. Balfour, who had |
been just in time to vote for the gov
eminent. sat smiling grimly. Finally |
there was comparative quiet. and Sir |
Thomas Esmonde read: AYES, al; !
noes, $780," At this the storm of cheer |
Ing broke out afresh- The govern /
ment was defeated by IL votes.
rush to the lobh- followed, and |
the members animatedly discussed |
whether or not Mr.. Balfour would re- |
sign. The premier, however, quickly |
set these doubts at rest by saying |
that he saw no reason for such action |
Thanks to the prolonged exuberance |
of the Irish cheers and the hectoring |
OF Mr.. Balfour. the government whips |
got the chance of summoning their !
absent supporters, and when, about 10 |
minutes later, John Redmond moved |
TO report progress, on the ground that |
the government had not a majority |
able to transact the business of the |
country. the government secured the |
narrow majority of %.
If the division had occurred a few
AhihulSS tie lnGN- !
itably would have been defeated and |
compelled to resign. To avert this. old |
men who had not run for many a year /
came rushing into the house, painfully !
out of breath, while Sir Edward Henry |
Carson had not even waited to put on !
a necktie.
Education Bad For Negroes"
Jackson. Miss, March l5.-Governor |
Vardaman sent to the house his veto i
of the bill appropriating $4,000 for the !
support of the Holly Springs Normal |
School. colored institution. The gov
ernor in his veto message takes the !
ground against negro education, stat
ing that it is not the best thing for
the negroes He advanced this view
during his campaign for governor. The |