Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-25
SEARCH FOR A MOSES.
English Unionist Party Lacks
a Leader.
GENERAL ELECTIONCOMING
Joseph Chamberlain Still in Very
Poor Health.
MAY NEVER SEE THE COMMONS
Growth of the American Colony in
bassy the Center
of the "Smart Set"
MAY NEVER SEE THE COMMONS
Special Cablegram to The Star.


LONDON. October 25-Reports from
birmingham state that Joseph Chamber
lain's health is again forming the sub
ject of considerable speculation there in
relation to the possibility of his being
again seen in public life. The members
of the family continue to assert that the
Improvement in his health warrants the
expectation that he may return to the
house of commons. This, of course is
quite natural on their part, but in Biz
mingham no such expectation is enter
tanned. The fact that Mr.. Chamberlain
is never seen outside his own grounds, ex
cept when driving in the country very
occasionally. shows that he cannot have
regalned sufficient physical vigor to rem
der 1t likely that he can face the eXertion
of reappearing in the house of commons
next session. AS matter of act his
condition has been practically stationary
during the last two months AS at pres
ent arranged. he will leave Birmingham
when the severe weather sets in for
NaleScure to stay until the late spring.
Mr.. Jesse Ceilings, NJ. P. speaking in
Bordesley the other night, said he thought
it very likely there would be general
election next year The governm mt
would come back with a less majority
which would be to their advantage. Since
the retirement of Mr.. Chamberlain things
had not been going on we'll. He hoped
and believed. however Mr. Chamberlain
would come back again to give them the
benefit of his counsel and advice. fol
they needed it. To his mind the unionst
party was like men going through the
wilderness without a Moses. The young
members were chafng under the mac ton
to which they. We're condemned, They
had a leadership that created no enthusi-
asm. but rather damaged 1t. They had a
leadership hating between two opinions.
recognizing in an academic and half
hearted way the great item in Mr.
Chamberlain platform of tariff reform,
but the efforts they were putting forth to
further that policy, compared with what
those efforts ought to be. Were POOR and
puny. The younger memberS-wera dis
satisfied. and did not hesitate to express
their dissatisfaction. What he felt was
felt probably by the majority of the
house of commons.
Elevation of Austen.
1t is believed that Mr.. Ceilings speech
is intended to prepare the way for an at
tempt to supp!ant Mr. Balfour in the
leadership by Mr.. Austen Chamberlain
Mr.. Ceilings. in effect. admitted that Jo-
seph Chamberlain can never take part
again IN pubic meetings, and it is said
that the one object he now lives for is
TO hand over his mantle to his favorite
son. Mr.. Ceilings and his friends now
realize that they are losing ground every
day that they allow themselves to be
fooled by Mr.. Balfour. and a determined
effort is at last to he made to GUST him
from the leadership. The only chance of
continuing the Chamberlain succession is
by making the fight while Mr. Chamber
lain is himself there to direct it, for, once
he is out of the way, Mr.. Austen Cham
berlaln would sink to his proper level
There is no doubt that tariff reform ha.
firm hold on all the fighting elements in
the party and that If Austen Chamber
lain were capable of displaying any force
or initiative he could secure the deposit
ton of Mr.. BalfouT.
On the 18th of November the GeolopicaI
Society of London will have been in ex-
lstence for 100 years. and arrangements
have been made to hold a series of CEN
tenary celebrations Distinguished geolo-
glsts and representatives of other branches
of science are expected for the occasio
from all parts of the world, and Sir Arch
ibald Geikie, the president has promised
10 deliver an. address on the state of geol-
oSy at the time of the society's founda-
ton. This is Sir Archibald's second term
or office as president, and 1t is an inter-
esting circumstance that while the society
was established a century ago it Is lust
half century since Sir Archibald con-
tributed- his first paper to its proc ceilings
All along the aim of the society has been
to encourage practical work in the field
rather than SNOWY but baseless spacula
ton, and it still enjoys the reputation of
being one of the most severely techniCju
among the scientific societies. Any temp
tation to make its meetings of a popular
character is Sternly stunned, though more
than forty years ago a concession was
made to the extent of admit .ng ladies to
its meetings and in 1889 a motion to al
low ladies to become fellows was only mar
rowiy defeated. The decision had never
been reversed and only last May pro-
posal to institute a class of women asso-
ciates was negatived. On the whole. the
record of the society has been one of
steady growth and useful work. The orig
inal members were only thirteen in num-
Der, and the society was at first simply
a dining club. 1t speedily developed
more permanent character, however. and
after its Incorporation in 1875 the fellow
ships numbered nearly 100. At pres ant it
is little. if anything, short of LOO.
American Smart Set.
The American colony has become so i'm
portant an element in London that an
American directory has been issued, for
which it is expected there will be an ex-
tensive sale. The wealthy Americans have
now taken the place in London society
filled prior to the South African war by
the Rand magnates. Their money and
their enterprise and entertainments given
have opened the doors of what are con-
sidered the most exclusive sets to them
The American embassy, from being the
most democratic and least formal in Lon
don, has become under Mr. Whitelaw
Reid the rallying place of fashion and
center of "smartness.' This is very much
noticed by American visitors who do not
happen to belong to the Anglo-American
ultra fashionable set.
tn king, who can as far into a
brick wall as most people, fully realizes
the vital necessity of attracting American
0lillionaires to London to spend their dol
tars and some of his own most intimate
friends nowadays are Americans. This
has y come a subject of not wholly Xtvor-
al ,e comment by" English aspirants to
royal notice. WHOSE ancestors possibly
had been accustomed, a matter of
Course. to influence at court. One bearer
Of we l. known American name, a elan
of great wealth. is known as 1.-THE kings
shadow" not because he is always with
the king. but because he assiduously fol-
lows iim at home and abroad. and is
profoundly happy when some royal notice
) youcf saTcd him. But the millionaire
American women play a much more i'm
pOrtant part in the best society nova
ddNs than the ms Once they get n
iOctiEg they are well able to maintain It.
b cause nothing daunts them.