The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-23
Mr.. Asquith'. Blun Called.

The childish political triCkery by which
Mr. AsQUITH endeavored Ia force the
nation To vote blndly for his party AZ
an election sprung suddenly upon II
has been fuiled by the lnlOnlst leaders
in the House Of Lords. who have shown
the energy and aCutencrsS IN which Mr..
BALFOUR has again failed. Lord L.Ss-
DowSE has succeeded III putting the
Lords on record on one disputed point,
he PROMISES To do The same on another
to-day or tomorrow. Lord CREwE,
who unlike the. leader Of the Commons
retains the traditions of British fairness.
has put no Obstacles in Lord LASs-
powSE ) wav When the election comes
the country will know definitely Just
where the Lords stand on the constitu-
tIonal question al issue. The Liberals
will be unable TO depreciate the tnonist
arguments a. being mere election talk
We have now a distinct. uneGIivocal
vote. that was also unanimous. by which
the House Of Lords agrees TO divesr itself
Of its ancient hereditary privilege Of leg
islajing. and is ready 10 transfer those
duties 10 a new second chamber formed
on new basis. in which birth does not
count The upper house has unre-
Scrvedlv committed itself to the prin-
ciplc That II does not propose anything
less clumsy or more definite in regard To
constitution and tenure than the Hose
hery plan - the fault of Mr. AsQCITH' =
Government and OF the failure Of the
conference committee which should
have rrIt the plan into practical form.
IL 10 clear that in the resolutions with
which Lord LANsDowNF proposes TO
meet the veto bill TO-DAY he has an cf-
fiCian; second chamber in mind H.
distinguishes between monev bills and
Other legislation, evidently holding 20
the sound tradition tina, IN. former per
tain exclusively 20 the lower ho,ise
while 'h. latter must be Considered by
the upper hois. too. If II r,,o have anv
power or significance at all. He defines
monev bills so that they shall not III
clud" political riders. which was the
ground on which the Lords threw or tn.
LLOYD G.org" budget He promises to
suggest IN. maChinp-v h. whi' h he two
houses may come together for the lis
olsspr of matters on which the! mav
d!=agr". Whlf"Te- N" valII" OF Lord
lL.NsDOwNE'S proposals u.av b... h"
cl.nrlY has \ real. working second
chamber n his mind. not ~. empty
phrss" thai M AsorITH IL using. and
h" VIII probably get III" Lords 70 ac-
Guie=c., with him
Th- I uioni-'S will. therefore. go 10
the country with "a plain, unIni-fa kabe
statement Of where they stand on the
question NJ issue: tho Liberals 50 far
have gpn" no further than to declare
that ~" Lords must be- muzzlsd by far
means or foul Lord RosFBEEY NAV
/ have dri't"d away from 'he party which
ho ono" i"1. bur he ~ still "a shrewd
politician. and th"r. are plenty ~ Lib
erals who. with him. Will decline 70 fol
lpw Mr. A-Qr rrH ia hi- pf"-"r' fool
! hardy cuiIr-,' and ~ ho ar" disgust ed ". III
! hi- tactics f.v"n NJ R-LrDrR NAV re-
cover his nerve and s'ifgen his backbone
under the Indictment Of the men IN n.
[ Lords that b." Processes "a lead
/ II may bc that Mr. ASouiTH Wi feel
bound "a carry on, the blun that has
been called and Dissolve Parliament on
the date he announced. IN hi- effort 10
dodg" the r'nl l--un h" - making prom
r-s.- right and left When he returns Ia
I,"w"r ~" Labor members 81 Parlia-
rn"n' will =" pari. the trades unions
| wii! h" allowed 10 spend their benefit
money Tor p"!tIca! purposes. which the
law now f"rbId-; even the WOMEN will
receive votes. Ther" will b" legislation