The San Francisco call., 1910-06-19
PEACE REIGNS
OVER PARTIES
IN PARLIAMENT
Proposed Conference of Leaders
on Veto Question Produces
Strange Quietude
British Government Avoids Com
troversy in Measures Before
House of Commons
By T. P. O'CONNOR
TSpeoial Gable 10 The Call


seto question has produced an extra
ordinary effect in British politics. It
orersbadows everything ana paralyzes
and nunbs everything Nobody would
believe that the house of commons was
tHe same place as a few weeks ago.
Then party passion ran higher tsan for
o. quarter Of century and in society
families and friends were divided by
lhe conflict over the house of lords as
bitterly as over the home rule question
SD 1856.
Now a new spirit reigns and not a
word OF rancor is heard. The increase
iu John Burns salary from $4,000 to
So. 600 was passed with equal calm by
+tho tory and liberal benches, only
few of the labor men and the extreme
economists opposing.
Cow ERNMENT RUSHES BILLS
The government is passing its bills
al d breakneck pace. always avoiding
amy but the noncontrOversial proposals,
and The house Of commons keeps rea-
sonable hours for the first time for
3-clf a. century. rising in time for din
1-1r.
AS the conference approaches the
Couiectures. rumOrs and attitude OF
mind change with every hour. First
tEc impression is universal that the
conference is bound TO end rapidly in
= hopeless disa greement- This Is fol-
lowed bE samguine feeling that peace
IS almost within sight.
Premier AsQuith was at first sup
Tcsed 10 be giving merely lip service
~ the country and the kings demand
fo. truce and Balfour. the opposition
leader was credited with going TO the
conference with his tongue in his
G. eek. resolved TO give nothing what
c-er away. even in the constitution Of
Z. house Of lords.
FHOsrECT OF SURRENDER
&0w. however. Asquith is said 10
STARE The hopes Of Lloyd-George. who
la~I week was the solitary optimist in
the ministerial circles that the confer
Cilcc may end in settlement. Balfour
also IS credited with "A readiness TO
surrender I'm many points on which
ercr- body expected him TO resist to the
cuG
There lis some foundation for these
sarsuine hopes. The tories realize that
fEe present house of lords viii no
ions -cr De tolerated by the electors of
3.-9-4rd and they are prepared to meet
t.c coming storm half way by agree
ir- 10 even a drastic reform.
r.. LErfctsly. however. as the hopes OF
p peaceful compromise increase. the
.~rz and file OF both parties become
Ito-c suspicious The radicals were
tostle at first then they became sui
lesly reconciled but today they have
l--apscd and are again openly dis
. t..s-iul
uIeTRUST OF LEADERS
This distrust finds expression in let
-tCra 20 The newspapers, questions IN
to house Of commons and the gradual
formation Of parliamentary groups.
The prOtectiOnist tories are equally
suspicious, thinking that Balfour may
.-'tempt to throw over tariff reform.
Redmond remains in Ireland. thus
maintaining perfect freedom of action
and no responsibility in connection
with the conference, but he VIII ar
rive in London Wednesday. when the
conference meets for the first time.
RedmOnd's arrival viii change the en-
tire situation. as he is always the rail-
lying point OF the radicals when the
action Of the ministry is suspected of
not being sufficiently firm.
AsQuith. Grove and Lloyd George
viii represent the liberals. If a fourth
name is required Birrell is preferred.
as he Is thoroughly sound on the veto
question and on Ireland.
RUNORs OF PEACE TERMS
There are all kinds OF rgmors as to
III.
cne going so far as the acceptance of q
purely elective house Of lords Another
declares that he viii inisst on home
rule and all the big constitutional ques-
uons being excluded from the settle
ment unless accepted by two parlia-
inents in succession and after two cleo
1ions
But these rumors deserve little cred
cnce, as there is little danger that the
liberals viii accept anything which
would sacrifice home rule as any such
compromise would break up the whole
liberal party
The situation is delicate and there is
danger that the liberals may rush into
some patched up compromise which viii
offend their own supporters.
TORIES LOSE CONFIDENCE
The chief hope Of the conference is
the evident recognition by the tories
s. that there is no present chance of their
winning She next election and the i'm
possibilities of any longer defending
Ehe house Of lords.
Every politician who enters the con-
ference VIII take his political life in
bis hands and II is quite possible that
any compromise may end the careers
Of some of them. The king remains
friendly toward Ireland He is anxious
ro ask funds from parliament with
which 10 establish a permanent rovaf 4
To Irish opinion would be premature and
miscellaneous
The king probably longs, like his
father. for the day when he can open
Tie irish parliament with acclamations
OF the irish people The feeling all
round is that the Irish struggle is ap-
preaching its END.
CHIEF WHIP BATTLE LEADER
one Of the men who viii play the
largest part in this great struggle will
NOT figure much in the public eye;
much Jess than many men who VIII
reauv have much less influence and
mower. This is the master Of Elibank
He holds an office which is ALWAYS in
nuential but, like most Offices. the in
fuence varies with the character of the
man who holds il.
The chief whip of each party may be
eritornszed as its father confessor. its
man Of business and its chief diplomat
He is The father confessor because he