The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-12
KING DID NOT ASK
RARD|E TO PARTY
Public Sentiment Aroused Over
Failure to Invite Labor Leader
to Garden Fctc.
HAS ASKED, REASON WHY
II Lord chamberlaii1's Reply Is
Not Satisfactory He Will Re-
sign and Seek Reelection.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch.1
LONDON, July lit is curious
political anomaly that an invitation to
the Kings garden party should raise
grave constitutional question IN
these islands. The cable has already
told you that the Labor party In the
House OF Commons passed solemn
resolution Of protest against the exc
clusion OF Kerr Hardie from the Kings
visiting list. but now we ara told that
Mr. Hardie has asked the Lord Cham-
berlain why he was not invited, and
IL the answer is not satisfactory tho
labor leader will resign and offer him-
self as a candidate for recollection on
"the straight issue OF the King versus
the peoples Representatives" It is
further announced that, in this event.
the whole Labor party will 70 to Mr..
Hardie's misunderstanding Tydfil-to
support him. Such contest, II 1t
takes place. would command unique
political interest.
Excluded by Intention.
It is a pity that the verdict cannot
be taken from the country at larRc.I
for the result would be the complete
extinction Of this peculiar figure In
british notifies. There is no doubt TINT
Mr.. Hardie was Intentionally excluded
Kings express order. There is some
ground also for the Labor partv's cnn-
tention that this was a semi-off1cial
ard not merely social srt'h to their
leader. Thew see IN It. therefore. a
vtn,at'on OF the iea1o,,slv-guarded re-
atriction which forbids the sovereign
by word or act from indicating any
5Dreference In partisan or political
questions. It ia quite true that ponu-
~ r. Awe " IA 10 II
any infraction on his part of that
Fundamental constitutional rule would
instantly be deeply resented by his
subjects.
sed,tiou. Itt~rnnccs in India.
Kerr Hardie's extreme radical views
ere notorious and HIS friends pretend
to be In some doubt as to what par
ticular feature thereof offends the |
throne so bitterly. Some Of them as
sumo that 1t was his opposition to the |
Kings visit to the Car. This is dis
posed OF by the fact that the member
who opened the onpositson debate In
the House of Commons on the subiectI
was invited and went to Windsor. The /
same is true of other radicals and
Socialists whose views are presume h1v
Intensely repugnant to the King. The
reason must he sought elsewhere. and |
u
with Mr. Hardie's public record for the
past year. He was in India during the
recent crisis. CRISIS which threatened
and still threatens the Very existence
OF the British empire.
He publicly encouraged the rehel-
lious population in language nothirrz
less than seditious and traitorous
Those were perilnns times IN india. and
the ignorant native population had a
grotesoue idea Of Mr.. Hardie's poll
3tical position and influence.
While 1t is quite true that the King !
must hold himself aloof from all ques-
lions OF domestic politics there is no
obligation. moral or legal. upon him
to ignore sedition and treason. II the
King should announce. which. of
course, he will not do. that he had re-
fused to invite Mr.. Hardie to Windsor
because OF his dis1oyal conduct in I
India the whole country would applaud /
him. kVt sail