New-York tribune., 1908-05-03
MR.. ASQUITH'S POLICY
SOCI1L REFORMS LEAD.
Free Traders in Panic-Dundee as
I'm portant as Manchester.
Especial by French Cable 10 The Tribune
L.,r-.--.cA,. ians hA The Tribune Associst ton.

FCoryr4eht. 1905. by The Tribune Association J.
London May 2-The Prime Minister has gone
far enough TO convince friend and foe that social
reforms viii he taken up with renewed energy
in the next two years, The licensing bill VIII
psss it's second reading on Monday by a great
majority. and Will be followed by the Budget
speech in which old age pensions VIII be fore
shadowed but little more than bare start WITH
ths system can he made when so much time is
required for setting up the administrative
mechanism. Parliament be expected TO
enact the licensing bill, with the lords amend
ments and the London port. housing, children
and Irish University bills before Christmas. ana
next year will witness reform of the poor law
so that legislation for prisons and the unem-
ployed can be fitted in with it.
This is the general policy which Prime Minis
ter Asquith with Nj. lloyd-George's help ex-
poets to accomplish. and while this goal is kept
clearly in view he has a reasonable hope OF
holding the radicals and labor party with him.
The Nonconformists meanwhile will be coaNed
TO accept a compromise Of the education ques-
ton. This social programme is not likely TO eA-
cite strenuous resistance from the Unionlsts, eH-
cept in the method of financing IL Their argu-
ment is that~ social reforms will be more
managea BILE under a system by which the basis
Of taxation will be broadened.
The free traders are however. in a panic over
soClaIStlc proposals, WHICH threaten ~ I'iiFA'-
mise hopelessIy the finances OF the country.
They are between protectionIst devil and deep
sea socialism and interpret Sir John Brunner
speech at the liberal meeting at the Reform Club
as warning that Cobdenism itself Will he sacri-
feed in fatuous effort find substitute for
tariff reform and TO obtain money for pensions
and other reforms demanded by trade unionlsm
Sir Johns appeal rs business man, TO the
Liberal party to abandon the Golden principle IF
letting trade alone, attracts more attention than
MI. Asquiths smooth optimism. II seems 10 i'm
ply the necessity for protecting commerce ana
Industry by government action in providing
bounIies or special benefits for producers and
traders at the expense OF taxpayers, either
through the naturalization of the railways or
processes similar TO Mr.. Lloyd-George's patents
act or otherwise.
The Unionst free traders are in a sorry
plight If they accept the demoTaIized 'Specta-
tors view they will charge Sir John Brunner
with placing dynamite under the citadel of Free
Trade and advise the Cobdenites Dundee =
vote against Winston Churchill. and repeat the
warning Of West Manchester that the betrayal Of
TO socialism 10y the present government cannot
be encouraged
The Dundee election becomes. under these cir
Cumstances as important the Manchester
contest. and the defeat OF Nj Churchill viii
shake Liberalism its foundations Mr.. AS
Quith's Budget speech acquires = momentous
import q forecast of the future policy. 1t
may give d tremendous impulse to the tariff
reform by exposing the financial liabilities
for pensions and social reforms / y F