New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
WAR OF THE HOUSES
: UNIONISTS AWAKE.
Opposing Leaders Viesrs of
the Main Issues.
fsy French csbls to The Tribune J


LONDON, Dec 1.-THE Kingdom Is
already saturated with the welter OF
partisan politics Mr.. Bslfour has is
sued what his admirers describe as a
trumpet cali 20 the enemies OF Social
ism. and the Prime Minister. with his
ministerial associates around him and
a multitude OF ardent Radicals at AL
bert Han hanging on his words. has
formally opened tie canvass against
the titled lawbreskers who have yio-
lated the usage Of generations In sus-
pending supplies. Winston Spencer
Churchill has conducted a vigorous and
sn effective campaign in Lancashire snd
Cheshire, and has succeeded in inter
estine his audiences in the constitutional
issue as well as in social reforms. Pos
sibly il wss from sheer love Of hard
hitting in a strenuous fight. but they
were impatient when he was talking
about land reform and the budget ana
were In hot haste for slashing attacks
On the Lords. David LlOyd-George is
espactod 90 conduct a similar canvass
tn the metropolis and encourage his fol-
lowers by fresh outbreaks Of slime
housing" and nearly every member Of
the ministry will be on the platform this
month.
The Lords themselves. contrary 10 the
usual practice. are taking an active part
IN the elections Lords Lansdowne,
%ilner, Northcote, Denbish. Faber,
Camperdopn and Doroughmcre have al
ready spoken, and they viii be followed
ny the Duke of Norfolk and Lords cav
uor, c -zon. Charles BeresfoFd, Will
oughby. DE Broke. Salisbury, Amp
fhin and many others. The reinforce
snent ie timely, for although Mr. Balfeur
ss a match for Mr.. Asquith, the Union
Set Commoners generally are outdebated
by the Liberals.
While this promises 20 be speaking
sanvass Of unWonted volubility. il is al
ready fairly certain that the fiRal result
efn depend on the deliberate choice be
tween the parties by the silent voters
who DO not attend the meetings, and
slso on the heerty cooperation of the
Radicals ana Labor party in avoiding
three-cornered contests. The moderate
men and the unemployed workers have
been repelled by the democratic finance
:n hard times, and Il has rot been easy
Tor ths Liberals 40 convince them that
the constitutional issue is the vital one
Nhen the budget itself IS before the
counuz and the opinion of the elector=
Rte is directly asked upon il. The Prime
Minister has sought 10 concentrate at
tenuon on the dominating question OF
she condemnation sf the Lords. but IL
hss been an underlined policy and has
exposed the government 20 the reproach
Of wanting 10 get rid Of the second
chember altogether. Net even David
lovd-oeorge has advocated a single
chamber. and his most outspoken ssso-
ciate, SIR Edward Grey. has favored an
elective second chamber.
Premier Asquith has not spoken inde-
clsively about the relations between the
tVo houses. He has eontended that the
interference Of the Lords with finance
rnust be prevented by statute. that their
power of absolute veto on general iegis-
iation must go. that the upper chamber
shall be restricted 90 the powers OF inn
partial revision, and that the life Of the
Commons be reduced TO five. or possibly
four, years. He makes the settlement OF
the constitutional question and the main
tenance of free trade the capital Issues
al the canvass, restates the Liberal pro-
EraInme OF social reforms. disesiahlish-
ment OF the Church in Wales, Home Rule
for ireland. with absolute supremacy Of
fhe imperial Parliament; education,
licensing. one man one vote and the re-
form bills. with Wemen suffrage an open
question for both parties in the Com
mons. The Prime Minister has gone
further thsR the Heme Rulers expected,
snd only fails re satisfy the Labor party
by expressing a strong preference for
two legislative houses. Liberalism, as
proclaimed by the whiggish head Of the
government is intensely radical. and the
moderate men Of the country may be
frightened anew.
Meanwhile. the Liberal and Labor or
HaniEatieBs are Withdrawing their SUPER
fuous candidates and reducing largely
the number OF three-cornered contests.
Their opponents describe IL with partisan
fury as a compact between Radicalism
end Socialism. It is a sound working
policy for concentrating the progressive
serces.
A J. Raifour, In an sdnoit manifesto,
esfends plausibly the action OF the Lords
against what he describes as a govern
plent conspiracy against the constitu-
non. He proposes 10 reform the second
chamber by rendering IL more repre-
sentative. advocates tariff reform ana
ssnd purchase for the creation OF a new
elass OF peasant proprietors, and laws
stress on the evils OF unemployment and
the chaotic state OF the poor law admin
istration- He neglects 20 follow Austen
Chanberlain In recommending The Bir-
rningham Posts" scheme of fiscal re-
FORM with taxes on wheat and meat ana
tar1n ranging from TO 10 per cent on
manufactured goods. He is too cautious
no commit himself 10 anything definite
respecting an alternative scheme OF tax
stion for the Liberal budget This is the
weakest point in the manifesto, which is
etherwise ingenious and attractive.