New-York tribune., 1908-03-22
ASQUITH STANDS FIRM.
LICENSING BILL STORM.
Effort at Compromise in Education
Confrorersy-DipIomatic Leaks.
Especial BY French Cable to The Tribune

GCoryrghf. 1905 by The Trfnone AssOCide'n'
London. March 21-Mr. Asquith's hshtins
power steadily increases. The storm raised oS
the licensing bill has not frightened him. nor
has he swerved from his original intention OF
forcing the most fiercely contested measure Oh
recent years TO a second reading before Easter
The driving power of his strong will commands
the respect Of al the Liberal factions. and the
cioseness with which ne remains in touch with
every debate is refreshing sign of his vigor.
especially when he is preparing himself for a
budget speech and another great constructive
piece Of legislation. the pension scheme. His
position the Prime Minister'S successor is now
secure. and the necessity for a change is appar-
ent when al autumn session cannot be avoided
ard al exhausting struggle confronts the gov
ernment
While the Prime Minister is holding his own
and is not so disabled as to be unable to sign
papers. dictate letters and confer with his asso-
ciates- he cannot expect even under the most
favorable conditions to lead the Commons in
such times Of storm and stress
The Peckhan election. if carried by the Union
lists next week. may prove too much d. 1t will be
an indication that publicans and barTnaids have
an immense influence in doubtful constituency
and that the brewers are bent upon securing a
monopoly of valus bic licenses which the nation
ought TO control absolutely, issuing or withhold
ing them at discretion. While the government
violating the Eighth Commandment, there is the
counter argument that the brewers are striving
10 obtain monopoly Of rights worth f170 no0.-
600 in licensed premises, and that those rights
do not belong 10 them. but TO the whole body of
taxpayers. The puhlicans' raid against temper
snce legislation is SO violent and headstrong
that il may be followed by 4 moral revolt
against drink agencies for corrupting voters and
puttins I'D brewers shares.
Asarh's 30 effect a compromise In the education
controversy is promising because several mem
bers Of the government are in sympathy with it
His bill provided for the redemption Of every
pledge made hv the Liberals the last gen.
eraI election. Denonlinational teaching under it
will be paid for not by the ratepayers but by
the religious bodies giving it, and undenomina-
,ional teaching will he the cost of local
authority. with parents liberty withdraw
their children when they have conscientious
scruples. Il seems a reasonable compromise.
since rate aided schools are brought under public
control religious tests for teachers abol-
tshed and no taxpayer is required to pay for
Anglican Roman or Nonconformist teaching,
IF the proposals are favorabiy received by the
main body of English ch,Irchrnen there may be
settlement. but when extremists rampant
and fanatical triumph Of liberation and good
sense is doubtful. If this statesmanike prelate
behind him he may succeed peacemaker
II viii be little less than miracle of grace when
politics is tainted with partisansfip
The Lord ChanceIlors bill imposing drastic
penalties fer the disclosure of official secrets is
a sequel to the teapot tempest over the German
FmperoT's letter. It does deal with leakage
through social gossip nor place Cabinet min
isters under bonds to burn private letters. Even
now the paragraphers are pretending to give a
<ipe-
Edward and the German Emperor which had
been revised by the two Foreign Offices. That
implies more irresponsible gossip.
The secrets Of the reorganization of THE
Times are better kept than Admiralty conf
dences. Noberly Bell has not revealed the
names of the capitalists who have enabled him
to make a cash offer to the stockholders and Sc
cure absolute control. Lord Rothschild and Lord
Jeocnfeid have been prominently mentioned.
.nd Lord Northcliffe ; also been suspected Of
being in on the ground floor but there have been
no authoritative disclosures. l. y. F.