The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-05

London. Jan. A hot controversy is
raging between Lord Curzon and Prime
Minister Campbell Bannerman, occasion
ed by his letter announcing his candidacy
for the vacancy in the Irish Peerage, Ia
which the former vicerOy of India said
he was debarred from entering the House
Of Lords by the refusal of the premier
TO allow him 10 take his place with all
the other yiceroys of India.
He is strongly supported by Lord Lon
donderry and others. Lord Curzon may
be considered sure OF election, but not
without a contest Young Lord Farm
ham. who has been nominated. received
several votes before Lord Curzon an
nounced his candidacy. and has refused to
retire.
The controversy, in which very strong
feelings are being expressed, deals chiefly
with two points Was the premier jus
tilted in refusing Lord Curzon an Eng
lsh peerage, and is Curzon justified II
using his great influence to get a seat m
the House Of Lords as a representative
Irish peer?
Admit CuFzOn's Ability.
Both sides naturally admit that Lord
Curzons ability, achievements. and serv-
ices 10 the country entfue him % the
reward Of a peerage. It is chiefly on this
that Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman
critics rely when charging him with mar
row mindedness in refusing to ruCom-
mend so distinguished and worthy a po-
litcal opponent for the peerage which
has been well earned.
The supporters Of the premier are
more numerous While admitting Lord
Curzon's worth, they declare that the
Unionist government appointed him vice
roy, and should have awarded him when
he returned from India Mr. Balfour was
then prime minister. OF course. II is an
open secret that Lord Curzon was then
on bad terms with the British cabinet
which supported Lord Kitchener I'm the
conflict between him and the vicerOy.
Moreover, Lord Curzon was at that time
still DESTROYS OF re-entering the House of
Commons, to remain eligible, for which
he had accepted an Irish instead OF an
English peerage when he was appointed
Viceroy.
Tim Healy In this connection, com
plains that Lord Curzons supporters are
treating "the Irish peerage as if it were
some old pocket borough or rotten cor
poration."
4 Post for Life.
Another point urged against the candi-
dature of Lord Curzon as a representative
Irish peer is the fact that Irish peers un-
der the act of union elect twenty-eight
representatives 10 the House OF Lords.
They are elected for life. have no means
Of resigning, and are only removable for
the gravest offenses.
Therefore, when Lord Curzon on the
death of his father Lord Scarsdale. who
is now seventy-seven, becomes an Eng
lish peer he will still monopolize a place
as one Of IreIands representatives in the
House of Lords, though. unlike the rest. /
he is not an Irishman and has no prop
eFty or other interests ia Ireland.
Lord CurZOn's plea that the state OF his /
health debaTs him from entering the /
House Of Commons is undoubtedly bona
lide, but At the same time il cannot be /
disguised that there are difficulties with /
his own party in connection with his TAX /
ing up again a House of Commons career. /
The great question which is still dividing 4
the UniCnist party is tariff reform. The .
prOtectiOnists are so strong that Mr. Bal /
four still wobbles. and Lord Curzon at /
present is regarded as practically a free /
trader.