The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-12-22
LIBERALS CAIN
Grip on House of Commons
Will be Stronger.
BAlfOUR'S LEAD AT AN END
The Tories Are Disheartened and
Likely to Submit TO Loss OF
Veto Power For House
Of Lords.

London. Dec. l9-The elections are
practically finished, with only eight
seats in the house of comtnons left to
be filled. and the Liberal coalition gov
nment is certain OF ia majority In
'the new parliament. The majority may
be l26. or four more than when parlia
ment was dissolved.
The standing of the parties is as fol-
lows:
Government cOalition-Liberals, 26S:
Lalor.tes, 43; Nationalists. y; indie
pendent Nationallsts, 10. Total. 1893
Opposition Unionists. 27l.
William Archer Redmond. son OF
Join T. Redmond. the Nationalist
oaGer. was elected for East Tyrone
oy liO majority His election increases
the number OF Nationalist votes in the
new house The Nationalists also made
gain In the South division OF Dub
lin. very important constituency
and now the city OF Dublin Is solidly
Nationalist.
lIlbn FdINJ ONOH9N''
In all. the Irish party returns with
Is members. four stronger than In the
old parliament. for John Mexican and
Lawrence Ginuell. who we're excluded
in the last parliament, will sit In the
newt
When parliament meets for business
..,,,ruua.uf will instant.
iy introduce the bill limiting the lords
power. But the debate on the kings
address VIII occupy ten days, so the
bin cannot be sent to the house OF
lords until Easter. Although there has
been much Wild talk by heated Tories
about resistance to the bill. and even
about revolution, II is confidently be
lieved the lords will accept the bill
without putting Premier Asquith to the
necessity OF even asking the king to
create 500 peers 10 carry the bill
through the house OF lords. or course,
the Tories threaten that when they are
recalled 10 Office they will restore the
lords power OF veto or reconstruct the
house Of lords to their own liking But
unless the curtailment Of the veto
works some manifest injustice the
Tories will not dare to revoke H.
Balfour a Lost Leader.
Meantime Arthur Ballour's hasty
adoption OF the referendum for tariff
reform has started an internec.ne|
quarrel in the Unlonist party which
may result in his resignation a. its
leader. The referendum is bitterly op-
posed By the tarin reformers az a.
practically insuperable obstacle to the
adoption of their policy.
With the elections over. sanes coun-
sells are prevailing. and there Is no
longer talk OF Parnellite home rule.
The Liberal party is now confined to-
selfgoyernment for Ireland, subject
to the control Of the imperial parlia-
ment
On the other side many responsible
Unionist organs admit that the govern.
ment has received a mandate for par
lament bill which would abolish the
veto power Of the house OF lords.
Won't Drag King Into It.
The general opinion is that the I'm
ionist leaders will In the end accept
the bill. sooner than drag the king
into the party arena. This naturally
would follow the lords rejection OF the
measure. for then the government
would be compelled TO ask the king
for guarantees in the nature of the ap-
pointment Of 500 peers to outyote the
Unionists in the upper house.
The veto disposed Of, Redmond nat
urally would demand home rule. II is
also possible that before the wishes Of
Ireland are granted the government
will endeavor to pass the electoral re-
form bill. which would abolish plural
voting and provide that all elections
should be held in one day.