The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-27
COMMONS NEEDS REFORM
Both Houses of EngGndS Parliament Require Overhaung
to Satisfy Modern Business Object to Science

nient the eyes of thoughtful people in
every part of the universe-in North as
well as in South America, in Japan. in
China, in India. in Africa. Australia. and
In the wilds of Siberia. as we'll as every
where in Europe-are concentrated just
now upon the palace of Westminster in
London.
II is unnecessary 10 enter here more
fully into the causes OF the disputes. or
rather series of disputes. which have re-
suited in war TO the knife between the
Lords and the Commons. The cable dis
patches contain columns of information
about the matter and. moreover, events
are now moving rapidly, the utmost
| Ignorance prevailing as to the nature Of
each next step by the three component
parts Of Parliament namely, Crown,
Lords, and Commons. All, therefore, that
II is possible TO do under the eircum-
stances is 10 call attention to some few
features and oddities of this oldest OF
all legislative bodies in the world
Perhaps the strangest thing about Eng
lands Parliament Is to be found In the
fact that although it is supposed to be
the temple of Oratory and the one place
in the empire where eloquence reigns
supreme SINCE the tHAafe SeSSiDIS pl
both houses are given up 10 discussion.
that is 10 say. talk. it is the silent man
who is held in the highest regard. The
English are naturally a silent race.
Type of Legislator
Their most popular type of national
hero is the strong. silent man" and the
legislator who SAYS nothing at all. merely
demonstrating bis views by his votes. or
else who in a few brief. perhaps clumsily
constructed. sentences says what he has
TO say plainly and TO the point. without
any pretension 10 oratory, inspires far
greater degree Of confidence, both In and
out OF Parliament than the most care
fully trained elocutionist or the most
silvery-tongued speaker Verbiage. no
matter how melodiOus, inspires distrust
whereas blunt. direct speech appeals to
the English-speaking races.
And that was why the late Duke OF
Devonshire. who spoke as little as he
could. and was wont 10 yawn in the
middle of his speeches, by reason. as he
explained It. OF their dreaTiness. was re-
garded by the bulk Of his countrymen as
"A far safer man to follow than the most
eloquent Of all great cOmmoners OF the
Ewart Gladstone
Perhaps the following little incident
VIII illustrate just what l mean: At the
time OF the discussion in the House Of
Commons OF the Chinese labor in South
Africa controversy an entirely new mem
Der succeeded in an altogether unexpected
fashion in catching the Speakers eye.
Perhaps il was the strangeness OF his at
tire, the pilot coat, and the soft felt hat,
contrasting so strangely with the silken
tiles worn by the other members, which
caused the occupant Of the chair 10 ae-
cord Ano permission to speak.
CheaPness of Labor.
In a few. short, crisp sentences he gave
them mis- reasons for mis- objections TO
the Chinese. on account OF the cheapness
OF their labor. explaining that he had
worked in South Africa asa laborer, and
speaking TO them as a laboring man. A
sudden hush fell upon the House. every
one listening intently There was no
disposition on either side Of the House 10
even smile at his oddities of expression
and at the transparent lack OF culture.
and even Of education, In his utterances
Here was man who knew by actual
experience what he was speaking about.
and who was saying il as briefly and as
simply as he knew how. When he sat
down Joseph Chamberlain arose from the