The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-06
RADICALS ADOPT
MILITANT POLICY
May Force the Throne to Face
Serious Ministerial
Crisis.
FEARS FOR KINGS HEALTH
Battle Over Lords Veto Power
May Be Postponed on
His Account.
FEARS FOR KINGS HEALTH
ny WILLIAM r. STEAD.

tS2eciai Cable to The Times Dispatch
London. February 5.-King Edward
has announced HIS intention TO leave
for Biarritz on March s. Some sur
prise is expressed at his intended abb
sence at time when the constitutional
crisis approaches the danger point
The reason is simple. The Kings
health, normally excellent, is the sub
feet OF serious danger every spring
from the cold northeast winds. Last
year aa attack Of violent coughing.
Threatening suffocation was only
overcome by the free use of oxygen
This alarmed the court. and 1t was
recognized as Indispensable In the
future that he must seek a warmer
climate as soon as Parliament is
opened 1t is most unfortunate, but
inevitable.
The King opens Parliament February
81. and the Kings speech will be de-
bated until February 2S. Then comes
the tug of war The original intention
was to suspend the standing orders
and pass the old budget unaltered in
n single day through the Commons and
present 1t for acceptance to the Lords
Now difficulties have arisen. The
radical contingent raises the cry of
grievances before supply. and may re-
fuse TO pass the budget until the Lords
power of yetoes has been dealt with.
If this militant policy is persisted
in the King may be face to face with
a ministerial crisis just when he Is
starting for Biarritz. If he is detained
in London and the weather is In
clement the danger to the Kings
health might entail fatal results.
Very Serious Complications.
Possible complications that might
ensue are most serious. A change in
no nj ne the N g.
at the same time as an acute minis
terial and constitutional crisis would
aggravate every conceivable mischief.
King Edward Is not a genius. but he
is sovereign of consummate tact. OF
recognized impartialityS and Is per-
sonally popular. His probable sue
cessor possesses none of his fathers
great qualities. He is not tactful. does
not pretend TO ,mpartiality and has
vehement preiudices, both personal and
political, which he does not attempt
to conceal To the contrary he Is
given TO airing them when prudence
would counsel reserve.
The royal heir is hot In favor o.
tariff reform and furious against the
attack on the House of Lords. Will,
he Is not disliked by the masses, who
know him little, he has no persona
magnetism. He is in short a miniature
oeoTSt Ill, WITH health
For such a half-baked prince to ascen,
the throne. when the Lords and Com
mons are entering upon a life ant
death struggle would be an imperia
disaster. Hence. the probability tina
the crisis Will be STAYED off long
enough 10 permit the Kings departure
Radicals to BE Soothcd.
The radicals will be propitated by
promise to raise grievances before
supply when the second budget comes
on for discussion in April and the
This compromise is the more prob
able because the budget was one of
the leading issues of the elections.
The Liberals pledged themselves 10
pass the budget and limit the peers
veto. To postpone realization of the
former, which is within grasp to a
combat over the latter, which may or
may not be wop;. is. doubtful policy
The budget onca p:Assed'the field Will
be cleared for battle royal over
the next budget.
BY that time the King will be home
again. The pressure in favor of carry
Ing budget number one and refusing
10 pass budget number two until the
Lords have their teeth drawn and
their claws clipped will be very strong.
Financial necessity will tell very
HeaVllS, also the natural instincts OF
the party to retain office Instead OF
abandoning their posts to their op-
ponents, who would have the vantage
ground of their position as the Kings
ministers to appeal to the country
against the coercion of the sovereign
by radical despots
Two questions-home rule and un-
emplo~ment-will have to be dealt
with at the price OF maintaining a
solidity of the ministerial coalition,
Tor henceforth England viz 49,
erned by coalitions and the leaders OF
the Labor and Nationalist groups. al
though outside the Cabinet will have
10 be propitiated If the ministry is to
remain in Office, OF the two. unem-
ployment is the most serious, for the
opposition. by promising work for all
and higher wages, have given a dan
gerous Impetus to labor demands. x