Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-01

hension of the real "C-B'' that cloud
lived in close colleagueship with him.
Deceived by the bland manner. the in
disposition to assert himself, the reluc-
lance to give pain even where punish
ment was merited. they thought to
shelve the premier in the luxurious OBJ
security of the house OF lords. But ..CB'
was already translated. The silken glove
was off, flung aside. and behold the iron,
hand. He would not 60 to the house of
lords. The center Of power and iuflu-
ence was in the popular chamber. and
that was the proper place for Liberal
prime minister.
This was a surprise for cid colleagues
that almost took the breath away
They had speedy and full opportunity
of growing accustomed to it. The for
nation of a government out of party
that had been In the wilderness for ten
years bristled with difficulty. There
were remnants of former structure
naturally looking for reinstatement in
the new one. Other claims more or less
justitiable had grown up among the
rank and file of younger members.
Chs" business was to get together
ministry that would best serve the
state by carrying those social meas
ures TO which the Liberal party was
pledged.
Every one was surprised by the
| originality, not 10 say the audacity, of
some of the selections. To mention
only two there was MIR, Lloyd George,
in private business and status solic-
itOr in an obscure Welsh town. In the
house of commons he had distinguish
ed himself as a. brilliant debater not
| unworthy of the steel of Mr.. Balfour
or Mr.. Chamberlain. He must have
something and might have felt himself
we'll rewarded with an undersecretary-
ship or even lordship of the treas
ury. There was John Burns, in social
| position. day Iaborer. whose political
career was, among other things. mark
ed by the distinction of term spent
in jail, following disturbance of the
public peace In Trafalgar square.
| Elected to the house of commons, he
still wore bowler hat and a serge
suit. But he spoke effectively on top
| les within his personal ken, and for
government established by great
wave of democratic impulse it would
be a desirable >thing to have genuine
| workingman numbered in its ranks.
All things considered, an undersecre-
| taryship would be rather overwheEm-
ing for John Burns. A Junior post at
the treasury, with a salary Of fl 200 a
year, would be a generous guerdon.
.C-B" made Mr.. Lloyd George president
| of the board of trade and Mr.. John
ment board, both with seats in the
| Cabinet.
| That his kindly but keen eye knew
capable man when he saw him, dis
guised In whatsoever humble circum-
stances, has been proved by the sue
cess of these two appointments. In
the case of Mr.. Lloyd-George 1t has
perhaps exceeded any other achieved
by colleagues in an exceptionally ca
pable administration.
Had "C-B' yielded to the gentle pres
sure put upon him on his accession to
the premiership and sought the leisure
| Of the house Of lords he might have
still been among us, hale and hearty,
with the prospect Of an aftermath OF
dignifed rest Had he been personally
Inclined to take that step there was an
objection to him insuperable. Lady
Campbell Bannerman was strongly OPP
posed to his retirement from the fight
ing line Of the house OF commons. and
] to him her wishes METEOROLOGICAL law.