The San Francisco call., 1909-12-02
PEOPLE ASKED TO
R[PUDIATf PEERS
Manifesto Issued by Liberal
Federation Constitutes Party
Call to British
Premier Will Ask Commons to
Declare Lords Have Usnrped
Constitutional Rights

LONDON. Dec. 1.-The national io-
eral federation tonight issued mani
festo to the country, which may be re-
garded s party rally for the cleo
tions. 1t concentrates attention entire
ly on the constitutional struggle be-
tween the house of lords and the house
of commons. 1t says:
If the present action of the peers
is not repudiated swiftly by the people
rights and privileges won so dearly by
our forefathers in the great struggles
for. freedom are all surrendered.
The manifesto declares the peers
power of veto must be restricted so
that the last word on legislation and
finance will rest with the house or
commons. Otherwise no liberal min
istry again can assume the responsible
ties of office.
FIGHT FORCED ON PEOPLE
I'm the fight forced upon US, the
manifesto continues, the electors will
have to decide whether they wish TO
govern themselves or be governed at
second hand by a few hundred heredi-
tary peers who have thrown the con-
stitution into the melting pot in order
to shift the burden of taxation from
wealthy land and liquor interests to
food and the necessaries of life
Lord Rosebery in a letter to the press
tonight repudiates the charge made by
Lord Curzon that he led an army to the
walls of fortress and then abandoned
it, Lord Rosebery reiterates that
throughout he has opposed and warned
against the course the lords have taken
as one calculated injuriously.. to affect
the house of lords and to enhance what
popularity the budget may possess.
PREMIER TO ATTACK LORDS
Premier Asquith announced today in
the house of commons that tomorrow he
would move resolution that the action
of the house of lords in refusing to pass
the budget was breach of the con-
stitution and usurpation of the
rights of the house of commons
In introducing his resolution Asquith
will go exhaustiveiy into the question
of the respective privileges of the lords
and commons and state in detail the
governments intentions. He also will
fix the day of prorogation. which proba-
bly, will be next Friday.
Former Premier Balfour. leader of
the opposition in the commons. Will re-
ply. setting forth the view that the new
and important departure in public pol
shehId be submitted to the people. John
Redmond, head of the Irish party, and
possibly one representative of the labor
party will follow with speeches.
CABINET IND0RSES PREMIER
The cabinet, which had already de-
termined on the policy it would pursue
in the event of Lord Lansdowne's s
amendment being carried, had an un-
usually early meeting today to confirm
its decision and consider the wording
of the, motion which Asquith will ask
the house of commons to adopt.
All the members of the cabinet were
present at the meeting, which melted
so much popular interest that great
crowd gathered in the vicinity of the
official residence of the premier.
The election campaign will open in
earnest on Friday, when David Lloyd
George, chancellor of the exehequer,
and Winston Spencer Churchill, presi-
dent of stl1e board of trade. who are
held chiefly irresponsible for the budget
and Lord Lansdowne and J. Austin
Chamberlain, the most ardent oppo
nents of the governments measure
will deliver speeches. and with the ex-
ception of brief respite at Christmas
will continue the fight until election
day.
PEERS TO DEFEND VOTES
In many respects the impending
struggle will be the most interesting
in the parliamentary history of Eng
land. Some of the peers have decided
to take the unusual course of stumping
the country to explain their action in
voting against the budget.
Assa part of hissprogram the labor
ties are withdrawing their candidates