New-York tribune., 1907-08-02

ing mason, from Mr." William Crossman into
Sir" William. Crossman in the tW1nklng OF dh
eye. and without the slightest warning The LABOR
party at Cardiff is of the most advanced raolcai ~
type strongly socalistic. and with leanlngs toward
republicanism, and for the King 10 have suodeH4y
transformed its leader into knight constitutes d
coup on the part of the sovereign which has given
rise to certain amount of confusion IN It's rahfS
Some feel attered by this royal recognition OF the
labor party; others resent It. But, no matter now
they take it, the fact remains that II woulu ne
difficult for a who has just received a utle
from the sovereign to lead his followers any IuI-
ther IN the direction OF repucAcaI-Sii anu ~
preach socalistic war against the monarchy
a few months ago the King had John klrk OF
London Fresh Air Fund and Ragged Scnooi Union
celebrity, under the fat of sword blade and con-
verted into Sir John Kirk before that modest ana
retiring philanthropst knew what was happeflng'
and it is no secret that if Sir John had had the
slightest idea what in store for him when ne
summoned by the King to Buckingham Palace
TO receive he believed a subscription TO tne
Fresh Air Fund, his aversion TO titles ana MS moo
esty would have kept him away.
The knighthood of Sir William Crossman is not
the first distinction of the kind conferred upon
workingnan for three -eeks ago the King knight
ed William Randall Cremer, NJ. p. the peace
prCpa agandist. who is almost as well known III
America in England. Sir William Crerner was
originally workinsman and by trade a carpenter.
Indeed. he remains 10 this day member OF lLe
carpenters union.
1 notice that Keir Hardie and William Crooks
two of the labor members OF Parliament the one
miner and the other a cooper. We're present at
the royal garden party at Windsor at which Mark
Twain of the guests, but after the ex-
perience of Sir William Crossman at Cardiff 1t IS
doubtful whether they will consider it quite safe
10 attend any more functions at which the King
is present. He might take it into his head sud
denly to transform them into knights, and thereby
destroy their political future and their hold upon
their party before they could say or do a thing 10
avert the catastrophe
Let me in this connection recall the clever man
ner in which the King, while still Prince Of wales,
transformed the late Anthony Mundella- son "f n
Carbonar consprator. from red hot Republican
and adversary Of the crown into champion OF the
royal family. MundeIla at the time the ultrd-
radical Member Of Parliament for Sheffield one
day. while he at the railroad station there a
royal train arrived its way north, stopping
merely long enough TO change engines. On board
I the then heir apparent and his consort
s. melody notified the prince of Mundella's pres
euCe. At the prince who had never met him
before, sent for him. received him most gracouSly-
presented him TO the princess who treated him TO
Of her winning smiles. and then exclaimed:
II hear. my dear Mr.. Mundella, that you about
TO address your constituents this afternoon here
wish you would avail yourself OF the opportunity
TO convey the good people Of Sheffield the ex-
preston Of the charming remembrance which the
princess and myself retain of last visit 10 their
city and OF the magnificent welcome which they
accorded 10 I sorry that cannot
/ make a longer stay this present occasion but
We both looking forward to visiting Sheffield
again
That afternoon when Mundeua faced his con-
stftuents, instead Of treating them to Of his
customary red-hot diatribes against the reigning
/ house he naugurated hts speech with intima-
tion to the effect that ne had been commissioned
| by the Prince and Princess of Wales to convey 70
the people Of Sheffield the gracious message given
above. He delivered the message with JUNCTION and
manifest satisfaction and from that time forth his
animosity against the royal family at end
In fact, he died a Prlvy Councillor and one
Of the most loyal champions Of the retgnins