The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-25
New Order of Things in Europe.
ROYALTY IS EMBARRASSED
Interest in General Elections is Growing Daily.
1t fs Believed These Elections Cannot Be Put On Much LOnger.-Bel- four Beginning Expiate
 His Sins.
BY W. HAMILTON RHODES.

London, March 24---MarriaEes used to be made in heaven, but nowadays the newspapers have taken upon them- selves that office. at any rate where Royal marriages are concerned.
 It is the fate of bachelor kings to have all the marriageable princesses of Europe thrust upon them as brides by these enterprisng scribes, and the youthful King of Portugal has many things to suffer at their hands in this respect. In the course of one short week, Princess Beatrice, of Saxe-Co- burg and Princess Alexandra, the elder of the Princess Royals two daughters, have both been designated as the fu- lure Queen of Portugal It does not seem to strike the newsmanagers that 1t must be extremely disagreeable for these young royal ladies to have thcir names banded about without a sha- dow of authority for the reckless and often mischievous statements made concerning them.
 However, the recent unconventional visitssof King Alfonso of Spain to King Manuel seems to have been very sig nificant. The actual fact is that the younger of these two monarchs is at present in need of advice concerning a future partner. and the King of Spain Is probably able to give sounder ad- II anyone else. for his personal. exper- fence has not been dissimilar to that which has befallen King Manuel. When the subject was first broached, Alfonso volunteered to visit Villa Vicosa rather than that King Manuel should go to Madrid, in order that those who were inquisitive to learn the reason of the meeting between the two should be put of the scent. The news that is al, fn ha tal nh fp fn the course of the next two months will make clear what at present has to be kept a mystery.
 Interest fin Elections.
 Interest In the general elections is growing daily and it is believed they cannot be put off much longer. Mr. Balfour is beginning to expiate hts sins. For some reason or other he has always dlsliked the able men of his own party. He leaves Lord Hugh Ce- ell out of Parliament he got rid of Winston Churchill and Gibson Bowles simply because he would not recognize their abilities. and he put In the places which, these able men should have oc- cupied figure-heads like Austen Cham fberlain and MT. Lyttleton and Arnold Forster, and now he Is paying the pen alty of his jealousy. If great com- manders are known by the ability of
 
 the bad commanders are known by the insignihcance of their subordinates, and judged in this way, there has never been a parliamentary leader of smaller calibre than Mir. BaIf6ur for his lieutenants are all nonentities. This Is the real reason why the Liberals will win in the next election, though by only a small majority. in spite of their unpopular legislation. The Liberals lu m rd nd Gladstone is better than Austen Cham berlain or MT. Lyttleton or Arnold Forster. As Gibson Bowles said, if MT. Balfour were to be asked to form an Administrations. he would require to pick his Ministers from the ranks of gentlemen who could not be trust ed to manage an apple-stall."
 It Is understood that the government will bring in a bill early in the ses- sion, dealing with the Lottery Laws, and amending them, with a view. among other things, to checking cou- pon-competitions in newspapers. There are two acts of Parliament under which at present lotteries are dealt with the Gaming Act of 1902 and the Lotteries Act of 1923
 Newspaper prixe Competitions
 These are inadequate to deal with newspaper prize-competitions. since the law will not regard a competition as a lottery if the smallest element of skill is required for its solution. It has been suggested to the home office that a new definition of lottery would meet the case. the present definition chance") being less simple than 1t sounds. But this would involve the home office in a mere contest of wits with the newspapers. It Is now an