New-York tribune., 1907-06-09
EEGLISHLAND REFORMS
i Frc1lc Measure for Roofing
Hodgc in the Soil.
London. Nav %.


,-- Cha1nha~lain's substitute for Gladstonlan
Home Tae. it has found inspiration In the
...scF gray head Of Mr.. Jesse Ceilings and taken
ITO land reform rs the principal work Of a vast
OIL session Unwilling to admit that the results
NJ 1--.s Trade have been disastrous 10 agricuIt-
-rar industries, il has assumed that the land
-s. ~ fault IN driving small occupicrs
.,. ..arere from the villages into the manu-
.....r. e towns. The more natural explanation
O. rrz .~..aus sh-inkage of rural population
t--r-- Il .a- been starved out by foreign COM
-s-.-.r- and las lott the land because there
seemed -a f- q chance for C. better livelihood in
,.. towns Tariff rcforners Ike Mr.. Chaplin
gro ~.r.~a-r- vE5u thcy tell the plain truth
.r.-- ..-r.-.rs---. and Free Traders are reduced
o. tie necessity ~ attacking landlords as tho
-s-< enemies NJ tho agricultural! classes. If the
land system has noeu tie Toot Of tho evil. why
has --s-a -..- been some substantial improve
--e--a F.-r parties have made attempts t. re-
r--- Il hv onactlnE holdings and allotment
r.-e SET in spite Of all that has been done in
LEGISLATION tra number Of small holdings has
steadily declined. The Liberal ministers have
Their answer ready Legislation has failed be
cause il has been grounded ON the voluntary
--.-..-.a Let tr be made compulsory and the
results r.I ae transformed, Arm the local au-
+rr-#-.es rs-h power 10 compel land owners 10
lease and ssL their property and the unem-
r-yeE e+.I 20 back to the land.
T. has l.eu reserved for the son Of an oldtima
v-r-r IN proclaim the new doctrine that force
ls d remedy Nj Harcourt has faith in It as
ta-.-r He does not anticipate that compul-
sion a.- often be employed. The fact that land
owners can he forced 70 let or sell their land
-.G ae a wholesome stimulus. and they viii wei
come The privilege OF doing a public duty. Mr..
Izarr7--t reasons effectively from his own eXpc-
- of
estate inherited from his father under strict
entail and settlement. and he is under obllga-
tin ~ keep tne property together for the ulrI-
mate ~e-.aiular-uan. who is a distant relation.
He Is ~ once his fathers heir and trustee Tor
HIS ov-n successor. and he shTinks from volun-
ta-y ar~ar Eeu-ents which VIII diminish his hold
tnez Le- the idea Of compulson be read into
the statutes and his obligations to his successor
vii ne IEhteue5. He viii be glad 70 do of his
own accord what he may be forced To do by the
local authorities. lIr. Hareourts own expert
erea IS land owner is not 50 broad as human
nature. The compulsory element may attract 50
gr-5 ua---e5 q squire who wants serviceahIe
excuse for diminishing the possessions Of the
ultimate POOR relation entitled to the full re-
rratn-er- but = IS likely -epel ordinary land
lords Human nature being Il is. there ara
te-~ land owners who like 70 be forced to let
seu portions Of their estates. Mr. Harcourt
might aS well argue that heirs succeeding 70 es-
tatez welcome the death and estate duties which
they are compelled n pay into the Treasury.
.r- Jesse Ceilings. whose three acres and a
COW have marked the goal # poor Hodges am
hi-i-r r-r many a year. has no faith IN comQul-
sor -l-- there IS a choice between letting and
selling lard He ridfcu-e= the idea that the sur
plus population ~ the towns can be drawn back
n tle land as tenants with azry Of tenure de-
pendent ur0u The good nature of public bodies.
Ee den. les that The small holding movement has
ever made any progress fl Ireland. Germany or
any other country bv means OF tenancies. The
co7-------~ element lo IS well assured will Ne
failure respecting -erancies; and It s. not like
lv To 81 -.eI IN multiplying the number q peas
ar- -.---.--et-rs when the conditions viii not
enable IN Impoverished class 70 lay down a fifth
RI -r... purchase money. Ry promoting compu!-
soy .s--..- ana d.saa~d.aE the principle Of own
e-sh.- -.. government I'll N1r. C0llings's judg-
-rer- IS going in the face OF the experience Of
ever European country. only as owners Of
seIf-~--.-.s.red holdings 70 1e paid for by small
Instruments spread over long period can the
lzhc-a-z he brought back 20 The land, and the
terms or purchase under the proposed measure
are TOO hard 10 tempt thou. even Il the local au-
trr-f-t-z are 20 be armed with compulsory
powers
when political economy comes 70 be regarded
as taa science Of human nature such legislative
srEe-ra- rs This viii be dismissed by ministers
and ra--.arnent- as irupract'cable. The move
yrer- r-o-. country 70 town ir England received
its first impulse when agriculture became un-
rr.e--.-- under stress 0f foreign competition,
e~- &. ACQUIRED increased power through the su-
Ia-a- attractions # urban life Human nature
has .-e--a-e5 il from beginning 70 end, and
Parliamentary Interference VIII be hopeless 50
long As men and women of the working class
prefer Tho -f-- sluus 20 the green fields and
ra-g.=- villages. II they are starved out Of the
towns -sa-h s~arrling crowds in the streets.
srarr--s # music hail melodies in the air and
ha.frerr- ehockets at the corners, they may
return n the rtllagcs. but not unless houses as
we. as small farms are offered 10 them and
there j. q reasonable chance Of their earning a
living aE farm work. The government measure
Goes ror provide for the rehousing of the Unem-
I.g-e5 C-rr. the towns and there is no promise
Il any alteration IN the tariff system hy which
agriculture may be made more profitable. Mr.
Ea--1 n would be q credlous optrnst Il he we're
70 forecast the return 20 the land OF any cousid-
erab.e proDortiou Of those who have become ac-
cus-orae6 70 the noise. excitement and pleasures
ot town lCe He does not expect 10 empty the
s,ums back into the villages. His motive IS less
Trerea-.ous ~ we can ax upon the land he
remarks. those who are now living on It or
near Il. IL ve can provide a career for those
about 20 be born upon it. we should feel that
lalat on such o measure was well bestowed"
What q pit.ful summary Of the scope Of the
main measure of the session, u is q device for
roofing the remnant Of the depleted and impov-
er-sAed agricultural population In the land and
net Tor draining off the unemployed surplus
from The towns where physical degeneration has