The Detroit times., 1910-01-26
FAMOUS WRITER
DEFENDS PEERS
Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Campaigning
for Her Son, Ably Argues
Unionist Case.

LONDON, Jan. 2s.-Although curl
ously enough the suffragettes have
been little in evidence during the pres
ent period of political stress in Eng
land. tho part which women have
played in the campaign mas been very
considerable. Almost every candi-
dates female relatives worked for him
and the Interest generally displayed in
the election by the fair sex has been
extreme.
Few candidates have had such ex-
cellent support as the son OF Mrs
Humphrey Ward, who Is standing for
the Waterford division OF Hertford-
shire. His mother has written a series
of letters which have been circulated
throughout the constituency, ami
which, II has been suggested. should
have the widest publicity given them
becaue Of the way In which this tai
ented woman writer sets forth the
Unionist case.
Mrs. Humphrey Ward addressed her
letters ITO My Neighbors," and they
were written in simple style which
even opponents admit, had an unde-
niable effect AS an illustration Of
how some Of the issues which are be-
ing fought out in England are put by
the talented woman, some excerpts
are given. Mrs. Ward asks:
Have the house of lords done so
wrong? Why have we, why has any
country what Is called the second
chamber? Simply on the principle that
we all follow, If we are wise in our
own lives, that two heads are better
than one, that second thoughts are
often the best. and that great and i'm
portant decisions cannot be taken with
too much care.
above all Is this true when decis-
ions concern a great nation with mil
lions Of inhabitants. The house Of
lords is there to give the nation the
second chance TO say every now and
then, when very important and disput-
ed matters come up: Are you sure
that what you want TO do is really the
will OF the nation? You were elected
some time ago. This law you ask rs
to agree to was never put forward a:
the last election. The country, TO
Judge from the by-elections. no longer
seems to support you. The country
does not seem to want this law. We
think. therefore, that 1t would be bet
ter TO ask the opinion OF the electors
on this most important change before
III is carried out"
Agan, Mrs. Ward writes:
1--WE know that the lords are just
like other people. that both In the
fkouse OF commons and the house of
lords there are wise men and unwise
men, selfish men and public-spirited
men. and we have q way of believing
that. whether in the house OF com
mons or the house OF lords, English
men desire, on the whole, to do their
duty, and wish honestly TO see and 10
know what is their duty.
Moreover, In this part Of the world
we happen to know that the peers are
not all selfish or take no thought for
any interests but their own. On the
contrary. we see that, while many cot
tages belonging to small owners IN
this district are in q bad and neglected
state. the Rothschild cottages are eX-
cellent and are let at half crown
week: that Ashridge park Is open 10
all the world, rich and poor; that the
Rothschild estates are among the
most prosperous in England for every
body who lives upon them, and that
Is miles away the great Woburn estate
Of the duke of Bedford is so well ana
generously managed that there is not
q tenant upon 1t that would not rather
y hundred times be a tenant of the
duke than a tenant OF Lloyd-George or
ANYBODY else-no, we don't believe
that men like Lord Brownlow anil
ord Rothschild and the duke OF Bed
ford have been merely considering
their own selfish interests in saying
that this budget must do to the coun-
try. On the contrary, we believe that
they are honestly afraid that the pud-