New-York tribune., 1909-10-07
THE REFERENDUM
rt,,bouifafiue Versions - Political
Game of Bind-Man's-Buf.
London. September ~.

..+s The people are to decide between
-+ies houses OF Parliament and policies EX-
- 7srtisans and moderate men on both sides
.-ee on this primary point on the precise
s,--o of the referendum there is a hurly-burly OF
,,.,-s Rival leaders insist upon defining the
.-.,n issue OF the elections in their own phras-
- and politicians behind them viii adapt the
...horized text 10 the requirements Of locality
- constituency. Liberty in definition implies
v.snse in interpreting results. Demos is in
,cr,ssble before the decisive Judgment. Its
,oi,e may be as ambiguous and Elusive a
-,,,hic oracle when the verdict is rendered The
.,,+raa;e interpretations OF the public well may
10 As contradictory the preliminary state
,,snts OF the referendum. Demos may be the
cod Of political idolatry. hut how easily can it
10 4orced 10 bow in one direction or in another.
ss N NJ BrieUx's Egyptian play!
How simple and direct is Mr. Balfour's reading
- the referendum, The country is to decide
NOT between an old policy and a new one-Free
Trsde and Professionalism between two new and
united systems OF finance and administration
Socialism and Tariff Reform. Lord Rosebery,
spesking for a detached and neutral left centre.
doss not admit that Tariff Reform Is the only
sts-nstive policy, since he is not convinced that
he resources Of Free Trade are exhausted Lord
Crouer the Cecils and the diminishing group of
Pre- Food Jnionists are disposed 10 agree with
Be said about colonial preference. retaliation
and the other features OF the original Chamber
lain programme. The main body Of the Unionist
uarty is however. well satisfied with Mr. Bal
fours referendum. 1t IS against the Radical
budget q socialistic method OF taxing the
.haves Tor the benefit of the have nots": and il
favors Tariff Reform as a practical method of
hroaderine the system Of indirect taxation. Mr.
Balfour Las not evaded the responsibilities Of
leadership In oondemning the budget he has
indicated a substitute for il and narrowed the
choice of The electorate TO TWO definite systems
of financing the increasing requirements Of na-
tionsl administration. Yet he, leaves socialism
in The air as a glitIering generalization. The
Unionists in Parliament have not opposed old
age pensions, labor exchanges. small holdings.
schemes for meeting the evils Of unemployment
projects for various forms Of Insurance against
emergencies and other social reforms They
have perceived The necessity for popularizing
Tor sm and Tariff Reform In their most ex-
1raTaEznt defamation against the crudities of
socialism they have reserved the right Of help
Ing The working masses il their own way They.
Too are state socialists after their kind
How Is This referendum To be brought au-
t-o~fratively before the electorate? The Union
Isl leader has not>effered a definite explanation
~ a. ways and means, but has left il an easy
inference that the budget is 10 be hung UP 10y
resolution in the upper house. The finance bill
VIII r0t be rejected formally but referred 10
me country as a mixed assortment Of Iegisla-
tive PROJECTS and taxing methods involving new
sHl more or less revolutionary principles. There
Dn arly Toe q more ingenious device for
minimizing popular objections to interference
t.e responsible. privileged house with the
-aEas powers of the representative assembly.
The veto VIII 5e imposed nominally in the in
1egssr ~ The democracy. It viii not be abso-
he nut suspensive and limited It VIII enable
le country 10 decide whether the House of
Commons represents the win OF the people in
introducing new methods and principles Of tax
st1a- Il can be sustained by plausible argu-
uelt but the reasoning cannot be conclusive.
can deny that the LoTds viii be stronger
t-n ever Il they are permitted 10 hold up the
tHance hill and 20 dictate the time and the
man issue Of the general eIectlons2 Four years
az The electorate made deliberate choice be
tween Tariff Reform and Free Trade. Is tbs
House II Lords. with Mr. Balfour as its chief
adviser 10 De left AT liberty 10 suspend hnan-
c.lI 'aelslatIOn and 10 force general election
on -a- supreme issue Of Tariff Reform as sub
srl-ure FOR socialism? The Prime Minister and
lls associates are too wary TO allow the Lords,
after t1Wartng the viii OF the nation many
questions. 10 manDuvre he Commons out Of a
Superior position.
The Prime Minister. rather than either MI.
Bsltou~ o- Lord Lansdowre is the one TO define
ne referendum. The crown viii act upon his
advice In dissolving Parliament and ordering the
elections The signal for the supreme function
Of universal suffrage viii come from him. Tn
less al signs fail. il viii be direct and sweep
Hg challenge TO the upper house, which has
persisted in ohstructing numerous measures en-
@.le4 "F The Commons and has finally inter
|e"-a iH financial business. meddling with the
'A-ag powers ~ the representative house IN
violation ~ precedent and constitutional usage.
--e tFi1e Minister can properly take the ground
a- ell.r tae experience Of the last four years
$40 me eliminating act Of stoppage Of financial
'-ipNeS no self-respecting Liberal ministry can
assume tae responsibility of governing the coun-
- lHi- the relations Of the two houses are
mined by "A decisive mandate from the de-
''''fa'3 That is the broad issue on which the
hTTAiient VIII seek vote OF confidence from
Country Ine referendum in its most au-
-'.lilaf'Te form must come from those in Office
@-..'f lhan from Leaders Ia opposition II Is not
A'-t % De limited 10 a choice between two
-71i'o-s or systems Of obtaining necessary rev
1--7S u VIII be broadened out 50 as 10 include
ifslrlcllon of the legislative powers Of the
- or abolition Of the veto
INC enlarged referendum win convert the gen-
elections into a struggle between the Iegis-
chambers. With democratic leaders like
''''' se ana Ar. Churchill to force the lighting
.' interest the masses and with the Labor
l' rally The forces II organized trade
'1isll, u may become a battle for life for rl,a
s-s-atlFe Lords. Even II the Tariff Refory,ars
,- iis me country by a majority more
49,. 1'F'' ia" Lords would be forced to
''- mousse in order and 20 ADOPT a
H ,'ii' TOT restricting legislative priv
Il'7'ii--llfe peers. II the Liberal
= Mo
So. -N were - remain al Office with a sub
d reduced majority the first question
/" 1e taken up would not be finance t,,+ .toIi-