Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-01
ISSUES IN ENGLAND
Coming Session of British Par
lament Promises to be of
Great Importance
FREE TRADE OR PROTECTION
FREE TRADE OR PROTECTION
Joseph chamberlain's Proposals Will
Come Up In the Present Session
Believed That Balfour Will Be Kept
In Power-lrish Party Has Decid-
ing Vote.

London, Feb. liking Edward Will
open in full state on February 9. what
promises to be one of the most inter-
esting and important sessions in the
history of the British parliament.
Every nation in the world is materially
concerned in the divisions that will
shortly occur in the house of commons
and upon their result the future policy
of the British empire must largely de-
pend. No government of recent times
has ever faced the legislature under
such altered conditions. Since parlia-
ment adjourned in June last not only
has the cabinet been entirely recon
structed but the party lines have been
completely broken. Seven distinct fac
tons will take seats in the house of
commons Tuesday. namely. the follow
ers OF Premier Balfour. who favor u
policy of tariff retaliation. but who op
ject 10 protection; the Chamberlain
party, who insist that protection is
necessary to the unity OF the empire,
the out-and-out free traders who are
opposed to any tinkering with the fis-
cal system. The foregoing were all
formerly known as unionists.
Liberals in Two Factions.
The liberals, though they We're, al
most TO man. free traders. are spill.
up into two definite factions. one fol-
lowing Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman
and insisting on home rule. and the
other regarding Lord Rosebery as
their logical leader. and refusing 10
make home rule u plank in their plat
form.
The labor party completes the triple
division of the liberal free trade ranks.
John Redmond, and the Irish party
make the seventh faction.
In view of this complex state of af-
fairs. largely due to events since par
lament last met, the most astute poll
ticians frankly confess themselves to
he at sea- The Duke of Devonshire,
Lord Avebury. Mr.. Goschen. Sir John
Gorst. Lord George Hamilton, Lord
Hugh Cecil Winston Spencer Church
i'll and many others identified with the
present party In power will be Mr..
Baifour's most bitter opponents the
moment the fiscal question Is raised.
That will come quickly for John Nor
ley IltelluS iutIVuuCiiS III aiieii0HiShs
to the kings speech on that point. L.
is possible. tho hardly probable.
that Mr. Morley may turn out the gov
ernmeni.
The hes; informed persons say that
even in the event of a temporary coali-
ton of all the free trade forces the
Irish party has the deciding vote, and
all indications point to John Redmond
keeping Mr.. Balfour in power. Bat
as Mir. Redmond does not make detin-
lite pledges. the Irish party through
out the session is likely to be an uncer-
tain factor.
The kings speech is likely to first
deal with British neutrality in the far
eastern crisis It will undoubtedly out
line the proposed domestic legislation,
the chief item of which will be the
prohibition of the immigration of des-
titute aliens, on the lines now in force
in the United States.
Besides the amendments by Messrs.
Morley and Redmond. the government
Will be attacked on the report OF the
war committee Another amendment
viii be moved by David Lloyd George.
liberal. denouncing the governments
recent education act, while the en-
ployinent of Chinese labor in the
Transyaal is likely to come in for Sc
we're criticism.
However, free trade against protec-
ton has The larger part. OF the MEM
bers at sea, and several are undecided
as to on which side of the house thsy
will sit