The Washington times., 1905-07-21
WILL BALFOUR
RESIGN OR NOT,
is THE QUESTION
Lords Vote on TramWay
Bill Real Cause of
Defeat.
CABINET MUST DECIDE
Election Would Bring in
Liberals With Campbell
Bannerman Premier.
CABINET MUST DECIDE

LONDON, July -Englishmen today
are on tip-toe watching the greatest po-
litical crisis since the fan of the Rose
berry cabinet. Lord Rosebery was
defeated on a vote on army supplies OF
no significance itself, but because of tbs
profound dissatisfaction with the whole
course OF his administration
Premier Balfour, in the House OF
Commons last night, was voted down b.
a majority of four on a motion to re-
duee the membership Of the Irish land
commission.
The immediate cause of this vote had
nothing TO do with ireland. but was
in the form of a protest against the
house of lords. for vetoing a bill passed
by the commons 10 enable municipal
tramways TO enter the heart OF London
over the Thames bridges
Balfour Calls Cabinet.
This blow at the comfort and conven-
fence of the masses Immediately made
the lords more unpopular than anything
they have done since they defeated the
Gladstone home rule bill.
Still, back of this, however. the pri-
mary cause is the whole hasco Of Joseph
Chamberlain protection campaign, and
two years of boiling Indignation against
Balfour for his shutting opposition 10
the will Of the great majority Of Bri1ons.
This morning Balfour, after hasty con
ferences with some of his principal ad-
visers. decided 10 call a meeting OF the
cabinet TO decide whether the ministry
should resign or go before the house or
commons and demand a new vote OF
confidence. If vote of confidence is
demanded IL will be given Ey fair ms
jority, by drumming up members absent
last night Yet. essentially, sueh vote
would De a nake and would increase
popular Indignation. Balfour knows this
and may be induced to resign out OF
hand.
On the Fence for Years.
The present parliamentary majority
was elected in 1900 during the Jingo-feyer
aroused by the Boer war. Chamber
lain was then a most popular figure IN
the cabinet. Later ne amazed the
country by coming out hatfooted against
the historical British free-trade policy,
and resigned his portfolio
Instead of either supporting Chamber
lain or opposing him, Balfour climbed
on the fence. and has been balancing
there insecureIy ever since Every ef-
fort 10 find out whether he was really
free trader or protectionist has been
Chamberlain himself lost nearly all
his popularity. and at all local cleo.
tons where the issue of free trade
against protection was brought out tho
liberal candidates supporting free trade
had enormous majorities.
Majority Cut Down.
Balfour's parliamentary majority was
thus whitfield down from $50 10 g.
Recently there have been sensational
patches OF army contracts Cancelled.
and on several occasions Balfour has
squeezed through by Il majority OF \
dozen or less
Last night, when the lords vetoed the
municipal tramway bill. because they
did not want workfngnens car lines TO
pass TOO near the buildings of parlia-
ment, il was the last straw
The liberals and the Irish members
voted SOlidIy together against Balfour.
and many of his own followers de-
Today he faces the issue of imminent
resignation or further hopeless fight
Liberal Majority Certain.
II the Balfour cabinet resigns a new
election VIII at once De called. It IS
almost certain that If an election is
NOW held the liberal free trade major
ity against both conservatives and na-
tionalists will be from 80 TO 100. q
much larger majority than Gladstone
was ever able to bring ro the support
OF home rule, even when he counted on
all the Irish members.
Sir Henry Campbeu-Bannerman is the
liberal party leader, and would be pre-.
mier.
The recount Of the vote on the motion
to reduce the membership of the IRISH
land commission. on which the govern
ment was defeated in the house OF COM
mons last night, shows that the ma
iority of the opposition was four il rsteaC
of three votes, as Al first announced.
Comment Of Press
The conservative newspapers advise
the government 10 coatinue ia oIice,
while the liberal hopers declare that Mr..
Raifour viii endanSer the British consti.
tuition If he fails TO resign
The Echo sstys: .'Constitutionally. We
fail TO see how Premer Balfour can
wrggle out OF the situation with any
show Of decency."
The Stars comment is; THE con
tinued existence of this inenable. a..
speakabIe government is an outrage or
sI.45 to Baltimore and Return. S1.zs.