New-York tribune., 1910-11-27
EXPECT IRISH CONTROL
Complexion of Parliament NOT
Likely To Be Changed.
BOTH SIDES PREDICT GAINS
Voters Chiefly Interested In Lib
eral Abuse of the Lords and
Dollar Issue of Conservatives.
~. csn,s q Tn. tribune. !

rBs. Cable 10 The Tribune
Iondon. Nov. 26.-The ground has
been cleared for what threatens 10 be an
tndecisive election, with Mr.. Redmond
holdins the balance of power.
The Unionists must win sixty-three
seats to have a bare majority and sew
enty-two for 8 working majority Oh
forty. The closest calculators on that
eide DO not expect net gain OF more
than twenty, and even the optimists are
not hoping for over thirty. With
good start in Lancashire and luck in
London either result would leave the
Unionist in opposition and the Nation
slists in command Of the situation.
The Liberal managers in charge of the
canvass have reduced their estimate of
ret gains 10 a third and candidly con-
fess that they will be satisfied with
tsentv Neither result would enable
them 10 dispense with the support OF the
Nationalists or Labor members, al
though any increase Will be a victory
for the coalition forces against the
House Of Lords.
As the claims OF politicians al the
headquarters OF both sides are evenly
ba lanced. ii IS reasonable 70 forecast
that the relations Of the parties will not
be materially altered.
This view prevails among diplomatists
who ara we'll informed spectators Of the
campaign. They expect only dozen
additional Liberal seats or possibly as
many Cnionist gains.
King Not in Campaign.
The most encouraging sign OF an e3-
ceodingly low toned and partisan can
rass is the complete isolation OF the
King. His name is not mentioned in
The speeches on either side. and all the
talk about guarantees has ceased. There
may he a natural presumption that
there j an underste nding between the
King and the Prime Minister respecting
The action of the crown in certain con-
1ngencies. but this does not enter into
the general constitutional argument
=nd the King is not dragged into poll
tics.
The Lords have conducted an orderly
retreat i'll the face Of the enemy. They
have abandoned the hereditary principle
and committed themselves TO drastic
reform Of the upper house. abstention
from the veto Of financial measures and
+ settlement Of deadlocks by joint as
semhly in ordinary cases. with refer
endum in grave emergencies
These rnanpuvres while disclosing the
concessions which the Unionists We're
prepared TO make in the conference. are
5ndecisive- Nothing like a settlement
has been proposed, since the proportions
Of the Two houses and the parties in
joint session have not been revealed, and
there has been no answer tc Chancellor
I-loyd-Cieorge's taunt that the referen-
Gum would be enforced against Liberal
hut not against Unionist measures.
Mr. Asquith's mastery pleas fer the
veto bin "a an act OF fair play between
the parties hold the field for sound and
lucid reasoning. The veto bill is
practical basis for settlement instead
Of being decoy screen. like Lord Lans
oowne's resolutions; yet il is doubtful
whether the masses either understand
CT are interested in these abstract ques-
1ions Of constitutional law.
Lords and Dollars Issues
That is why Mr.. Lloyd-George tickles
rhe ears Of The voters with abuse Of the
Lords and also why the Unionists are
raising the parrot cry OF the dollar as
dictator The Tnionists are still sUf-
Tering from apathy and lack Of conf
dence. but they have drawn inspiration
from the gallant canvass conducted by
Bonar Law in Manchester and are
concentrating their attention upon the
Home Rule issue, reviying thereby the
passions and preiudces Of Chamber
aain's campaigns against Gladstone.
FTee traders are accepting tariff
maintenance of the Union and moderate
men in both parties are rallying TO the
defence OF the House Of Lords as the
only barrier against an autocratic single
CHAMBER and the triumphant Nation
alists. with a financial base !n America
and Canada There may also be a grow
ing revolt Of the unemployed against
tne government whose labor exchanges
have been Of doubtful utility.
The Unionists are regaining courage
with the excitement OF an embittered
canvass, while the Liberals are harassed
with The prospect OF & score OF tri-
angular contests with Labor or Social
sst candidates.
80 the mad revel Of political passion
> end defamation goes on. with the blind.
snscrutahIe Demos more impassive and
cynical than ever before.