New-York tribune., 1908-04-06
PREMIER QUITS OFFICE
Continued from flrst page.

complained that Ireland being governed by
Scottish jokes. and Heay's colleagues complained
tlat they could make impression the Scot
tsh Sandbag.''
he game more prominently before the public eye
"hen he took office as Secretary for War in Gad-
stones last government His great administrative
ieat was to persuade the Duke of Cambridge
resign the post of commander chief the army.
The duke was extremely reluctant TO retire, but
ne yielded to the War Minister'S tactful pressure
and resigned Four hours after the formalIties had
been completed and the necessary documents signed
the Liberal government defe on the co1lite
vote, and resigned. The duke then wished to
tract MS decision. but 1t too late.
long period of depression for the - beraIs 1o-
lowed. and Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman. who
aau assumed his uncles name OF Bannerman, had
trying time in Keeping clear OF the
rents which ultimately led to Sir William Vernon
Harcourt's resignation of the leadership of the
party. which was badly disunitad. There Lot
moments doubt who was to succeed, and
b. & unanimous vote CT the party Sir Henry
'anlpbeli-Bannerman was chosen, in February,
1898 to be its leader. He the only possible
selection, for he was the only prominent member
o. the party who had broken with neither section
Stl more troublous times in store for the
Liberals with the beginning OF the Boer war, which
made the bitterness between the Inperiast and the
Radical groups more than ever. It i'm
possible TO conceal the party differences both
sections openly attacked one another. but the diff
cultes of the position gave the new leader his op-
portun1ty. less resolute would have thrown
up the task in despair but he stuck his post.
ever watching for occasion to lead a tempo
faruy united party against the government. RE
was bitterly and savagely attacked but he
iosI MS mead under the greatest provocatou. and
! In the face OF the biting criticism of Mr. Chamber
! IAN he maintained his seIf-restraint
! II was not until two years later that chance
( remark by MT Chamberlain in the House gave him
an opportunity to refer in detail to conversation
which had passed between him and Mr. Chamber
IAN before the war. From this conversation it was
'ear that Mr Chamberlain had not anticipated
war ana had been ''bufT1ng' and the fact that
! with this damaging weapon in his armorv Sir
! lleli'Y campbell Zimmerman had refrained from
any preach of personal confidence while sn1artirc
uhder the most stinging attacks greatly raised him
in the estimation OF the House
AS the memories of the war died down and fresh
issues came to the front the friction in the partv
grew less noticeable and the Front Onnosttior.
behch no longer showed the extraordinary spec
tace OF three or four representatives Of one sec
l'on al one end with as many more Of the other
section at the other end, and Sir Henry Campbell
bahnerman sitting in the middle as a buffer But
all the differences were not vet healed and even
me approach to power had not completely recon
cIled the various leaders. 1t was reserved for an
outsider to bring the members Of the present
Cabinet together
George Armstead former liberal ,nen,bar fo-
Dundee, who is known one of Gladstones closest
friends. had often played the part of recon
ciier, but never befse with such success He is a
months before the general election he gave din
ner party. The guests limited in number but
they were important, for they Sir Henry
Campbell -Bannerman, Lloyd George John Morley
Mr BirrelL Mr.. Asquith. Sir Edward Grey and NJ.
Haldane, all members Of the present Cabinet
Around the dinner table the membership of the
future Cabinet and its policy decided but it
was not without difficulty that a complete under
standing was reached and auity restored. Indeed /
it Mr.. Birrell Who largely contributed to the
hor raS1llt
rersationasts OF the day and he used his gifts or
that moIable ever ing to the best effect He ra
lied both the 4beralImperialists and their rivals
in his brightest style and neither side could with
stand his irresistible fascination. Finally har-
mouy completely established. and when some
months later the KLS sent for Sir Henry camp
bell Bannerman the latter able to assure his
majesty that he could form strong and united /
Cabinet. He became Prime Minister DecerI- /
ber. $50.
Office gave him additional strength and frmness /
and the way in which he controlled and swayed /
MS huge majority impressed all parlamentarans /
so that there was no longer tendency TO under
rate his ability. He quickly established himself in /
the affections OF the House of Commons and /
the expression Of his wish counted for more than /
the most strongly wordad whip" The response /
bility OF high ofEce iE way damped his good /
spirits and his play Of humor His replies in the (
course Of the question hour. which feature OF /
the British Parliament, always eagerly /
awaited with the assurance that he would say
some good thing He seldom dsa ppointed the /
House. He evaded awkward inquiries with skill /
and good humor which charmed all parties Sell /
dom there any note personal bitterness be /
tween him and nis political opponents. but it was
remarked that in the early DAYS of the present /
Parliament there obvious signs of strained re
lstions between him and Mr.. Balfour
Whatever va the cause Of that personal es
trangement-and it ascribed 10 some incident
connected with the resignation Of the late govern
n1ent-tt vas somehow removed and last session
raCie uzs yI-i+r
Minister sitting the front Opposition bench
chatting in the friendly and animated vav
with the leader Of tn Opposition. When il was
intimated at the beginning of this session that no
prolonged daily attendance was to be expected Of
the Premier on account of his health M Baifour
was the first to give assurance that the Op-
position would do nothing to render the position
more embarrassing than it already
Sir Henry Campbell Banuerman made no nre
tensions to oratory and he was not a ready de-.
batter. but when he had time for preparation he
could make excellent speech. happily phrasA5
and with damaging though nearly always good
humored hts at his adversaries Nothing was
more remarkable than the way in which he gauged
the temper of the house From the first he
realized the changed spirit and dealt diplomaticany
with the mixed and strenuous factions which fol-
lowed him He commanded the affection of the
Labor party II not its adherence. If his followers
made any complaint it was that he was too kind
hearted and inclined to take a rather sentimental
view of social problems. Unlike many statesmen
OF his years, he was ready welcome youthful
talent, and the younger members of the admins
tration found in him support and encoura cement
He took a fatherly pride in his proteges He
listened Winston Churchill beamineIy and when
the Under Secretary took his seat after speech
rewarded him by a paternaI pat on the back
on ceremonial occasions the Premier rose TO the
height of his task. and his last speech in moving
the resolution OF coincidence with the Portuguese
royal family model of its kind
II historians do not call Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-