Evening star., 1907-09-01
ITS FIRST PARLIAMENT
GOSSIP OVER LEGISLATURE Fob
THE TRANsvAAL.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star
BLOEMFONTEIN, August S1-Thoughi
the elections are not likely to be held be,i
fore the second week in November It is !
possible to form some idea OF the compose
ton of the first parliament. In this colony
there is of course, question of British-
born majority.
The constitutional party, led by Sir John
George Fraser, embraces most OF the immi- !
grant Englishmen and supports in general
the policy pursued by the British adminis-
tration since the war, but includes a large
proportion drawn from the moderate Sec
ton Of the older population, and evidently
is viewed with considerable favor by the
Dutch Church, of which Sir J. G. Fraser
has always been a stout champion. That
this party by itself, however, should win
sufficient seats to form a ministry is re-
garded as quite out of the question, even by !
its own members.
Beyond four seats in Bloemfontein town
and fair prospects in one or two grouped
urban constituencies. the chances of the !
Fraser party proper are everywhere exceeds
ingly doubtful The party's only conceiv-
able hope of office lies in adherence to It
after the elections of number of inde-
pendents, of whom large body are already
in the field. The absence of any very dis
tinctive line of cleavage in the candidates OF
this class will certainly be more effective
than in the Transvaal, where the complete
wiping out of the independents was one of
the most notable features of the election.
Such men Mr.. Burns Thompson of Har-
rismith likely to be unopposed by either
party, and, though they refuse to declare
themselves constitutionalists at present,
they would naturally incline to Sir j. q.
FraSers side In parliament.
Candidates in Excess of Seats.
The Orangia Cnie. corresponding to Iet
Volk in the Transvaal and embracing the
solid mass Of the Boer population, is under
~ l1a1 t., % NJ III,
is unquestionably the strongest party in
Orange river politics today. Its candidates
already far In excess of the number OF
seats. and In some cases as many rs five
or six are in the field for one constituency.
Though the discipline of the party is not
comparable to that OF the Transvaal Beers,
no one who knows the character OF the peO-
pie suppose that they will risk any
thing by splitting votes. Before the cleo
tions the local committees will in every case
whittle down the candidates to two, while
the head committee will decide between
these two wherever a candidate belonging
to another party appears on the scene.
Seeing that unie government is probably
inevitable. It is some satisfaction TO find
that the official candidates on the whole
represent the least violent section of par
ty the public utterances Of which have nat
urally given rise to gloomy foreboiings of
radical animosity and retrogressive policy.
The influence of Mr. Steyn. who is the high
priest OF the irreconcilables. is clearly on
the wane. The bulk of the people have
I hardy forgiven him for plunging the coun-
| try into war. Even the active leaders OF
the unie and their organ, the Bloemfontein
Friend have lately adopted a muca moro
moderate tone. 1t is admitted by all but
the extreme nationasts that the period of
| crown rule with its sound finance, eXten-
! sion OF railways, prosecution of public
| works incessant struggle with stock dis
| eases and progressive policy in agriculture,
has been an unmitigated blessing to the
| country while the personal popularity OF
Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams with the farm
| ers has done much to wear down the initial
prejudice against these innovations.
| Whatever happens at the elections the
| work of Lord Milner and his lieutenants in
this colony hardly be altogether un-
| done.