The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-04-24

VINO Will not deeply de.
,plore that this consistent, brave, hon
orable friend of Ireland has been TAX
EN- from the arena of public life.
Sketch Of Life.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was
born September z, 1886. He was the
youngest son of the late Sir James
Campbell Of stracathro Forfarskire.
for some time lord provost of Glasgow.
He assumed the additional name in
der the will Of his paternal uncle, the
1ate Henry Bannerman Of Hunton
Court, Kent, who bequeathed to him a
large estate. He attended Glasgow
university and Trinity college. He
married Charlotte, daughter of Major
Charles Bruce. She died in 1906, and
from that time Sir Henry's decline in
health may be dated.
He was chosen leader Of the lib
erals in succession to Sir William
Harcourt in February, 1899. The
Boer war proved a stumbling block to
the administration, but nothwithstand-
ing the differences between liberal i'm
perialists and other liberals over this
question, a unanimous vote Of conf
dence in his leadership was carried at
a meeting Of the liberal party held at
the Reform club in July, 1901.
clashed With Roseberry.
In 1902 a passage of words took
place between him and Lord Rose
berry over the doctrine of the "Clean
State" of the Irish question and other
public questions, and the liberal party
was formed. Sir Henry received the
support of the liberal party of the
house. On the resignation OF the Bal
four administration in 1905, Sir Henry
was summoned by the king and
formed a liberal cabinet, himself be
coming first lord of the treasury and
prime minister.
The general election followed and
Sir Henry entered the new parliament
with the greatest majority eve given
to a British premier.
It was prophesied at that time that
the incoming Of the new party into
power would make a complete upset.
ting of the old order of things; that
the liberal government was in power
for at least its full term under the
%septennial act, and that within the
next six years new flames would be
made and new statesmen would ap-
pear.
But wits his passing the forces
which he held together as a party, ap-
pear also to be approaching dissolu.
ton, unless by some strong act the
new premier, Mr.. Asquith, a weld
and hold together the various factions.
Recent by-elections have resulted in
the defeat Of the liberal candidates on
every hand and no liberal seats are
regarded as too safe at the present
time, a matter that has been given
consideration in view of the recon
struction of the cabinet and the neces.
sity of holding further b%y-elections In
case certain changes are made.
The Educational Bill.
Among the most important meas
lures of the liberal government brought
before the parliament in 1906 was the
educational bill, but the house OF
lords gave it is death blow by adopt
ing amendment which the house OF
commons could not consider. The pre-.
mier withdrew the measure on De-
cember 20 Of that year IN Z memorable
speech in which he repudiated claims
Of peers to dictate to commons, add.
ing:
SIT may be necessary to submit for
the moment, but neither the resources
of the British constitution, nor the
house Of commons ART yet wholly ex'
hausted and means must and shall be
found whereby the will of the people
expressed through their elected repre-
sentatives to the house of commons
can be made to prevail"
Almost Immediately after followed
efforts on the part Of the government
to check the power of the house 81
lords and on July "a, 1907, the pre-
mier himself moved:
"That, in order to give effect to the
will Of the people, as expected by
their elected representatives, it ii
necessary that the power of the othel
house to alter or reject bills passed
by this house should be so restrict
ed by laws as to secure that within
the limits Of a single parliament thu
final decision of the commons shall
prevail"
Eventually it was decided to ap
point a select committee to considel
and report upon. the Suggestion
which have from time to time beer
made to increase the efficiency o
I the house in matters of legislation !,