The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-13

Conservatives insisted that the chief
issues were imperial defense and
tariff reform. After the election was
over and the Liberal government was
returned TO power, the Conservatives
were unwilling to admit that any
thing had been settled except the
power OF the Commons TO pass the
money bills. The House OF Lords
without further ado approved the bud
get-land values. taxation and all.
They did not admit that the Liberal
triumph was reputation of the Con-
sentative doctrines OF tarin reform
and imperial defense.
So In the present election cam
paign there have been many cross
cutting issues-tariff reform, Irish
home rule. woman's suffrage and, In
jected in the eleventh hour, the refer
| endum
The referendum, representing ue-
mocracy pure and undefiled, In form,
| was espoused by the Tory party De-
cause II was necessary, not only 10
defend the institution OF the House
| OF Lords, but also because IL was ex-
pedient TO throw overheard the Con-
servative doctrine OF tariff REFORM
| The referendum was limited at In the
Lansdowne resolutions adopted by the
House of Lords and was proclaimed
and accepted as a party shibboleth by
Mr.. Balfour in a great speech at Al
| bert Hall when the campaign was well
on. The Lansdowne resolutions pro-
posed that questions OF great gravity
upon which the two Houses or Parlia-
ment could not agree were TO be re-
| ferred TO the country In direct refer
endum Mr.. Balfour in his speech said
| that IL the Tories were successful
they would submit their doctrine OF
tariff reform TO the people, and he
demanded I'm the same breath that
the Liberals, II successful, should sub
NIT the Home Rule question TO a
plebiscite.
The radical ministerialist leaders at
once denounced this proposition Tor
referendum as a delusion and a snare.
| They said II meant simply that Tory
government In power would be able
| to pass its measures through both
/ houses without any trouble, while a
| Radical government would be forced
| into a disagreement with the upper
chamber. and then would have to sub
nit It's measures TO referendum cam
paign, at a cost OF not less than $lO,-
! 900 600, and with all Of the dangers
OF mourning popular resentment
against oft-repeated elections.
Mr.. Balfour's referendum PROPOSE
ton was hailed by men of both parties
not so much as a declaration In favor
OF direct legislation by the people as
a very clever means or getting ria Oh
the embarrassing issue OF tari1 REFORM
| In England tariff reform means protec'
ton. England has been a free-trade
country for about 20 years. and until
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain a few years
ago began his agitation for tarin re-
form. neither party for half a century
had dared to espouse the cause or a
protective tariff. Chamberlain and the
militant Liberal Unionist element
| forced the fighting and almost before
the country caught its breath the Tory
party found itself committed to plan
for the recrudesense Of protection.
Since any protective tariff con
templated in Great Britain would be
an agrarian tariff designed primaril.
| for the benefit OF the land owners. II
was not difficult to persuade the coun'
try Tories to adhere to the program
| However, many OF the leading politi'
clans I'm Conservative ranks were ex'
tremely dubious, and Mr.. Balfour, the
universally accepted leader, never
could be induced TO give more than a
balf-hearted and extremely vague en-
dorsement to the tariff plans OF his
party associates. In the last elections
the Unionists undoubtedly lost many