Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-29
LABOR PARTY GROWS
British Interested in Austria
|ian Departure.
TRADE MINISTRY FORMED
House Of Lords to Fight the Licens-
ing Bill.
GOVERNMENT TO TAKE RISK
London View Of Count Bernstorff.
Britain's Interest in Opium
Commission.
Special Correspondents Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON, November Is. 1908.
The announcement that labor ministry
has been formed under Mr.. Fisher In
Australia causes immense interest In Lon
don. where the labor members in paria-
ment are becoming each year stronger
The career Of the new venture will be
watched with some anxiety.
According to some shrewd observers OF
Australian politics the commonwealth is
on its trial. There have been no fewer
than FIVE different administrations in the
eight years since the states were feder-
ated In 1901. And now Mr.. Alfred Deak-
in, Australia's ablest statesman and most
brilliant orator, has BEEN compelled to
| resign by losing the Indispensable sup
port of the labor members.
Mr.. Deakn was we'll forward with
many schemes of expansion in the three
d departments Of customs, defense and the
post Office. Which the commonwealth took
over from the six federated states. He
had established successfully a new tar1T,
from which an elastic rev nue. was COM
Ing to him, to he invested In raising
| citizen army, in building ships for local
| feet and In granting bonuses for stimu-
| ius to young industries. Mr.. Deak!n's
resignation Is considered unfortunate both
| for Australia and for Australian business
| in this country.
| Out of the seventy-flve paid members
| of the commonwealth house Of represent
atives-each receives G6OO a year-four
parties or sections have grown up. Nu-
merically the greatest strength belongs to
years Mr.. Deakin's ministry has been at
the mercy of the labor voter in the house.
While supporting a protectionist tariff
the labor members were determined at
the same time to prevent tha worke s and
the consumers alike from suffering under
1t. the workers being exposed to the dan
ger of inadequate wag g, and the consum-
ers to that Of artificially enhanced prices.
They mean to have a scheme Of protec-
ton which shall go round. On this &C
count they have broken with Mr.. D akin
over his bonus bill for manufacturers.
and now all eyes will watch to see what
Mr.. Watson and Mr.. Fisher. the two lead
ers. who are the John Burns and the K ir
Har1ie Of Australian politics. will make
Of complicated and critical situation in
colonial politics.
License Bill Opposed.
Lord Transformers speech at the Consti-
tutional Club IL taken as a sign that the
house Of lords intends to throw out the
licensing bill. 1 heard that there has
been q consultation between Mr. Bal.our
and Lord Lansdowne on the tactics that
should be pursued. and that Mr.. Balfour
has strongly urged Lord Lansdowne to
| show an incorporating front to the bill.
Liberals hope for much from the bishops,
who are said to be keen supporters of the
measure. but from what hear not a few
of the bishops have been persuaded by
Lord Lansdowne and others to take no
active part in the debate. and Mr. Bal
- thn or1f$ hono 90
interference in matters of finance which
1t does not understand has been taken to
mean that the opposition leaders In the
lords intend to override the bishops.
Lord Lansdownes speech. with its
claim that a license is as much freehold
as any other form Of property. seems to
suggest that the lords mean to oppose any
time limit At any rate. 1t Is reported in
we'll informed circles In the lobby that
the bill is as good as dead, and while
liberals protest that the opposition make
most unfair use Of the house Of lords
1t Is, nevertheless, certain that nothing
will be done when the mangled remains
o. the bill are sent back to the commons.
the country. The government will fall
back on a high license duty.
1t may, however, safely be asserted that
In spite of all the odium that it has in
ment will risk further loss Of popular
ity In raising the price of beer and spirits
Mr.. Lloyd George has already prepared a
scale Of license duties. which he intends
to introduce next year If the licensing
measure is rejected. And can state on
the very best authority that this scale is
one which will cause an even greater out
cry from the trade than the licensing bill.
Count Bernstorff's Transfer.
ington. Count Bernstorff. who. a little
fu-o $rop
from London to Cairo will be all the more
acceptable at Washington. seeing that.
like the late German ambassador there.
Baron speck Won sternburg. his wife is
an American lady. to whom he was mar
ried, by the way. in the English Church
of st. George at Berlin.
He himself was born and received his
first education in London, where his
father was Prussian minister from 1857
to 1871, with years interval. during
which he acted as foreign minister at Ber-
lin before the accession of Bismarck to
power. 1t was he who communicated to
the Times the famous Benedict treaty on
the eve Of the Franco-German war.
The Bernstorffs a very old Hano-
verian family with pronounced English
sympath.es, like most Of the aristocracy
in the Guelph kingdom. and one of their
number rose to high political power in
Denmark as contemporary of that other
court Struensee. 1t was this Bernstorff
who gave his name to the village and
castle near Copenhagen. where Queen AL
exandra spent much Of her girlhood.
Prince Olaf of Norway, am told by one
who saw him during the weekend, .
greatly enjoying his English visit. He
disconnected greatly tall policeman who
Is on duty outside the gates Of Sandring-
ham house by insisting on shak ng hands
with him. The situation must have been
funny. for the man Is feet inches In
height. and he had to bend himself double
to reach the hand of the princeling. He
IS greatly interested in Prince John of
Wales, and is teaching him how to &C
knowledge salutes. Queen Maud sends
him over daily to York cottage to play
with the children Of the Prince Of Wales
and he enjoys himself immensely. He is
an active little chap and refuses to ride
in his mailcart unless he is very tired
Usually he pushes 1t himself In his daily
walk from Appleton house to Sandring-
ham to see his grandfather and grand
mother.