The Washington herald., 1909-10-10
KING EDWARD THE ARBTTER
PrerOgaives of the Grown Moments of Political Crisis
Such as that Nov Existing in England

OF public life. no one is able to say with
any certainty that he leans 10 one or
the other of the political parties. It can
not be denied that he is in a sense COM
mitted TO certain Of the least objection
able phases of the Lloyd-George bills
While still heir apparent, he was APP
pointed by the late Queen. and by her
/ then premier, William Ewart Gladstone
/ TO the membership OF royal commission
appointed 20 devise some better means
| for the housing and for the relief of the
poor. II was a commission which was
presided over by Sir Charles Dixie, and
| which had among its most distinguished
members the late Cardinal Manning The
/ then Prince Of Wales took a very active
part In the work of the commission at
| tended all It's meetings. displayed an alb
sorbing interest and sympathy in it's
task. and was among the signers of the
report which it finally presented 10 the
government and 10 the Crown.
/ number Of the provisions OF that re-
port are embodied in the Lloyd-George
I bills. The King therefore cannot be sus-
/ pected by the Liberals Of undue PARTISAN
ship against their fiscal programme On
the contrary he Is virtually committed
10 certain features thereof. This does
not. however. mean that he approves of
| al Of them. Indeed. the very fact that
! he should be endeavoring 20 induce the
government 10 make certain concessions
J toward the very large UniOnist minority
| IN the Commons, and the overwhelming
Unlonist majority In the Lords. indicates
that there are certain portions OF the
Lloyd-George programme. which in his
opinion might be omitted: at any rate
for the time being
1t is understood that the King. while
at Balmoral, has taken the occasion to
point out to the Marquis Of Lansdowne.
the Cnionist leader IN the House OF
Lords; to Lord Cowdor. the former
| Unionlst lord of the admiralty. and to
the former Liberal premier Lord Rose
berry, now an avowed opponent of the
l.loyd-George bills. the evils OF uncom-
promising hostility TO the measures in
their entirety
They are believed to have become con-
verified 10 his views during their STAYS
on the Dee side, as his guests and to
have Informed him that the House OF
Lords, with the object Of averting a
deadlock and OF avoiding a constitu-
/ tional crisis. would be willing 20 pass a
number Of the less objectionable clauses
OF the Lloyd-GeOrge programme. IL the
postpone
the consideration OF the others until after
an appeal had been made TO the country.
and the views Of the people consulted
about the matter at the polls.
II this were done. il would remove anv
preteXt for an appeal by the Liberals 20
the masses against the House OF Lords.
as an obstacle 10 progressive legislation.
The House OF Lords would stand before
the peopls as having consented 10 the
major portion OF the bills. and as hav-
ing merely demanded a popular referen-
dunn with regard 10 certain clauses which
they did not believe had been made suf-
hciently clear to the nation at large. and
which they regarded as too revolutionary
IN character TO be determined by anv
mere parliamentary majority. and there
fore TO be decided by the people as a
whole.
II may be argued that Premier Asoulth
and his colleagues might be disposed TO
turn a deaf ear to these schemes OF the
King. for an understanding between the
rival political parties. But this IS i'm
probable For the prime minister, and
the members Of his administration. are