The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-23
Opposition CIamOrs 10 Hear
Premier BaIf0ur
SPEAKER FINALLY ADJOURNS
Such Tumultuous Times Have MOI
Been Seen In House of Com
mons Since the GIadston-
ian Irish Debates.


mons today Premier Balfour replying to
questions on the subject said he did not
consider himself pledged to inaetion In
regard to colonial preference, except SO
far as parliamentary action was concern
ed He reiterated that the government did
not intend to deal with the fiscal ques-
ton in the present parliament. The mat
ter of colonial preference might, however,
be submitted to colonial conference in
1906, even though the conntry mad not
previously had an opportunity of ex-
pressing opinion on the subject. The
decision of the conference, however.
would not be binding either on the mother
country or on the colonies without legis-
lative action.
Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman, the
liberal leader. charged Mr.. Balfour with
violating the pledge he had made in his
Edinburgh speech and moved the ad-
journment of the house to discuss the
matter.
The debate or Sir Henry Campbel-
Bannerman's motion came up at the night
session and was marked by scenes of the
widest disorder. Tho liberal leader de-
manded a plain answer from Premier Bal
four, and Alfred Lytleton, secretary of
state for the colonies rose to reply. The
members of tn opposition drowned the
efforts of the secretary with cries of
"Balfour Balfour" After continuing for
about ten minutes MIR Lyttleton sat
down. Winston Churchill then attempted
to speak but the minsterlalists drown
ed his efforts. the nationalists Joining in
TIE din and shouting for the police.
Premier Rises to Point of Order.
After a number of members haC failed
to SECURE a hearing, tne premier rose to
| point of order nc a temporary lulI
EfouoWed MIR. Balfonr said he thought it
highly improper that he should be i'm
mediately expected to follow the leader
| of the opposition. He said he had never
before known the opposition to refuse to
hear a minister. ln he insisted that
the house should hear Secretary Lyttle-
| ton as otherwise the dignity oe the house
could not be maintained.
Mr.. Lyttleton then made an attempt TO
| speak but the uproar was renewed Fin
| ally the speaker said Ii was obvious that
| the scene could not continue and he would
| therefore adjourn the house under the
| rules empowering the speaker to take
| such action in cases of grave d 1order.
The speaker he'd been unable to secure
| even a sembance of order after liowls
and counter howls lasting an hour.
Creates Tremendous Sensation.
| The action of the speaker and the
scenes In the house created tremendous
sensation in the lobbies which were
crowded with members discussing every
| phase of the evenings occurrences, which
were declared to be unprecedented The
| galleries were filed with peers and other
distinguished persons who gathered in
the hope of hearing an interesting debate
on the fiscal question. They took part In
| the cries for their favorites, thus adding
to the din, and afterwards Joined the ex-
cited crowds in the lobbies.
Tonight's unprecedented and undignhed
scenes grew to some extent out of the
Balfour- Chamberlain controversy with the
addition Of heated debate engendered on
the opposition by the breach of the pledge
not to deal with the subject of colonial
preference without first appealing to the
country The members generally we're in
feverish expectation that the debate would
Indirectly provide the terms Of Mr.. Bal
four's answer to Mr.. Chamberlain's COM
promise proposals. 1t was also antici-
pated that Mr. Chamberlain himself would
make an important speech on the fiscal
question Then when Secretary Lyttleton
was put up TO speak instead Of A4r. Bal
four a storm burst such as has not been
seen In the house Of commons since the
day Of the Gladstonlan Irish debates.
Attempt to ctife Discussion.
The opposition Interpreted the govern
ments course as an attempt to stine dis
cusson although moderate members adj
NIT that Mr.. Balfour'r attitude was per-
fectly correct The premier himself in
appealing to the house TO permit Mr..
I.yttleton to speak maintained that ne
(the premler) was "a prisoner in tho
dock" and ought not to be put on his
defense until he had reached the accu-
sations against him.
Except when Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman taunted him with the sole
cause Of the disorder and Mr.. Balfour
flashed rather an angry reply. the pre-
mier was most composed throughout the
sitting
MIR. Lyttleton also showed the greatest
self possession in his difficult position.
Standing at the treasury table. flushed
but immobile, times out of number he
essayed TO speak, always beginning:
"The prime minister" and always being
shouted down with cries of ''Balfour,
Balfour."
LET him defend his own honor; let
him fight his own battles" shouted
others. etc.
Whenever the storm showed signs OF
subsidng the Irish members joined in,
helping the hubbub until finally tho
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 ad-
journ the bouse
The liberal leaders afterwards held a
conference and it, Is expected that
vote of censure on Premier Balfour viii
be moved tomorrow by Sir Henry Camp
bell Bannerman.