Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-05-13
Knollys Makes Announcement.

The body lies in the kings chamber in
the northeast wing of Buckingham Pal
ace, which is brilliantly lighted, while the
rest of the great, gloomy building, with
the exception of Lord KnolIys' office, is
entirely darkened. 1t was nearly half an
hour after the king breathed his last
when Lord Knollys walked into the Of
fee and said to the waiting reporters:
Gentlemen, his majesty is dead"
The people outside the palace only
learned the news when boys appeared
with papers. In the meantime the prince
and princess of Wales had taken leave
of the other members of the royal family
at the main entrance, soon after mid
night. They drove direct to Marlborough
House. Princess Victoria, who is her
mothers constant companion, remained
with the queen. The others of the fam
lily followed the prince and princess of
Wales.
\ to the privy councillors has
been issued by Sir Almeric Fitzroy, clerk
of the council, converting the council in
the throne room of st. James Palace
at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, when
the councillors will, with one voice and
the consent of tongue and heart, publish
and proclaim that the high and mighty
Prince George is now, by the death of our
late sovereign of happy memory, become
our only lawful and rightful liege lord,
George V. by the grace of God, king of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and of Ireland, defender of the faith and
emperor of India, to whom we do ac-
knowledge all faith and constant obe-
dience. with all hearty and humble affec-
ton, beseeching God, by whom kings and
queens do reign, to bless the royal
prince, George ", with long and happy
years to reign over U.S."
The new king, after this proclamation,
will address the council and promise to
reign as constitutional sovereign. At the
conclusion of the meeting King George
will issue his first proclamation, requir-
ing all officials to proceed with their
duties.
Some Strenuous Politics.
Politically King Edwards reign has
been chiefly notable for the Inauguration
| of a new era of social legislation for the
benefit of the people, which followed the
coming of the Liberals into power again,
after a long Conservative regime. The
general elections in 1906, fought on the
free trade question, brought the strong
est Liberal government for many gen.
erations into power, and under the
Campbell-Bannerman and Asquith minis
tries many measures dealing with edu-
cation, old age pensions, the relations of
workers to employers and cognate mat
tiers were Put into successful operation,
while the great Irish home rule question,
which so agitated the political parties in
the Victorian era, has been to a great
extent thrust into the background.
The reign, however, closes at a period
of great political unrest, with a large
section of the community vigorously op-
posed to the new Liberal policy of en-
croachment on the privilege of the landed
aristocratic classes. and with the heated
questions of the constitution of the house
of lords, tariff reform and home rule still
unsettled.
The kings death occurring at midnight,
when the newspapers were going to press
precluded anything beyond the bare an
nouncement. All. the morning papers
however, appear with heavy mourning
borders and full biographies of the dead
sovereign. They publish editorials de
ploripg the nations loss, while many col
-