The Detroit times., 1910-12-10
STRUGGLE IN GREAT
BRITAIN AIMED At
SPECIAL Interests
People Believe Only Way They Can
Gain Recognition Is To Take
Government Into Their
Own Hands.
Unless Expressed Will of Voters Is
Set Aside House of Lords Will
Have Little Power.
BY HARRY G. FARMER.

LONDON, Dec. 10.-"The upkeep
OF a fully equipped duke is about the
same as that of two dreadnoughts;
he is fully as much a terror, and
lasts longer"
II is the growing retaliation OF this
simple fact, SO daringly stated by
David Lloyd-George, the "insurgenf
chancellor of the eXchequer, that has
brought about the political revolution
which today is sweeping England and !,
Ireland and which tomorrow must
eliminate in the overthrow OF one OF
Great Britain's cherished institutions
the house OF lords.
Like the people of the United
States, the people of England and
Ireland are ''insurging This is moth
ing new for the Irishman. Its mani
festations are decidedly new for the
Englishman. The people that have
set the pace in monarchial institu-
tons, that have lived for centuries
under laws enacted by the govern
ing class"-the aristocracy-that
have been bred TO the belief In the
necessity OF class distinctions, that
have been proud of their nobility
these people have at last discovered
that their nobility is not noble. They
is dominated by special interests, BY
property interests. and that the only
way they ca ngain recognition of the
right of men against the privilege OF
property is TO take the machinery or
government into their own hands.
Just as the people of the United
States are now struggling for the
right of man against the privilege or
property. so are the people OF Eng
land struggling. There is this diff
ference: In the United States the
peopl eenjoy the means whereby TO
take control of government. In Eng
land they do not Now, however, the
people of England are in position 10
secure that means? The victory OF
( the liberal government in the cleo
ton now closing, makes 1t now prac-
tically certain that the house OF lords
will either be abolished or so emas-
culated as TO take il impossible for
wheels OF progress.
For great many years Americans
have been told that England has a
popular government. England thus
far has had no such thing. England
has some mighty good laws, institu
tons and customs, and its people
have certain advantages that Ameri-
cans do not have. Popular govern
ment, however. is not one OF these.
English laws are enacted by par
! lament. one house of which is cleo
tive. but until 1905 both houses were
composed of men from what is cali
ed the governing class, or
arstocracy. which is. invariably, in
all nations. found on the side OF
property an dnot on the side of hu-
manity.
With the advent of the liberal par
~ control OF the house OF commons,
following the Boer war. with the rise
OF David Lloyd-George, the real cham
pion OF human rights in the liberal
party. and with the taking of the
reins of government by Premier AS
quith, the people, for the first time.
were truly represented in parliament
by a force capable of making its
presence felt and anxious to enact
legislation for the Improvement OF the
condition of the masses
For five years the liberals have
been violentl yopposed and often
blocked by the reactionary house or
lords.
The fight finally conferred OH thu
house Of lords itself The issue in
the election OF the past fortnight has
been the question of the very life of
the hereditary house This has been
the question:
shall the house OF lords be strip
ped OF legislative authority"
The people of England have an
swered in the Affirmative The re-
tur nof the liberal government with
an increased majority can mean moth
ing less. The people, on referendum.
have voted that the house or lords
must 20 or lapse into 'innocuous
desuetude"
The house of commons has passed
what Is called the veto bill" which
provides that the lords shall not have
power to veto, or defeat bills passed
by the commons. II provides that
all money bills become laws as soon
as passed by the commons II pro-
vides that all money bills become
laws rs soon as passed by The com.
mons, and that all other bills shalt
become laws II passed by the com
mons ~ htree consecutive sessions,
even ID rejected eac htime by the
lords
So this election has been really
referendum TO the people on pro-
posed. amendment to the "unwritten
British constitution
Tie people have voted for the
amendment Hcnceforth. unless there
is found some way To set aside the
expressed will OF the English people,
the house OF lords VIII be merely
sort OF highly aristocrauc social club. ,
with a dignihed ritual and few OF
fetal duties
The British parliament viii become
practically s. one-honsp legislatures
that will speedily attempt 10 enact
laws that viii rectity the unjust con
ditiOns under which the masses OF
the English people are now living.