Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1908-06-09

I N4iAiC UuuQS.
The simple statement OF this fact
throws food of light on the misappre.
hension Of the real "C-B" that cloud
ed the view even of those who long
lived In close colleagueship with him.
Deceived by the bland manner, the In
, disposition to assert himself, the reluc-
tance to give pain even where punish
ment was merited they thought to
shelye the premier in the luxurious OBJ
scurity Of the house OF lords But "C-B'
was already translated. The silken glove
was off. flung aside, and behold the iron
hand. He would not go to the house of
lords The center of power and infu-
ence was in the popular chamber and
that was the proper place for a Liberal
prime minister
This was a surprise for old 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 a party
that had been in the wilderness for ten
years bristled with difficulty. There
were remnants of q former structure
naturally looking for reinstatement in
the new one. Other claims more or less
justifable had grown up among the
rank and file of younger members
"C-B's" business was to get together a
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 to say the audacity, of
some of the selections. To mention
only two, there was Mr.. Lloyd-George,
In private business and status a 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
well rewarded with an undersecretary-
ship or even a lordship Of the treas
ury. There was John Burns, in social
position a day laborer, whose political
career was, among other things, mark
ed by the distinction Of q term spent
in Jail, following a disturbance of the
public peace in Trafalgar square.
Elected to the house of commons, he
still wore a bowler hat and a serge
suit But he spoke effectively on top
les within his personal ken, and for a
government established by a great
wave of democratic impulse 1t would
be q desirable thing to have a genuine
workingman numbered in its ranks.
taryship would be rather overwhelm-
ing for John Burns. A junior post at
the treasury, with q salary of $1,000 a
year, would be a generous guerdon.
"C-B" made Mr.. Lloyd George president
of the board of trade and Mr.. John
Burns president of the local govern
ment board, both with seats in the
cabinet
That his kindly but keen eye knew
a capable man when he saw him, dts
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
DaDle 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 os an aftermath of
dignified rest. Had he been personally
inclined to take that step there was an
objection to him insuperable. Lady
Campbell -Bannerman was strongly op-
posed to his retirement from the fight
ing line Of the house of commons and
to him her wishes were a sacred law.
1t happened that shortly after he as
sumed Office his wife was stricken
proved fatal. When in the session of !
1906, his first term as premier. mem
bers watched the worn and weary
leader seat himself on the treasury
bench prepared for a long nights work.
they knew he had spent hours by the
bedside Of his dying wife, had on some
days of the week come on to the house
after presiding over a cabinet council
This touch of nature made the assem-
Dly KID. Pollucal an1moslty disappear
ed before the spectacle of a brave man
struggling with adversely Old party
ties were rebound and strengthened
Within few weeks "C-B," doubtless
to his modest surprise, found himself
the most popular man in the house, his
slightest utterance received with pro
found respect his genial little jokes
hailed with rapturous laughter.
In this sudden blaze of sunshine he
bloomed. All that was best in him,
chilled In the bleak weather of opposi-
ton times, unfolded and grew apace
After the period of depression that fol-
lowed on the death of his wife was
passed he found In work and in attend
ance on his parliamentary duties the
best tonic, the surest solace. But OPP