Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-23
On Premier baIfour in The
House Of Commons.
Charged With Violating Pledge
on Colonial Preference.
Worst Scene Of Disorder Since the Famous
6Iadsionian Irish Debates.

London. May PIN the House O
Commons. this afternoon. Premier Bal
four, replying to questions on the sub
ject, said he did not consider himSel
pledged to inactiOn in regard to cOlOnia
preference except so far as Parliame1
tary action was concerned. He reiterat
Cd that the government did not inten
TO deal with the fiscal question in tn
present Parliament. The matter o
colonial preference might. however. b.
submitted to a colonial conference il
1906. even though the country had no
previously had an opportunity of eX
pressing an opinion in the subject. Tn
decision of the conference. however
would not be binding without legisla
tive action.
Sir Henry Campbell Rannerman tn
Liberal leader, charged Mr.. Balfou
with violating the pledge he had made
in his Edinburgh speech and moved III,
adjournment of the House to discuss
The matter.
The debate on Sir Henry Campbell
Eannermar's motion came up at thu
night session and was marked by
scenes of the widest disorder. The Lib
eral leader demanded Il lain answer
from Premier Ralfour and Alfred Lyt
tclton, secretary of state for the colo.
MES. rose to reply. The members of tn,
opposition drowned tho efforts of ths
secretary with cries Of "EalfOur." At
ter continuing for about 10 minutes. M :
!yttclton sat down. Winston Church
III then attempted 70 speak. but tbs
Ministerialists drowned his efforts. tn.
Eationalists joining in the din an.
shouting for the police.
After 4 number Of members had fail
ed to secure 4 hearing thu premier rose
10 point Of order and q temporary
lull followed Mr.. Ba'four said he
thought 1t highly improper that HI
should be Immediate v expected to fol
low the leader of The opposition. Fl,
said he had never known the Opposi-
ton to refuse to hea" 4 minister and he
insisted that the House should hea,
Sec. Lyttelton. as otherwise tn"
dignity of the House could rot be main
lained.
Mr.. Iyttnltnn again made an attempt
to speak, but the uprn'r was renewed
Finally. the Speaker sal, it was N
and he would therefore adjourn the
House under rhc rules empowering the
Speaker to take such Gction in cases
Of grave disorder.
The Speaker had been unable to Sc.
cure even semblance of order after
bowls and cOunter-hOWlS lasting over
an hour
Tonight's unprecedented and undigni-
fed scenes grew to coEln extent out of
the Balfour-C Chamberlain controversy
with the addition of tn" heat engendcr-
cd on the opposition side by the Prem
ier's alleged breach OF his pledge no.
to deal with the subjec, Of colonial pre-
ference without first appealing to the
country. The members generally were
in feverish expectation that the debatn
would indirectly provide the terms of
Mr.. Isalfour'S answer to Mr.. Chamber
lain's compromise proposals. 1t was al
so anticipated that Mr.. Chamberlain
himself would make an important
speech on the fiscal question. Then
when Sec. Lyttelton was put up to
speak instead of Mr.. Balfo,lr, a storm
burst such as has nor been heard in
the House of Commons since the days
of the Gladstonian Irish debates.
The opposition interpreted the gov
ernmcnts course as an attempt to
stilic discussion although moderate
members admir- that Mr. T.alfour's atti-
tude was perfectly correct. The premier
in appealing to the House To
permit Mr.. LytteltOn 20 speak main
tanned that he Che rr"mier) was n
prisoner in thu dock" and ought not to
be put on his defense until he hal
heard the accusations against him.
Except when Sir Henry Campbell
Zimmerman tainted him with being tho
sole cause of the disorder and Mr.. Bal
four flashed rather an angry reply. the
premier was most composed through
out the sitting.
Mr.. Lyttelton also showed the great
est self-pOssession in his difficult posi-
ton. Standing at the treasury table.
flushed but immobile, times out of
he essayed to speak, always be-
ginning 1.-The prime minister" and al
ways being shouted down with cries
Of "Balfnur." Let him defend his own
honor. Let him fight his cwn battles. -
etc.
Whenever The storm showed signs Of
subsiding. the Irish members Joined in.
the hubbub, until finally. the
deputy Speaker. for the first time, put
in force one of the new rules adopted
by the present Parliament, empowering
the Speaker in cases Of grave disorder,
to adjourn the House.
The Liberal leaders afterwards held a
and it is expected that vote
of censure on Premier Ralfour will be
moved. tomorrow, by Sir Henry Camp
hall Rannprman