Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-15
SMALLER TOWNS ARE FINDING FAVOR
Bryce Would Have People Move to Places
Not So Large,
"RoTTEN BORoUeHs," ARE UNDER FIRE
Since Losing Power Tories See Reason for
Revising Representation.
REGIMENT OF ROUGH RIDERS SUGGESTED
Friends OF Stronger British Army
would Have Volunteer OrEani-
zatiOn Of Men Experienced
In Frontier warfare.

LONDON. April 1i-(Special Cablegrain
to The Bee Fear has been expressed thu.
there Is "a slight danger that with the
excellent movement in favor Of garden cities
and tho back to the soir program should
come some impractlcablo ideas. Even Mr.
Bryce, a practical statesman. at a confer
encc recently. expressed the idea that now
centers OF population of say 10000 TO Gooo0
or 1O0Oo ought to be developed for the prr-
pose Of checking the growth toward tho
metropolis. It has been pointed out in
reply TO Mr.. Bryce and some statesmen
not quito So practical that II is the very
bigncss Of the metropolis that attracts and
that there are thousands who would fu,l
the smaller cities as wol rs the rural dis
tricts intoleraby dull Whether this dis
position of hocklng to tho cities can in any
measure bo corrected by the cry Of back
to tho land" or back to the town" re-
mains to be seem But 1t has been pointed
out that it is not likely to be corrected If
political writer's and thinkers regard the
sizo of the great modern cities as matters
Of accident, which can be corrected at will
or at pleasure.
The agitation for change I'm tho system
OF represe ntation is because Of the fact that
every
Commons represents on an average 1895
votes, while each ministerialist represents
an average OF only 711s Though there was
"a decided liberal majority, even on the
popular figures no such showing this
would be made n the present system did
not have many inequalities. But the most
remarkable thing In connection with the
agitation for a more perfect system OF
minority representation is that the radicals
are opposing a change, while the liberals
are contending for the idea of a change.
Heretofore in the history Of the United
Kingdom almost always and ever has the
reverse Of this proposition been true. From
the days OF the rotten boroughs," which
the wings accused the tories of planning
by what in American would practically be
called gerrymandering. down to the last
session Of Parliament. it is the liberal forces
which have been obliged to fight FOR in
creased representation Tor minofities. IL Is
admitted by all parties that something
should be accomplished in working out
practical reforms.
Attitude of COnserFstIves.
1t viii be remembered that something
was attempted by the Balfour ministry in
this direction, just as It was riding for a
fall But the liberals naturally imagined
taken by Mr. Balfour and his associates
would naturally be unfavorable TO them.
Hence they fought all ideas in that direc-
tion bitterly during the closing hours of
the dying Parliament. And after that the
downpour. Not even the most enthusiastic
liberal six months ago could have imagined
such fall OF the conservatives and a COM
plete right about face Of all parties in the
matter of minority representation. Things
have indeed come to "A pretty pass in
Merrie England when the conservatives are
accusing the liberals, nationalists and labor
ties of dealing in rotten boroughs."
Army reforms will not come by mere talk.
But there has been decided Improvement
in the situation far as the army is con-
cerned during the past few months. 1t is
another Of those ironies of fate that to the
liberals, supposed to be the ancient and
time-honored foe of militarism, should come
the privilege of fostering some OF the
greatest improvements in the army pro-
posed I'm years and that the conservatives
should be found In the opposition for nc
other reason than that they are "agin the
government" During the recent discus
sions on the army estimates good ideas
have been expounded by Mr.. Haldane, Mr.
Balfour and Sir Charles Dixie and IL they
did not agree there was at least a very
cheering approximation TO agreement Mr.
Haldrane and Mr.. Balfour. for example, are
practically as one In regard TO the genera
method by which expansion OF our military
forces Is to be obtained. The reason why
this and other approximations 10 agree
rnent are cheering may be diseerned IN thu
y dominant Idea OF Mr. Haldane's speech. AT
essential OF army reform is a concordan
OF the two great parties about military
policy. It is contended that the day o.
unionist action and liberal reaction is gone
Mr.. Haldane wants 20 procure the assen
OF the present opposition as well as OF tn,
ministerial party TO the scheme that Il
simmerng in his mind. The old lbera
practice was 20 allot a fixed sum to tn,
soldiers and tell them to make the bes
Of IT, That is not Mr. HaIdane's practice
before the general election the prime minis
ter formally absolved him from the neces
sity Of making It his theory But tn
theory survives I'm the liberal and ,labo
parties and It takes the form Of peremp
tory insistence upon reduction Of tn
army budget
Rough Riders for Britain.
II has been seriously opposed TO form a.
Imperial legion, army Of scouts. some
thing after the fashion OF the rough ride
regiment organized by Theodore Roosevelt
upon the outpfeah OF the opdhlsh-Amerlca
war. In this imperial legion or army o
scouts. as in the rough rider regiment. Il /
proposed every member will be selecte
because he has done something OF
capable Of doing something The oficia
designation OF the Organization. Il is sale
will be sfrontlersmen,' since Il win includ
men trained and qualified BY previous CON
pleted military service or by working fight
Ing huting IN Wild countries, or at ses
who do not or cannot serve in the existin
military forces Of the empire. and VII
are not prepared by reason " vocation d
temperament to submit themselves 10 IN
ordinary military discipline, save in Sim
OF war
Though. OF course, the fronuersmen d
not expect 10 be on the pay rolls of n
British army service-they are too ps
triotie for that-they do hope and expe,