The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-04
CATCH AT STRAW
OF Referendum
Within Fortnight Unionists
Entirely Reverse Fight
ing Front.
REAL ISSUE NOT. CHANGED
Contest Is Against Possession of
Majority in Upper House
by Tory Party.
ny WILLIAM r STEAD.

by WILLIAM T STEAD.
Especial Gable to The Times -Dispatch.l
London, December 3.-The general
election, the first polls OF which have
already been taken. is the most extra
ordinary that has ever been fought In
Great Britain.
The Unionists have proved them
selves such quickchange artists that
within a fortnight they have entirely
reversed their fighting front. Down
to the time Of breaking off the con-
ference they were pledged to fight for
a hereditary House of Lords. and ths
Immediate adoption OF tariff reform.
Within a fortnight they have thrown
the hereditary principle overheard ana
indefinitely adjourned tariff reform.
They knew that on the old lines they
had no chance of success, and SO. Ike
drowning men, they catch at the straw
Of the referendum to save them from
summary extinction.
For the moment the Unionists are
rejoicing with exceeding great joy,
feeling that they have stolen their
adversaries' thunder and have at least
hghting chance. At Lloyds. where
people insure against everything, the
prospect OF a Liberal majority of III
has sunk to the calculation that they
will not have more than fifty or sixty.
The whole thing is an impudent farce,
and If 1t deceives John Bull, then that
gentleman is ready to allow any
mountebank to pun the wool over his
eyes. which is not his national char
acteristic. Lord Rosebury's proclama-
ton at Manchester that the House OF
Lords has disappeared and that the
hereditary principles have been sur
rendered and the pious resolution of
the peers against an exclusive heredi-
tary House are all so much dust
thrown into theelectors eyes. in the
/ hope that some may be bewildered.
The Issue Not Changed.
The real fight is against the heredi-
tary principle. 1t is against the per-
manent possession by the Tory party
of a majority in the upper House
But the most astonishing turn-about
| is that which has taken place in
tariff reform. Down to the beginning
| OF last week the Unionists claimed in
/ forms that their tariff reform was ur-
/ gent, that 1t could brook no delay, and
| that the adoption OF tariff reform was
the foremost plank OF the Tory plat
form. In the middle of the week Bal
four proclaimed that he had no OBJ
! lection to deferring the adoption OF
Ltariff reform to plebtctte or referen-
dun, so that the Unionists free traders
could vote for the Unionists' candidate
/ with clear conscience. Now Bal
| fours pledge was not definite Lie
merely said he had no objection to
| such a course. But Immediately the
ers who manifested the most extraor-
binary delight in removing tariff re-
| form from the party platform. which.
until Balfour's speech, they had re-
garded as the most popular plank. The
simple fact Is that the Tories have
discovered they cannot carry tariff
reform: that the British public won't
have it. and that their only chance
of winning the elections Is to postpone
1t to the Greek calends.
Nor can any reliance be placed upon
Balfour's declarations about the refer
endum. He has left himself an ample
loop-hole through which to escape
from the fulfilment of his pledge. In
who wish to be deceived can be gulled
by such very transparent trick.
Repentance Is Too Late.
The general impression In Liberal
; change of front is too late to material
! ly affect the elections. 1t may turn
a few votes here and there, but you
cannot affect 100000 voters at such
SIlOII llolISc.
From both patriotic and business
viewpoint, nothing can be worse than
| the reduction of the Liberal party.
which would render it impossible for
any government to carry on its bus
| mess without constant bargainings
| with the Labor and Irish parties.
Even with majority of Ia, Redmond
could always put the government in
the minority If the Irish voted against
it, If the majority were reduced. Red
mond's acknowledgements which the
Tories are declaiming at the present
moment-would be established upon
hrmer basis. If we could suppose the
Impossible to happen, and the Conserva-
tives should obtain majority, they
would admittedly have done it by
| eliminating tariff reform as an issue
at the present election. That is to
say they know that the majority or
the electors in the country cannot be
induced to vote for tariff reform. What
chance then Is there of their being
able to carry tariff reform on the
referendum. limited to that one topic?
The whole t"ing Is farce and it
would say little for the steadiness of
| the national mind or the stability OF
the national character If the Unionists
We're to be installed in Office.