New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-30
LORD BRISTOL DEMANDS A VOTE.

Although a peer. sometimes with and sometimes
without the assistance OF a few Of his fellow mem
hers OF the House Of Lords, checkmate the
House OF Commons and arrest it's entire legis-
lative work, yet Il is beyond his power 10 vote
for the election Of single member OF that all-im-
portant body. This fact has just been once again
established by curious suit brought by the Mar
ous q Bristol against the vice-chancellor of che
University Of Cambridge for refusing TO permit
him 10 at the last election Of the representa-
lives or the university IN Parliament Lord Bris-
tol had. Il seems, been permitted on two or three
previous occasions 10 take part IN the parAa-
mentary elections Of the university. and, naturally
took exception 10 his exclusion by the Yice-chan-
cellor from the last contest
The marquis based his demands upon the fact
that he was a member OF the senate OF the Uni
versity Of Cambridge, that the election OF the
Universitys two representatives I'm Parliament vas
conhded 10 the senate, and that the mere fact OF
MS being & peer of the realm constituted no Oar
70 the fulalment Of his duties member OF the
senate He also pointed out that the Parma
rnentary representation OF the two great universe
ties OF Oxford and Cambridge had remained un-
affected and undsturbed by the various acts OF re
form and subsequent legislation on the subject OF
parliamentary franchise. He further urged mat
the disqualification of peers from voting in ordl-
nary borough and county elections to Parliament
was based not on any definite statute. but upoa a
mistaken decision OF Coke. and upon an annual
vote OF the House OF Commons. which has never
received the sanction OF the upper house OF the
crown His suit defeated, not on the strength
OF any definite law Of the land. but by reason OF a
decision granted some thirty years ago when the
late Lord Beauchamp sued Lord Salisbury as
chancellor Of the University OF Cambridge for re
fusing TO allow him to vote a member Of the
senate in a Parliamentary election
Lord Bristol has announced his intention TO ap-
peal the higher courts in tae case for the pur-
pose Of finally determining whether decision zen
dered, he says, by a judge hundreds Of years ago,
without due cause warrant, is 10 have statutory
value in determining important question as
the electoral franchise of citizen. may mention
that in 1922, in consequence of the Earl OF Man
chester having voted in election for Maiden. the
House Of Commons passed a resolution which has
been voted afresn each year since 10 the eiIeci
that NO peer Of this kingdom has any right IL
give his election Of any member 20 serve
IN the House OF Commons" While the marquis
may possibly be right in law. far his pre-
negatives a member OF the senate OF the Uni
Versity OF Cambridge concerned, and the court
81 final appeal may decide in his favor the ques-
ton Of Law, it is probable that in that event the
universities themselves would adopt steps 10
amend their bylaws in such fashion as 10 elm
possibility Of the voting by peers at the
elections of their representatives 10 Parliament
since il is obviously contrary to the spirit OF the
unvrFtten constitution Of England and likewise Op-
posed 10 popular sentiment just now so strongly
aroused against the House Of Lords.