Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-30
NEW HEAD OF BRITISH NAVY
Fighting Politician of the House Of
Commons Made First Lord OF
the Admiralty.

LONDON. Aug. 2s.-It Is no secret that
Reginald McKeuna, who was president OF
the Board OF Education In the Campbell
Bannerman ministry, has been promoted
TO the post of first lord Of The admiralty
to get him out Of the way. Not that this
strenuous son Of an Irish father Is an
undesirable colleague in the eyes Of the
new prime minister; on the contrary
he is looked upon, and with good reason,
as one Of the conspicuous successes Of the
late government. But he is a born fighter.
He does not know what the word com
promise means. and these are days when
the spirit of compromise is very much
needed In the department which Mr.. Nc
Kenna has Just vacated. The new edu.
cation bill, which he brought into Parlia-
ment. has aroused no end Of antagonism
In many quarters and It has been evident
for some time that il were best for the
government to meet the objectors at least
half way. Mr.. McKenna was obviously
not the man TO hold out the olive branch;
he was for fighting it out to the last ditch.
So he was conveniently shifted. In
eidentally his wages were raised from
$4,000 to $22 $50 a year. and he has just
been married on the strength of his ad-
vance.
in bis new position Mr.. McKeuna will
have plenty Of opportunities for putting his
fighting qualities OF mind into play. For
some time past a large element in England
has bemoaned the weakness of character
OF the retiring Lord Tweedmouth and have
sighed for a successor strong enough to
give battle to the very active opponents
OF the governments naval policy.
Mr.. MeKepna's first jump into fame was
an n p1aunorahIa nnnoefnp q, IonA xyb,.,
as an unknown, he arose in the House OF
Commons and crossed swords with Austen
Chamberlain, then chancellor OF, the
exoheduer. 1t was all due to a duty on
stripped tobacco, which the son of the
great proteotionist had introduced into the
budget. The young MoKenna attacked the
without mercy and without
gloves, The. affair created a mild sensa-
ton and to save the day, Mr.. Balfour,
then prime minister. was compelled TO turn
his oratorlcal battery upon the daring
young member. McKenna was not slow
to follow up the advantage he had thus
won, and before the unionist government
went out of power he had established a
reputation as an expert in financial mat
tiers.
When the liberals succeeded to power his
reward was the office of financial secre-
tary TO the treasury. A little later when
Mr., Bryce, who was then secretary for
Ireland, went to the United States as am
bassador and Mr., Birrell was promoted to
the post which the diplomat vacated, Nc
Kenna was raised to full cabinet rank as
president OF the Board of Education. This
after only twelve years Of parliamentary
life and at the unusually youthful age of
40 years.
In his school days the new lord Of the
admiralty was a famous athlete. He was
educated at Kings college. London, and
Trinity hall, Cambridge. At the latter in
s%titution besides winning a scholarship and
high honors at mathematics, he was bow
oar In the university eight and winner of
the Grand and Stewards cups at Henley.
9 He has always been a rigid selfdiscip-
When a youth he was troubled
a slight stammer. For years he read
aloud for an hour every day and today
the stammer never troubles him unless he
Is deeply moved. He keeps up his rowing
even to this day, despite the press of pub
lie duties and he may be seen any Sunday
on the Thames in the vicinity of
taking this form of exercise with
a vigor and enthusiasm that would do
credit to a candidate for a university crew.