The San Francisco call., 1910-07-10

ing in the columns of the Morning
Post, the ablest and most powerful OF
the reform organs. Balfour, though
not named, has ever and again been
told that there is one thing he can not
give away, and that is tariff reform
And every move on his part is watch I'd
with suspicion and distrust in the
minds of a large number of his fol
lowers.
He has another section of watchful
critics in the backwoodsmen. This new
and potent force, which has come into
existence since the opening of the
budget fight, is very restless. Coming
rarely to the house of lords, they ney-
ertheless value their privileges highly,
and they look with regret and suspi :
cion on the various proposals-some Of
them coming from their own leaders
which suggest that the powers and
privileges should be curtailej.
One of the many suggestions before
the conference is on these lines, name
iy: that a conference take place be-
tween the two houses in cases of diff
ference, but that in these conferences
only limited number of the peers be
allowed to take active part. Balfour
II he accepted any such proposition
would certainly have to face a revolt
of the backwoodsmen.
Asquith. on the other hand, is not
much trusted by the fighting section of
the radicals. Beginning life as radical
Asquith is supposed to have been
dangerously moderated in opinion by
the experience of the last 20 years.
And Asquith is regarded as not better
than a whig.
I think that these judgments on As
quith are unjust. Nor is he persona
grata with the Irish nationaJists and
still less with the Irish people.
He was for many years a member of
the liberal league-an organization
within the liberal party which was or
ganized by Lord Rosebery and for years
split up the party.
MINISTER'S FOR HOME RULE
The majority of the liberal leaguers
were content to transform Gladstone's
policy of complete and immediate home
rule into step by step home rule-by
installments. This was the secret of
the inadequate Irish councils bill
which was introduced in the last par
lament
Notoriously that bin would have been
much bigger and wider If it had not
been for the liberal leaguers and Ire
land has not forgiven them for this
waste of an immense opportunitys for
settling the Irish question
Hence Irishmen look with suspicion
upon any dealings in which Asauith
takes part. This criticism also 1 do
not think altogether well founded As
quith was wrong in joining the liberal
leaguers and wrong in reducing home
rule to such scanty proportions in the
councils bill. but he is undoubtedly
convinced home ruler.
Finally Lloyd George has his critics.
and some Of these are among his best
friends and most ardent admirers In
his case the suspicious are due to his
merits rather than to his demerits. He
is generous, offhand. impulsive. desir-
ous to please-in short, a Ceit-and
the terror in his case is his eagerness
for settlement that may give away
more than the liberal or Irish party
could we'll stand.
/ do not think that anybody who
knows him well believes that Lloyd
George would surrender anything that
would stand for home rule. He is too
good nationalist for that And he
'ould not betray home rule without be-
-raying Welsh disestablishment, and
hat is unthinkable. The peril that
has to confront is some
on the lords question
which would give them more power
han the liberals are disposed to allow.