The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-13

Conservatives insisted that the chiei
issues were imperial defense and
tariff reform. After the election was
over and the Liberal government was
returned to power the Conservatives
were unwilling To admit that any
thing had been settled except the
power OF the Commons to pass the
money. bills. The House OF Lords
without further ado approved the bud
get-land values. taxation and all.
They did not admit that the Liberal
triumph was a reputation OF the Con
sentative doctrines OF tarin reform
and Imperial defense.
So In the present election cam
paign there have been many cross
cutting issues-tariff reform, irish
home rule. woman's suffrage and, IN
jected I. the eleventh hour. the refer
endum.
The referendum, representing de-
mocracy pure and undefiled. In form,
was espoused by the Tory party be-
cause II was necessary. not only to
defend the institution OF the House
OF Lords. but also because 1t was ex-
Incident TO throw overheard the Con-
seryative doctrine of tarifT reform
The referendum was limited at In the
Iansdowne resolutions adopted by the
House of Lords and was proclaimed
and accepted as party shibDoieth Dy
Mr. Balfour in great speech AT Al
bert Hall when the campaign was well
on The Lansdowne resolutions pro
posed that questions OF great gravity
upon which the two Houses OF Parlia-
ment could not agree ere 10 De re-
ferred 10 the country in direct reter-
endum. Mr.. Balfour in his speech said
that IL the Tories were successful
they would submit their doctrine Oh
tariff reform 10 the people. ana ne
demanded in the same breath that
the Liberals, IL successful, should sub
nit the Home Rule question TO
plebiscite.
The radical ministerialist leaders at
once denounced this proposition Tor
referendum as a delusion and snare
They said IL meant simply that Tory
government in power would be able
| TO pass its measures through both
, houses without any trouble, while
Radical government would be forced
into disagreement with the upper
chamber. and then would have to SUD-
nit it's measures to referendum cam
paign. at cost OF not less than wv
900 900. and with all OF the dangers
of mourning popular resentment
! against oft.repeated elections.
Mr.. Balfour's referendum PROPOSE
ton was hailed by men or both parties
not go much as a declaration IN 1aVof
! of direct legislation by the people a.
a very clever means OF getting ria OF
/ the embarrassing issue or tarin REFORM
| In England tariff reform means protec'
ton. England has been free-trade
! country for about 20 years. and until
/ Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain few years
ago began his agitation for tarin re-
form. neither party for half century
| had dared to espouse the cause OF
protective tariff. Chamberlain and the
militant Liberal Unionist element
forced the fighting and almost before
the country caught its breath the Tory
marty found itself committed TO plan
for the recrudesense OF protection.
! Since any protective tariff con
terminated I'm Great Britain would be
an agrariau tariff designed primarily
for the benefit OF the land owners. II
was not dificult TO persuade the coun
try Tories to adhere to the program
| However. many of the Leading poiti
clans in Conservative ranks were ex
tremely dubious, and Mr.. Balfour. the
! universally accepted leader, never
could be induced to give more than a
baIf.hearted and extremely vague en-
dorsement TO the tariff plans OF his
! Marty associates. In the last elections
the Unionists undoubtedly lost many