Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23
POLITICS IN ENGLAND
Conservatives Stunned by the
Brighton Miracle.
LOST TO THE LIBERALS
HEADMASTER OF ETON APPOINT
ED FROM MANY APPLICANTS.
Gossip Over the Kings Movements and
Domestic Events-King Alfonso's
Prospective Bride.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON, April 10, 1905.
The conservatives have been fairly stunned
by the miracle of Brighton. where the emf
nently safe seat held by Mr.. Gerald Loder
was lost to the liberals No two tories
can be met, however, who agree in their
forecast of its effects upon the prime min
lister and the subservient cabinet One has
informed me that he has cause to believe
Mr.. Balfour will be unmoved by the reverse
from his settled purpose to see the session
through. but admits that his party is thor
oughly demoraized, that Mr.. Balfour is
trlfilng with a great national trust, and
that it is impossible, in the light of the
historical analogies to comprehend on what
rational plea the government can now con-
unue in office. Another conservative, whose
chances of reading the inner mind of his
party are highly favorable, is cocksure that
the government will merely endeavor to
pass the budget and the aliens bill and then
dissolve before midsummer
Brighton, in short has had the effect of
political earthquake in conservative circles
here, and all hope for the near future of
the party is now abandoned. l hear no
good authority that the dissolution of par
Lament will take place at the end of June
at tit liIlSH VI the SOCIAL season 1t Will
suit the country best to have the general
election in July
There is doubt that the liberals will
be returned, an interesting event to Amer
lea, as it reegates the tariff reform question
in this country to the background for a
number of years more
Mr. Gerald Loder has provided another lit
tie embarrassment for the government
which does not quite know what to do with
him. AS a junior lord of the treasury,
which merely means a junior "whip' he
has no function to perform outside the
house of commons; and now that he is not
a member he has, of course, right of
entry to the house beyond the courtesy eX-
tended to ex-members. He is therefore, I'M
able to carry out the duties of his office and
IS described today, by a lobby jeu d 'esprit,
as the muzZled Loder'
The constitutional position is not easy TO
define. Logically and technically of course
he should resign his office. Inasmuch as a
member of the house, taking an office of
profit under the crown, is compelled to sub
init himself for reelection to the house,
either in his own constituency or in another,
any electoral rejection should ipso facto in
validate his appointment
Yet there are several precedents for a
minister holding Office while out of par
lament; although the nearest case to that
of Mr. Loder's in recent times is pre-
cedent against him. In 1883 Mr.. Greenfel,
then liberal. was appointed to the posi-
ton of parliamentary groom-in- waiting an
office now abolished. But when he sought
reelection at Salisbury, he was defeated
and then he resigned the Office. But even if
Mr. Loder resigns his appointment the
same difficulty will face the government, as
his successor will have to undergo the same
process. and inasmuch as Mr. Loder was
selected largely because Brighton was re-
garded as a safe seat, the government would
have to run the risk of enduring another
defeat through the possible rejection of his
successor. Still, that is a process to which
II is now pretty well Injured, and it should
not be forgotten that another minister the
solicitor general for Scotland. is still out
of parliament, as a result of the Buteshire
election a month ago. 1t is thought that
the government may decide to leave mat
tiers as they are" and deny itself the
effective use of the services of Mr. Loder
rather than risk another bye-electon