Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-12
POLICY is BROAD AND DEEP
Premier Asquith Lays Down Program
of Liberal Party.
LIMITATION OF THE LORDS
FnvOrs Specific Law Declaring COM
mons 20 Have intro of Finance
aud self-RuIe for
Ireland.

Ireland.
LONDON, Dec. L.-At a monster meeting
last night in Albert hall Herbert Henry As.
quith the British prime minister, laid down
Ve policy on which the liberal government
is appealing to the country. He repeated
what had been said by other ministers
that III it were returned 20 power the gov
eminent would demand the Limitation of
the power of the House of Lords-and then
went a step further and pledged that the
Liberal party would grant self government
to Ireland. -
The meeting was marked by the great
enthusiasm OF an audience which filled the
vast haN and which was composed entirely
OF men, women having been denied admis-
sion in the fear that there might be counter
demonstrations by suffrgettes.
Every corner of the hall had been
searched during the day for women and a
small ban1 of them was routed out. but
they managed to get two male supporters
Into the meeting who interrupted Mr.. As
quith momentarily with cries of votes for
women" Then they were promptly elected.
Mr.. Asquith was not alone in giving to
the people their first real touch of the
campaign, for Arthur L. Balfour, leader
OF the opposition In the House of Com
mons, made a simultaneous plea to them
In a quiet and dignified election manifesto
addressed to the electors of the city OF
London. who have chosen him as their
candidate.
Under Handicap.
Mr.. Asquith pointed out that Just four
years ago Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman.
then prime minister, had outlined in Albert
l hall Hhn I L. -
ment, which included many reforms. The
representatives Of the people in the House
OF Commons had labored faithfully to carry
into law the measures promised, but their
VIII had been nullified and as a fitting
climax the supplies which the House of
commons had voted had been stepped upon
by the House Of Lords. Therefore the
house OF Commons was now on the eve
OF another dissolution and 1t had fallen
10 MS lot to take up the burden. The last
ume' he said, the government had reckoned
Wlthout their host, but 1t was not going
to make that mistake again.
! tell you in the name of, and in be-
half of the Liberal party Mr.. Asouitb
proceeded, I'VE have at this moment laid
upon US a single task, a task which domin-
ates and transcends because It embraces
and involves every great and beneficent
social and political change upon which orr
hearts are set. That'task is to vindicate and
establish upon an unsuitable foundation
'He principle or representative govern
ment."
After referring to the action of the Ho,ss
or Lords on the matter of Welsh religious
quality and the fate of certain Scottish
land bills, Mr.. Asquith turned his attention
TO ireland, which, he said, had been for
tunate for once because the measures sent
up In its behalf did not come violently
the preJudices of the House of
Lords.
Self-GOvernment for Ireland,
speaking last year before my accession
TO the premiership" Mr.. Asquith continued.
1 described the Irish policy as the one I'M
failure of British statesmanship.
repeat tonight what 1 said then and on
behalf Of my colleagues, and 1 believe. on
behalf of my party, l reiterate that this Is
| problem to be solved only in one way-by =
policy which, while explicitly safeguard :
ng the supreme, indivisable authority of
he imperial Parliament, can set up in 4
Ireland a system of full self-government as :
purely Irish affairs. There is not
nd cannot be any question of separation.
there is not and cannot be any question OF
ivalry or competing for supremacy subject
o these conditions. That is the liberal
'olicy. For reasons which we believe to
ave been adequate the present Parliament g,
disabled in advapce from proposing
ny such solution, but in the new house
he new liberal government, at the head of
liberal majority, will be, in this matter.
ntirely free"
Mr.. Asquith defended the budget as neces-
airy to social reform and in this respect ..
Id age pensions were the first step. The N
udget, he continued, had been thrown out a
y the House of Lords after weeks of de- W
ate, and the government, as a result. was II
with three constitutions innova- fl
ions. first, the claim of the House of Lords
o control in levylng taxation; second, the de
lain Of the same house to the right to IF
dissolution of the popular chamber ia
nd third, the assertion of the House of al
.ords of their power to make and unmake w
h. executive government of the crown. he
Law Limiting Lords. w
What has been DONE declared Mr..
.squith, May be done again. It becomes ,
ur first duty to make it's recurrence i'm ia
ossible. We shall, therefore demand a,t- list
lority from the electorate to translate co
n ancient, unwritten usage into an act
T Parliament and to place upon the statute
ook recognition explicit and complete of
ne settled doctrine Of our constitution I
lat it is beyond the province Of the House
( Lords to NEEDLE with any law, to any
egree or for any purpose, Of national
NANCE
premier continuing said that neither
e nor any other liberal minister sup.
orted by a majority IN the House OF
ommons was going to submit again 10 the
bluffs and humiliations of the last four
ears. They would not assume office un.
IS they could secure safeguards, which
showed to be necessary for the
unity and honor Of their parry
he liberal party, Mr.. Asquith declared
as not promoting the abolition of the
ouse of Lords or the setting up Of a
ngle chamber, but it asked of the
that the House OF Lords should