Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-21

@HA - 3.
eous matter OF legislation not strictly in
the revenue class-a system OF legislation
formerly common in the United States
when riders were attached to appropria-
ton bills. In England the system is called
lacking"
The lords might have objected to the
budget on this score, but the quarrel then
would nave been in~determinate. They did
not dare to undertake a step so revolution
airy as to reject the bill in toto. The
referendum amendment was the result.
BY its adoption the House Of Lords ad-
mitted that the social reform measure in
the budget were I'm order and not SUBJ
ject to the charge OF lacking" The lords
also forced a dissolution and asked for an
election. For more than a century the
power to dissolve Parliament has not been
exercised by the lords.
The campaign began with this clear-cut
issue: Has OF has not the House Of Com
mons the sole control OF the purse-strings
Of the nation as exercised since the days
Of Cromwell? The liberals declared in
the affirmative, accused the lords Of defy
ing the constitution and asked the people
to return the liberal government and to
limit the power Of the lords. The con-
servativee, on the other hand. did not
meet the issue squarely, but set up the
claim that the amendment by the lords
was not a rejection but a referendum to
the people. Beneath this bubble, however,
the conservatives were stirred to mighty
effort and the peers, themselves, awoke
to action such as they have not dreamed Of
in 200 years.
With one Of the great parties thus un-
willing to meet the issue which caused the
election, it was inevitable that the waters
should become muddied. The conserva-
tives, led by the former prime minister,
Mr.. Arthur J. Balfour OF the House of
Commons, and by Lord Lahdsdowne of the
peers, offered tariff reform, meaning protec-
ton instead of free trade, as a substitute
for all the relief offered in the Lloyd
George budget and proceeded to make their
campaign upon that issue. In addition,
they charged that the liberal government
had failed to provide for the adequate de-
Tense OF the nation against what they de-
clare to be an imminent attack by Ger
many.
Thus the two parties went to the country.
Premier Asquith leading the liberals, al
though all but overshadowed by the great
Llody-George, In the defense of the budget
and in the attack upon the House of Lords,
.endeavored to keep the original issue
S~quarely before the people. The lords and
the conservatives, who forced the refer
endum on that issue themselves, under the
leadership Of Mr.. Balfour, sought to place
the emphasis upon tariff reform. Mr..
Balfour has a record of many years as a
free trader and also as a severe critic of
the House Of Lords, so that his part in the
campaign was most difficult. But he was
thoroughly in earnest In opposition to the
land tax and and valuation features Of
the budget, and he used the best weapons
at hand with which to fight. II the cam
paign could have been kept to the issue
upon which the referendum was taken.
there would never have been a doubt of
a sweeping liberal victory and the prac-
teal abolition OF the House OF Lords. The
conservatives were forced, by the law of
self-preServation, to bring in the tariff re-
form issue.
The liberals tell the people that they
suffer because the land is held by a few
men who do not use 1t to the. best advan-
tage, aud that these landowners must
share in the burdens of public taxation.
the conservatives tell the people that free
trade has brought them to their low estate
and that If they will adopt a protective
tariff there will be work for all the un-
employed, a job for every man, and that
the foreigner will pay the taxes to run the
government. To American ears the cam
paign thunder is strangely familiar.
Not least among the interesting features
Of this remarkable campaign is that both
parties have gone TO the United States for
precedents and examples to prove their
causes. The liberals nave pointed out that
all land is taxed in America, and the con-
~servatives ave retorted with the amazing
discovery that the land tax has kept down
the price of real estate in Boston. The
wages and prosperity of American work.
ingmen as the product of the protective
tariff, and the liberals nave retorted with
the price of butter and eggs In Kansas
City. Thomas jefferson is quoted in at
lacking the Mouse of Lords, and Alexander,
Hamilton is brought forth to defend that
institution. Mother England seems quite
ready to learn something from the Yam
KEGS, but at the same time she has much
to teach the United States about the bust
ness Of conducting campaigns and manag-
ing elections.
BX FREDERIC j. HAsKTN.
Tomorrow-THz ENaLIsH ELECTIONS
-PoLITIos on BILLBoA1Ds.