East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-01-08


second parliament, one of the most
memorable in the nations history,
was formally dissolved by his majes-
ty today. and writs were issued for
the new election. Borough pollings
Will begin next Thursday, and county
pollings on January 10, continuing
daily to January "a. The new parlia-
ment will assemble about February
IA.
Evidence is accommodating that the
election contest now in full swing will
be one of the hardest ever fought in
Great Britain. The leaders of both
big parties, and of the laborites and
the nationalists. have planned pro-
grams which make it a certainty that
the people in every part of the, coun-
try will hear the questions Of the
house OF lords, tariff reform, free
trade. socialism and other side issues
discussed from every point of view.
Premier Asquith will take an active
part in the conflict.
Recognizing that victory of the
unionists would stop social reforms,
the labor party leaders have agreed
to the liberal proposals to avoid tri-
angular contests by recommending
the withdrawal of n score of labor
candidates, The laborites will contest
only the seats held in the expiring
parliament a
Crisis Is at Hand.
II Is increasingly evident now that
the crisis has been reached, that the
present government, TO be successful
and to remain In power. must bend all
its energies to the thwarting and pos
sible overthrow of the lords. The list
OF bills destroyed by the lords during
the last four years is being used as
damning evidence in this campaign.
1t was just four years ago today, on
January g., 1906. that the Khaki
Parliament" was dissolved and in the
subsequent election the liberals won
sweeping victory. On April S,
1908, Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man resigned the premiership on ac-
count of III health, and Mr.. Asquith,
formerly chancellor of the excheauer.
became premier.
Then came the immortal Lloyd
George budget, which the lords re-
fused to pass, and the present appeal
to the country The real essence of
the Lloyd-George program. to which
Premier Asquith and the liberal par
ty is pledged. is the increase of the
taxation of wealth and capital, to the
corresponding relief of the ordinary.
citizen and consumer. II harks back
to Adam Smiths maxim that the SUBJ
jects of every state ought to con-
tribute towards the support of the
government, as nearly as possible, in
proportion to their respective abili-
ties; that is. in proportion to the rev.
enue' which they respectively enjoy
under the protection Of the state" The
program is not revolu-
tionary; but since its fate has be-
come so intimately bound up with
the constitutional prerogatives Of the
commons 1t may prove the salvation
of the waning power of liberalism.
Liberals Reign Success.
The four year reign of liberalism,
on which the party in power must
stand or fall in the coming contest,
has been one of notable success, as
the enactment of the trades disputes
bill and the eight-hour law for labor
in mines, the establishment of old
age pensions. the remodelling of the
army. the liquidation of public debt
taxation upon the middle and lower
There have been equally no.
table failures, especially the defeat |
of the education act. the plural vot-
Ing act, the licensing act and the |
Irish act of 1907; and to this mel |
ancholy list must be added Mr.. |
budget. The Irish |
act failed because of the attitude OF |
the Irish themselves, but practically |
every other defeat that the govern
ment has suffered has arisen from
the obstructive course pursued by the
conservative majority
in the house of lords. Since the throw
ng out of the budget the Amending
or ending" of the upper house, so ac-
lively discussed after the defeat of |
the education act of 1906 has once
more come to the surface as, after all,
the fundamental issue In the liberal |
regime. In June, 1907, the commons
went on record In passing, by the
huge vote of 432 to LAT, resolution
to the effect that the veto power of
the hereditary house ought to be
abolished. Until the events of the
past few months, the cause of liberal
ism has been none too strong, and It's
warefare upon the privileges of the
ords was waged under increasing dis