The Detroit times., 1910-09-21
SWAPS
BRITISH POLITICS
VIM. T. Stead Explains Remarkable
influence Of c. L. Garvin, Of the
London Observer.

LONDON, Sept, 2l.-One OF the
most remarkable features OF British
politics OF recent years has been the
emergence OF q new personality whose
very existence 10 probably unknown
to the American public. says w. T.
Stead. In a cable to the New York
American.
For the last twelve months the
whole course of British politics has
been dominated by q single man, ahu
that man one who 10 member Oh
neither house of Parliament, man
who In neither prince nor peer. Dull
q plain plebeian whose very name 10
unknown to nine out OF ten In the
British electorate.
He is not q wealthy man. nor has
he enjoyed the advantages either oi
aristocratic connection or OF univer-
sity education. Nevertheless, he, alone
and unaided, has dictated the policy
OF one Of the great English parties,
he II was who compelled the unwiil'
ing house OF lords to reject the Duo.
get, and who precipitated the general
election.
And after having committed the
two parties to a life and death strug-
gle over the constitutional crises, he
again interviewed with authority and
compelled both disputants to adjourn
their disputes and endeavor by . con-
ference to arrive at compromise.
No one who 10 on the inside track
of British politics will dispute any OF
these statements. But no OUTSIDER
knows him. and in America II 10 PROD
able that his name will be heard lor
the first time when 1t Is printed IN
this article.
This remarkable man IL not even
an Englishman. He Is an lrishman'
and was born less than fifty years
ago. His name Is Garvin-C. L. Gar
vim. editor of the Observer, the Oldest
and most influential OF our sunday
| papers: chief leader writer on the
| Daily Telegraph, the inspirer or ana
occasional contributor TO the Daily
Mail. and the political chronicler OF
the Fortnightly Review. He began
life as an Irish Nationalist, but soon
left the ranks Of that party, and
coming to London. became an earnest
even impassioned, Imperialist. When
Mr. Chamberlain made his plunge Tor
protection Mr.. Garvin at once became
the journalistic standard-bearer OF the
new party.
II was not, however. until Lloyo
| Georges budget was introduced last
year that Mr.. Garvin revealed himself
as the master Of the party which ne
had previously been content TO serve
In a series OF articles, written with
consummate skill and inspired by an
almost savage passion, he lashed and
spurred the timorous and reluctant
peers to reject the budget. Even all
his frenzied invective and scornful
obiurgations would have failed had II
not suited Lloyd George to play into
| his hands.
| The Chancellor Of the ExcheQuer
who IL a shrewd and willy politician
deliberately played for the rejection
OF his own budget. II the lords had
passed the budget, the Liberal party
would have been compelled to appea
| to the country on the welsh Disestap
| lishment bill, and a dissolution or
such an issue would have spelled ruiz
| for the Liberal party. 1t was neces
sary, according to his calculation, a.
any cost to challenge the peers TO Q
conflict on the financial issue. MIR
Garvin, all unconsciously. played into
the hands OF his astute antagonist
The dissolution followed, and the re
suits of the general election compelled
the house OF lords to accept the de
tested budget
Mr.. Garvin's hold over his part,
was somewhat shaken. But the deati
of King Edward afforded the adroi
Journalist an opportunity which HI
was prompt to seize. He proclaimed
a truce and insisted that the leader
of both parties should confer as Il
whether an amicable settlement o
the constitutional crisis could not b.
arrived at by consent. This again Tel
in with the humor OF Lloyd George
and the conference was called. Blu
for Mr.. Garvin 1t would never hav
assembled.
I consider Mr. Garvin the new Dis
raeli: a Disraeli outside Parliament
At present he IL hated and feared b.
the Unionists, just as Disraeli wa
hated and feared by the party whicl
he compelled to do his will. Mr.. Gar
win will find the task OF educating tn
Unionists to repeal the union on
that will strain his power to the utter
most. But he Is a man OF splendi
audacity and OF inexhaustible energ
and he may succeed
At any rate, have said enough Z
show that all Americans who wish Z
follow intelligently the course OF Bril-
ish politics will do well to keep thei
eyes upon Mr.. Garvin.