Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
CURzON HAS CONTEST
Lively Controversy Over EIec-
ton to Peerage.
THEPREMIER'S OPPOSITION
Strong Feeling Expressed in Present
Contention.
SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS
Opponents Ask Why Unionists Did
Not Take Care Of Him When He
Returned From India.
snecial cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablesram to The Star
LONDON. January 4.-Ever since the
reference of Lord Curzon to Prime Minis
ter Campbell Bannerman in his letter
announcing his candidacy for the vacancy
in the Irish oeerage in which the FORMER
yiceroy of India said he was deoarreo
from entering the house OF lords py the
refusal of the premier to allow him 10
take his place with all the other ex-Vlce-
rows of India u,on those benches, not
controversy has been raging about his
candidature for the vacancy. he Is
strongly supported by Lord Londonderry
and others. Lord Curzon may be consid-
cred sure of election, but not without a
contest Young Lord Farnham. who has
been nominated received several votes De-
fore Lord Curzon announced his candida
ture, and has refused to retire.
The controversy, in which very strong
feelings are being expressed, deals
chiefly with two points: Was the premier
justified in refusing Lord. Curzon an Eng
lish peerage. and is Curzon justi-
fled in using his great influence to
get seat in the house of lords as rep
resentative Irish peer? Both sides natur-
ally admit that Lord Curzon's ability,
achievements and services to the country
entitle him to the reward OF oeerage.
1t is chiefly on this that Sir Henry
mpbell-Bannermans critics rely when
sharging him with narrowmindedness in
refusing to recommend so distinguished
and worthy a political opponent for the
peerage, which has been we'll earned. The
supporters of the premier use more nu-
merous arguments.
Admit Curzon's Worth.
While admitting Lord Curzon's worth
f1,a, icf ,ov,t
appointed him viceroy and should have re.
warded him when he returned from India
NJ. Bs.!four was then the prime minister
OF course it is an open secret that LORD
Gu .Zon was then on bad terms with the
British CT pinet, which supported LORD
Kitchener in Tie conflict between nm and
the viceroy. Moreover Lord CurZon VIDA
at that time still DESTROYS of re-entering
the house of commons. to remain eligible
for which he had acceTted an Irish In
stead of an English peeTage when he was
appointed vlceroy.
Tim Healy in this connection complains
that Lord CurZCn's supporters are treating
the Irish p"ercge as If it were some OLD
pocket bore ugh or rotten corporation"
Point Against Curzon.
Another point urged against the candi-
dature of Lord Curzon as representative
Irish peer is the fac that Irish peers
under the act OF union elect twenty-eight
representatives to the house of lords. They
are elected for life. have no means of re-
signing, and are only removable for the
grayeat ctfenses. Therefore, when Lord
CurZon, on the death of his father. Lord
Sct;rSdale, who is now seVenty-Seven. be-
comes an English peer, he will still mo-
nopolize a place as one of Ireland's repre-
sentatives in the house of lords, though.
unlike the rest, he is not an Irishman with
np property or other interests in Ireland.
Lord Curzon's plea that the state of his
health dsbarS him from entering the house
of commons is undoubtedly bona tide, but
at the same time it cannot be disguised
that there are difficulties with his OWL
party in connection with his taking up
again a house of commons career. The
great question which is still dividing the
unionist party is tariff reform.
The rrotectionists are so strong that Mr.
Palfour still wobbles and Lord Curzon
at present Is regarded as practically a
free trader.