El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-16
By
Frederic
]. Haskin

the farm Iaborers, to the influence Of
their employers
The whole question of suffrage re-
form is bound UP in the issue between
the Commons and the Lords II the
lords are deprived of their veto power
as proposed by Mr.. ASQuith, 1T is prac-
ticalIy certain that any Liberal gov
eminent would abolish plural owner
ship voting. But here the problem Is
complicated by the demand for woman
suffrage.
For a time the suffragettes made, use
OF the slogan One adult, ore vote
which would have admitted all men and
women of adult age to the suffrage
without any restrictions whatever
But the sympathies of the suffra gettes
now are with the Conservative party,
on account Of the refusal of the As
quith government TO grant their de-
nands, so that the leaders Of the suf-
fragete cause are not so enthusiastic Tor
general enfrarchisement as they once
were. Indeed, it now appears that the
suffragettes are wii:--S TO accept
grant of suffrage on the same terms
as the vote is now given 10 men, which
means that perhaps one million women
would be entitled to vote, all those not
owning property in their own right
being excluded.
Parliament Must Be Revised.
BEFORE IL may De SdlQ Will tIUl4A
that the people rule in Great Britain,
not only must the suffrage laws be re-
vised, but there must be a redistriDu-
ton of seats in Parliament based upon
an equitable appOrtionment Of popula-
ton In Great Britain all political ques
tions whatsoever are settled by the
election of members Of Parliament
Any parliamentary constituency return
ing one member has exactly as much
political power as any other similar
constituency. But in one there may be
40 600 voters, and in the other fewer
than 5000 while the discrepancy in
population may be even greater.
The redistribution bills following the
great reform Of so years ago, did much
for the cause of popular government in
England by the elimination of the rot
ten pocket bOroughs, but much remains
to be done. Even in the United States,
with all of the tricks of the gerry
mander, there is an approximate equal
distribution of congressional seats in
proportion to population Nothing OF
the kind is even attempted in Great
Britain
The British parliamentary system.
with a responsible ministry in charge
of the administrative affairs of gov
eminent, affords perhaps the pest eX-
listing example of machinery adarted
to the uses Of true popular government
is given the legal right TO vote many
times because of its wealth. as long as
another class is prevented from voting
because of its poverty. and as long as
representation in Parliament is apppor-
toned upon other considerations than
that of population. it cannot be said
that the machinery is in idea working
order.
Upper Chamber Rules.
The objection urged against PROPOSE
tions to abolish the House of Lords,
that a single chamber legislature is
dangerous experiment. undoubtedly has
great weight. Most successful parlia-
mentary governments have found the
bicameraI system better adapted to
deal with legislative problems But at
the same time there is an increasing
disposition in all parts of the world
to make the upper chamber response
BILE to the public will This is mani
tested in the United States in the
quite general demand for the popular
election Of senators.
Even the most radical Liberals have
not advocated the entire abolition Of
the house of lords, cOntenting them
selves with demand for the right OF
the Commons to enact laws without the
consent of the lords by twice passing
the measure through the Commons
! Under that system the lords would
have an advisory veto winch WOuAO,
in sornN measure. represent and con-
serve the force Of that somewhat neb-
uIous ming called the sober second
| thought of the nation
System a Success.
In the face OF the record of events
of the past five years. il is folly TO pre-
tend that the people rule in Great
Britain. As long as the land owning
! classes were able to cOa5rol both po-
litical parties. which was always un-
til 1876, that pOItiOn of the people
| permitted to vote did have the power
| and the right to control the affairs OF
! the British government 1t must be
admitted that on the whole the system
was successful. perhaps more successful
than any Otnvr mouern plan OF gov
! eminent.
! But with the increase in the number
! Of people, and the decrease in the num-
( Der OF landlords, the time came when
one of the two great parties passed
out OF the control of the landowning
I class. And then the people OF England
! found that they Were ruled. not by
themselves, but by the landed and titled
aristocracy and the king
Next article-XII-The Landlords and
| the People