The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-03
Dramatic Situation at Opening
Of English Parliament With
out Parallel in History
EDWARD OPENS SESSION
WITH GREAT CEREMONY
Joseph Chamberlain Sits Unmoved Un-
der RidcuIe of the Liberal Leader.
choate Unable to Attend
Because of Illness.

London, February My right honor
able friend the member from West Bir-
mingham," as Austin Chamberlain de-
scribed his father, was the central figure
in the drama that marked the opening of
,,.drliament today.
No playwright could have devised a more
curious situation. For the first time in
years Joseph Chamberlain took his seat
as a private member of the house of COM
mons, and was separated from his former
colleagues in the cabinet by the gangway.
From this seat he saw his son act as
leader of the house of commons, a position
which Mr.. Chamberlain, with all his years
of parliamentary experience, never at
tanned.
Premier Balfour was laid up with in
.f1uenza and therefore was unable to be
present. When Austin Chamberlain arose
to reply in behalf of the party of which
his own father is believed to be the most
powerful member. the house was SPELL
bound.
Had Concluded Merciless Satire.
Until that moment Mr.. Acker-Douglass,
secretary of state for home affairs, was
generally expected to take Premier Bal
four's place, and interest in the proceed
lngs was heightened by the fact that Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman, the liberal
leader, has just concluded a merciiess
satire on Austin Chamberlain's father
The situation was without parallel in the
recollection of the oldest politician, and
all eyes were fixed alternately upon the
father and the son.
Joseph Chamberlain, who had sat un-
moved under the ridicule Of the liberal
leader turned nervously toward his son.
who now takes precedence over him. With
his monocle in his eye, an orchid in his
buttonhole, and his hands clasped across
his knees, the most prominent figure in
the British empire, sat and listened to his
own defense from the lips of his son.
Austin Chamberlain spoke haltingly
and under evident stress, yet, when he
referred TO his father it was always as
1.-THE member from West Birmingham.
Tinge of Impassioned Feeling.
There was a tinge Of impassioned feel
ing in his words which brought constant
ly to his hearers realization of the re-
lation between the two men. Now and
again jeers greeted the youngest member
of the cabinet, whereupon, with unmis
taxable anger, his father turned his
glance in the direction of the offender
and occasionally Joseph Chamberlain
cheered his son on with an emphatic
"hear, hear
AS Austin Chamberlain neared the con-
clusioh of his defense of the attitude of
Premier Balfour and his father towards
the finance question, the interruptions
grew more frequent. and the chancellor
of the exchequer clutched the BRASS
bound treasury box on which Gladstone
was so fond of leaning, and addressed
his remarks almost solely in the direction
of his father Defiantly Austin Chamber
lain accused Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man of attacking the premier in his abb
sence and with touch of pride he said:
.arhe member from Birmingham is
here: he can speak for and look after
himself"
The house finally exercised it's relief
when the speech was over, and generally
termed the proceeding as one of the most
extraordinary personal situations that
ever had occurred and the speech as one
of the weakest defenses of the govern
ments policy ever made
Must Decide on Financial Reform.
On behalf of Premier Belfour, Austin
Chamberlain declared the house of COM
mons must first decide whether or not 1t
system. and until that point was settled.
the onnosition demand for details of the
vovernment's fiscal reform plan could not
be granted.
King Edward opened parliament with
all the ceremonial that has been in vogue
since his ascension to the throne. None Of
the familiar out-of-door features was
lacking. The weather conditions. however,
were too depressing to permit of much en-
thusiasm.
After entering the house of lords by the
roval gate beneath the Victoria tower.
their maiesties were robed, and preceded
bv the state regalia, passed in procession
70 where the lords had assembled to hear
the kings speech. Many peeresses were
nresent and their features, jewels and
bright dresses, with the varied colored
robes Of the legislators of the upper
house and the brilliant diplomatic uni
forms combined to make an enective
sceus
Amb ,ssador Choate was confined to his
no : by a slight cold and was unable
to attend, so the United States embassy
was represented by Secretary White and
Second Secretary Carter.
ON the arrival of the members of the
house the king read the speech of the
throne
Touches on Eastern Crisis.
The crisis in the far east is touched upon
briefly by the Kings speech as follows;
II have watched with concern the course
of the negotiations between the govern
ment of Japan and Russia In regard to
their respective interests in China and
Korea and a disturbance of the peace of
those regions could not but have deplor-
able consequences. Any assistance which
my government can usefully render to-
ward the promotion of a pacific solution
will be gladly afforded"
The speech makes the usual reference
10 the satisfactory character of foreign
relations; touches upon the conclusion Of
the Anglo French arbitration agreement
as being "a happy illustration of the
friendly feelings OF the two countries"
ana refers to the Somaliland expedition
and to the Macedonian reforms. express
ing the hope that the practical measures
for the amelioration, so sorely needed of
these unhappy regions will be carried