New-York tribune., 1908-04-12
A GUESSWORK CABINET
NAMES FOR PEER4GE.
Promotion Of Lloyd-George-As-
puith Encouraged an Reorganization.
Especial hy French Cable 70 TIE Tribune
-.---arht lans ~ The TrIhmne Assoclatlo

rc-op-r1rht 1905 bv III. Tribune Association
London. April 11-Cabinet making is receiving
Che final touches in the full sunlight or pup
iicity Offices are exchanged, peerases are con-
ferred and the promotions Of rising men or
dered. not with the new Prime Ministers s
authority. but with confident assurance, 1t is
guessing match. in which the cues are COM
mon property. This method has its advantages
since it enables Mr.. Asquith TO learn in advance
what his friend the enemy will say If this or
that appointment be made.
For example Reginald McKenna has been
suggested for the Admiralty. and the Prime
Minister is warned that there viii be storm Of
criticism over tho promotion Of a '1iNle Eng
lander who stands for retrenchment OF eH-
renses in the fighting services Other Cabinet
changes foreshadoUed by the rumormongers
have been moro favoraby received and Mr
tsouith is encouraged TO persevere with the
scheme Of reorganization outlined at Biarritz.
The processes Of reconstruction are stIll IN
progress when the entire swarm Of Liberal poll
t5cisns remains in London over Sunday.
The most important fact is the promotion Of
David Lloyd George TO the Treasury. where he
viII be Mr.. Asquiths chief lieutenant and his
natural successor as the leader Of the Liberal
party. This implies a powerful coalition be-
tween moderate and advanced Liberalism, with
q policy Of taking up the social question with
will be winston Spencer Churchill and Walter
Puncimsn. and the T-nionists will make strenu-
GUS efforts 10 defeat their reelection in Man
chester and Devsburv. They predicting
smother Peckham at Manchester. but Winston
Churchill is a canvassar Of potent energies who
"a the rising hope Of Cobdenism. and he has q
way Of triumphing through sheer audacity.
The Encouragement Of Offices is still subject 70
chsnge in The next forty-eight hours but Lord
TOT1 -rs-H
c-ice and Lord Tweedmouth displaced in the
Admiralty. where he has lost his prestige since
his correspondence with the German Emperor.
lewis Harcourt has escaped observation while
7he amateur Cabinet makers have been buzzing
over the loaves and fishes. Mr.. Asquith may be
reservinE him for final surprise. Herbert
Gladstone. John Morley, Sir Henry Fowler and
other ministers are persistently named for peer
eEes. IF the rurnors are confirmed there Will be
regret among the stsIwart Gladstonians If the
old school. who were gratifed by James Bryce's
frmness in declining a peerage when he went to
America. There viii also he mirth among the
ITnionistz over such a farcioal termination of
the campaign against the lords. Mr. Gladstone's s
apologies for taking what the Grand Old Man
scornfully refused would be lame, but Mr. Nor
icy would have the valid excuse that the late
hours ri the Commons are wearing him out and
that life in the peerage is necessary If he re-
mains IN the India office.
The King ordinarily escapes criticism, but
''TTle Times" has closely approached It In COM
snenting upon the Inconvenience caused by his
absence in Biarritz. The point is not well
taken. Sovereignty has the supreme moment
when 2 Prime Minister dies or resigns and his
successor is named. The Kings supremacy was
emphasized when he sent for Mr. Asquith IN
stead Of hurrying back to London himself.
Having made full Of his prerogative at the
outset, he adapted himself with his usual tact
70 the situation, changing his plans for a Con-
tinentsl journey and returning TO London next
week for the convenience Of the new ministers.
The Cabinet makers in lobbyist and news
paper Offices are not 50 fully occupied but that
they have leisure for ordering the future policy
Of the new government One thing is fairly
Certain-there viii be an autumn session. This
IS now inevitable. owing 10 the loss Of time in
the reorganization Of the government and the
changes in departments. Even if the education
bill he dropped in the hope that a compromise
usn be effected on the lines Of the Bishop Of ST.
Asaph's bill next year, there viii be scant time
5or carrying the licensing and Irish University
bills and other measures. The -Unionists are
highly exhiIarated over the situation. and are
1crecasting 4 continuous run Of caIamities for
She new administration. They are also encour-
aged ny Lord Curzon's conversion 10 tariff re-
form. half-hearted though It be and by the
favorable reports on Mr.. Chamberlafn's health
indicating that his voice may again be heard II,
the Commons The future seems to beloro IA .,
united party for tariff reform when Lord Chr
son joins Sir Alfred Mflner, not Lord Crorner
l. y T.