The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-23

William Hareeurt in February, 1899
The Boer war proved a stumbling
block to the administration, but not
withstanding the differences between
liberal imperialists and other liberals
over this question, a unanimous vote
of confidence in his leadership was car
ried at meeting of the liberal party
held at the Reform club in July, 1901
In 1902 a passage of words took place
between him and Lord Rosebery over
the doctrine of the clean slate" of the
Irish question and other public ques-
tons, and the Liberal league was
formed. Sir Henry again received the
solid support of the liberal party of
the house. On the resignation of the
Balfour administration in December,
1905. Sir Henry was summoned by the
king and formed a liberal abinet, him
self becoming first lord of the treasury
and prime minister.
Sustained by the Country.
The general election followed and Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman entered
the new parliament with the greatest
majority ever given to a British pre-
mier
1t 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 names would be made
and new statesmen would appear. But
with his passing the forces which he
held together as a party appear also
to be approaching dissolution, unless
by some strong act the new premier.
Mr. ASquith, can weld and hold to-
gether the various factions that are
striving for one particular object in the
house of commons. Recent bye-elec-
tons have resulted i'm the defeat of the
liberal candidates on every hand and
no liberal seats are regarded as too
safe at the present time, matter that
has been given consideration i'm view
of the reconstruction of the cabinet
and. the necessity of holding further
bye-elections in case certain appoint
ments to that body are made He was
able to withstandTthe attacks from
every quarter with indifference and to
come back TO the fight apparently I'M
dismayed as though nothing had hap
pened. His unfailing humor and his
good viii toward all men endeared him
even to those who opposed him or
whom he opposed.
Among the most important measures
of the liberal government brought be-
fore the parliament in 1906 was the ed
ucatiOnal bill, but the house of lords
gave it its death blow by adopting
methods which the house of commons
could not consider. The premier with
drew the measure on Dec 20 of that
year in a memorable speech in which
he repudiated the claims of the peers
to dictate to the commons, adding:
1t may be necessary TO submit for
the moment, but neither the resources
Of the British constitution nor the
house of commons are yet wholly ex-
and means must and shall be
found whereby the will of the people
often expressed through their elected
representatives in the house of COM
mons can be made to prevail"
Motion Made in House.
Almost Immediately after there fol-
lowed efforts on the part of the gov
to check the powers of the
house of lords, and on June "a, 1907, the
premier himself moved:
That. in order TO give effect to the
will of the people, as expressed by their
elected representatives, it is necessary
that the power of the other house to
alter or reject bills passed by this
house should be so restricted by laws
as TO secure that within the limits of a
single parliament the final decision of
the commons shall prevail
Eventually it was decided to appoint
q select committee TO consider and re-
port upon the suggestions which have
from time to time been made to in
crease the efficiency of the house in
matters of legislation"
From the beginning of the present
session of parliament Sir Henry had
been suffering i'll health, and after the
opening day he practically had not
been able to attend the sessions at all,
Chancellor Asquith acting as premier
In his absence.
On his resignation April 5, the repre-