The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-31
POLITICS ARE
BADLY MIXED
British Statesmen Apprehen-
sive Of FatefuI Issues.
QUESTIONS ARE FINANCIAL
KING EDWARD WILL OPEN PAR
LAMENT TUESDAY.

open in ful state on Feb. what prom
Uses 10 be one OF the most interesting
and important sessions in the history
of the British parliament. Every. ma
ton in the world is materially con
eerned IN the divisions that wiz shortly
occur in the house Of commons, and
upon their result the. future policy of
he British empire must largely de-
pend No government of recent times
has ever refaced the legislature under
such altered conditions. Since parlia-
1nent adjourned IN june last. not only
has the cabinet been entirely recon
structed. but The party lines have been
completely broken Seven distinct fac
tions will take seats in the house of
commons Tuesday, namely: The fol-
lowers OF Premier Balfour who favor a
policy of tariff retaliation, but who OBJ
Ject TO protection; TIE Chamberlain
party who insist that protection is
necessary 10 the unity OF the empire;
ne out and cat free traders. who are
opposed TO any tinkering with the fis-
cal system The foregoing were all
formerly known as UnjoDists
The liberals. though they were. al
most TO q man. free traders, are split
W into two definite factions. one fol-
lowing Sir Henry Campbell Baunern1an
and insisting on home rule, and the
other regarding Lord ROsebery as their
logical leader. and refusing to make
home rule a plank Of their platform.
The labor party completes the triple
division of the liberal tree trade ranks.
John Redmond and the Irish party
make the seventh faction.
No One Can Figure Tt Out.
In view Of this complex state OF af-
fairs. largely due 10 events since par
lament last met. the most astute poll
ticians s0undly confess themselves to
be at sea. SO many cabinet ministers.
including Joseph Chamberlain, Charles
T. Ritchie and Lord George Hamilton.
will be absent from their accustomed
places on the front bench Tuesday that
the oldest parliamentary hands Will
scarcely be able To distinguish between
the supporters and the opponents Of
the government on the fiscal question.
The Duke Of Dev0nshire, Lord Ave
bury. Mr.. Goschen, Sir John Corst
Lord George Hamilton, Lord Hugh Ce-
ell, Winston Spencer Churchill and
many others identified with the present
party in power viii be Mr. RalfOur's
most bitter opponents the moment the
fiscal question is raised
That viii come quickly, for John
Morley intends to introduce an amend
ment 10 the kings speech>on this point.
It IS possible, though hardly probable,
that Mr.. Morley may turn out the
government. The debate is likely 10
take up several days. Strenuous ef-
forts are now making 10 get the free
trade uniOnists members not only to
abstain from voting, but to openly join
the liberal forces IN the opposition lob
by. However, even if this is accom-
plished and the Duke Of DevOnshire's
followers make common cause with
the liberals under the leadership Of
Lord Rosebery, it would not cOnsti-
tute a solution of the differences of
opinion which exist between Sir Henry
Campbell-BaRnerman and the liberal
ex-premier.
Irish Hold Balance.
The best informed persons say that
even in the event of a temporary Goa
Htion OF all the free trade forces the
Irish party has the deciding vote, and
an indications point TO John Redmond
keeping Mr.. Balfour in power. But.
as Mr. Redmond does not make def
mite pledges, the Irish party through
out the session is likely TO be an un-
certain factor That win heighten in
reTest. and any day may make it pos
sible for Mr. BalfOur to be dep0sed.
The Irish partys tentative support
Of the government is understood to be
due TO the assurances of George Wynd-
ham, the chief secretary for Ireland,
that he VIII establish a Catholic uni
EersiJy ar Dublin and viii amend the
Irish land purchase act. Despite this.
however. Mr.. Redmond intends to at
tack the kings speech with "A home
rule amendment. II is not likely TO be
attended by serious results. but the
Echisms of the English parties swept
Il H.
tons are generally admitted to con-
stitUte Ireland's opportunity, and Mr..
Redmond is now the only leader in the
house who can rely upon the consistent.
solid support on all occasions Of his
followers
Some Minor Issues.
The kings speech is likely 10 first
deal with British neutrality in the far
eastern crisis. II viii undoubtedly
outline the proposed domestic legisla-
zion, the chief item Of which win be
the prohibition of the immigration Of
destitute aliens, on the lines now IN
force in the United States. Immi-
grants who are permitted TO land viii
be subjected TO q system of regisrratio
and viii be compelled to report them
selves to the registrar Of births and
deaths of the district in which they re-
SIDE. ANY district becoming cUngested
can 1e proHfDiteu 10 anenS.
Beside the amendments by MessTs.
Morley and Redmond. the government
viii be attacked on the report of the
war committee. This win be taken up
hy William s. Robson. the liberal. An
other amendment wiz be moved by
David Lloyd George, liberal, denOunc-
ing the goveruments recent education
set and the employment OF Chinese Ia
ber I'm the Transvaal is likely 10 come
En- for severe criticism.
A few months ago these topics would
have attracted intense interest and
might have driven the government into
a corner. Now they are almost forgot
ten I'm the question Of the hour-free
trade vs. pToJection--which has put
British policies at skies and sevens.
Many members Of the house of COM
mons scarcely know their own mind
81 yet on the vital topic. and several
are undecided on which side Of the
house 20 sit when the king convenes
parliament next Tuesday.
READY TO RETIRE.