Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-10
TORIES ARE STUhG
Lord Advocate Most Abused
Man in England.
DIG AT TARIFF REF0RMERS
Cannot Afford to Pay Pensions on
Reform Proceeds.
ALEX URE REMARKABLE MAN
Russian Cars Visit to Italy-Gen-
eral Military STAFF for Empire
Has Wide Scope.
DIG AT TARIFF REF0RMERS
ALEX URE REMARKABLE MAI

| Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON, October 80. 1909.
The most abused man in England today
is Mr.. Alexander IRE. the lord advocate
Of Mr.. Asquith's government. He has
been denounced by dozens of tory speak
ers. called all manner of names and now
Mr.. Balfour in public speech declares
| that he is a disgrace to his office, dis
| grace to his profession and a disgrace to
the country which gave him birth. All
this vituperation is because Mr.. Ure has
said repeatedly that the tories cannot af-
| ford to pay old-age pensions on the pro-
ceeds of tariff reform unless they tax
food and raw materials, which the tories
disclaim any intention Of doing The
anger Of the tariff reformers is at white
heat because they are unable to compel
the lord advocate to retract his state
ment or to stop repeating it. and the
sting Of 1t lies in it's truth. Consequently
Mr.. IRE Is now known, as "Ananias"
IRE and the tory press thunders at him
daily.
man who never fails to impress wherever
| he goes. Born in Glasgow fifty-six years
ago, or the proud lineage of lord provost,
| ne was educated at the local university
and In the course of years came to the
| chair OF Its lecturer on constitutional law
| and history. OF handsome and command
| ing figure he is gifted, at the same time.
with the most pleasing manner which 1t
is the lot Of any public man to possess.
| He is the Bayard of the Scottish bar and
| Scottish po' iticians-a great and cour-
| ageous advocate and party fighter, but
through all the din and turmoil Of the
battle the pink Of courtesy, cherishing no
| ill-will. seeking to excite none.
He is one Of the most resourceful plead
ers that ever appeared in court, gifted as
he Is with a remarkable fluency Of speech
and with really marvellous faculty for
mastering the details Of complicated
cinctly. The rapidity with which he can
| get through his work astounds all who
| are associated with him.
1t Is said that all the preparation he
| required to take his place as leading
| counsel for the crown in the trial of Sla-
ter, the Glasgow murderer who was ex-
| tradited last year from New York, was
! glance through the papers in the case
during a railway journey between Bris-
| toll and Edinburgh. But Mr.. Ure is one
| or those men who can see at a glance
what 1t takes others hours to perceive.
Certainly he never missed a point when
! driving home the charge against Slater,
and his effort on that occasion ranks as
| one of the greatest forensic achievements
| of its kind. conviction for murder be-
Ing obtained from Scotch jury in what
was undoubtedly a somewhat thin case
Great Liberal Exponent.
Mr.. IRE in politics is best known as the
great protagonist of the movement for
the taxation Of land values, the principle
| Of which is embodied in Mr. Lloyd
Georges budget, and this is the real Sc
cret Of tory animus against him. The
| budget, indeed, has given him his great
est political opportunity; 1t has, at the
same time, brought to its support one Of
| the most cogent and convincing speak
| ers that ever stepped on to a public plat
| form. The past six months have, to Mr.
IRE. been one long political campaign
North. east, south and west he has car
ried the fiery cross. Night after night
| he has proclaimed to teeming audiences
| the great liberal principles which under
| lie the governments financial proposals
1t Is not propaganda he is conducting;
1t Is crusade born of fervent conviction
and backed by tireless energy. Every
| word that Alexander IRE utters goes
| home. Every workingman who hears
| him discourse on the land taxes becomes
an enthusiastic supporter of the budget
Mr.. Ure has within the last few months
| spoken to thousands and thousands of
| workingmen. Need any one wonder at
the anger Of the anti-budgeteers?
But Mr.. Cre's gift of luminous EXPOSE
TON Is HOt only III cVlUenCe at the bar and
on the platform. 1t is often also, to be
seen in full play in the house Of commons
| probably the most critical assembly in
| the world. An instance in point: Some
time ago the low fash-point of cheap oils
| commons took the matter up. but. owing
| to the many legal and scientific points in
volved, the debate, as it proceeded, only
confused the issues. Suddenly Mr.. IRE
| interposed. He had learned all about
| the matter as a member of the commit
! tee. and what he learns he never forgets
He explained how the question had arisen.
what was the exact position of affairs at
| the time. and the nature of the remedy
| proposed. When he sat down the house
was ready to vote.
But Mr.. IRE is a man Of physical as well
as intellectual activities. Like his old
| friend and colleague Mr. Haldane he is
| a pedestrian Of almost appalling powers.
He has been known TO walk an instructine
solicitor Into perspiration on the floor
of parliament house. 1t was not an un-
usual occurrence for him during the
height OF a campaign to walk home to
Edinburgh after addressing a meeting OF
| his constituents In Linlithgowshire. On
arriving at his residence in the early
| morning he would set himself down to
study his case for the day and would ap-
| pear in the court of sessions in the course
| of few hours At and ready for debate.
Mr.. IRE is also keen and daring yachts
man. and is very fond Of cycling and mo-
| toring.
| 1t is this man OF inexhaustible energy
| and Of infinite resource. this democrat
with the manners and urbanity of a
| grand seignior. whom Mr.. Balfour seeks
| to drive from public life with an explosion
Of splenetic anger. 1t Is not surprising
that the thunderbolt should prove abrutum
| fulmen.
First Russian Visit to Italy.
The Russian visit this week marked the
| first occasion in history that an emperor
OF the Romanoff house went to Italy to
visit king Of the house of Savoy, just as
1t was the first time that sovereign of
United Italy visited. In 1902, at Peterhof
| the car of the Muscovite empire
The majority Of the Italians feel that,
although the internal organization of the
Russian empire does not correspond to
| their ideals of liberty and constitutional
government. the friendship OF their coun-
| try with Russia IL an International neces-
| sity. and they cannot afford to be more
| particular than their brothers OF the
French republic.
King Victor Emanuel has a personal
| special liking for the Romanoff house.
| which. 1t is reported. began when he first
went to Russia as crown prince in an off,
| cial capacity. in 1894. to represent his
father and his country at the mar rage Of
Nicholas III, who had just assembled the
| throne. The Italian prince showed his
| his own country and for internat ional
complications. whereupon Nicholas II. lay
! ing his hand Familiarity on his shoulder,
1 .oTr3 sNeyer die dear how Wha