Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02
FIGHT OVER LORDS
Vigorous Campaign in the
United Kingdom.
ISSUE SQUARELY JOINED
Liberals Accuse the Peers of Violat-
ing Constitution.
USURPATION IS CHARGED
Conservative-U nionists Advocate the
Increase of Revenue by Estab-
fishing Protective Duties.
BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Written for The star and the Chicago Record
Herald
The campaign In England seems very
short, considering the Importance of the
issue. and compared with the custom in
this country. But the population Is SO
compact and the methods of conducting
a campaign are so different from those
III the United States that it will be very
much easier 10 complete the orsaniza-
ton and give the voters a chance to hear
The arguments on both sides in two
weeks over there than in six weeks in
this country. According to custom Writs
for the election of members will be issued
Nv the speaker of the mouse OF commons
January S. the date fixed for the dis
solution of parliament, and in boroughs
where they are received on the day OF
issue polling can take place January Is;
that is the second Thursday of the new
year 1t IS not customary in the United
KINGDOM for the elections in all the Dor
Cughs to occur on the same day, out
from the 18th on the ballOtinS continues
in different boroushs until the election
is complete Saturday, January 10, will
be the day selected in most of the Dor
oughs and the result will be known on
that day unless the majority either way
happens to be very small
In the campaign the contents OF the
budget seem to be lost sight OF. the
uaranlount issue is expressed In the
ioft:on brought forward in the house or
commons by the prime minister on De-
~ .4.her > as follows:
That tie action of the house OF lords
in refusing to pass into law the hnancial
provision made by this house Tor the
service of the year is breach OF the
constitution and a usurpation of the
rights of the commons.
All voters who believe that statement TO
be true will casts their ballots for the
parliamentary candidates OF the noerai
party and it's allies. All who believe TO
the candidates of the conservative
unionist party and it's allies. If the
liberals and their allies elect majority
of the next commons the legislative
functions of the house of lords will be
practically abolished, and the unwrltten
constitution of the British empire will
he thus amended to that effect. Other
wise the house OF lords Will nave its
prestige restored and its right to inquire
into the methods of taxation and the
expenditure of the public funds Will be
INDICATED. To abolish that body is I'M
possible, but the purpose of the liberal
party is to deprive it of any important
share in legislation; while the conserva-
tive-unionists. the protectionists ana
other opponents of the liberal policies
are taking advantage OF the SITUATION TO
get back into power.
Strength of the Liberals.
The liberal party has the advantage
of the control of the government. 1t
has the sympathy and support of the ma
tionalists or Irish party, because 1t Is
pledged to home rule. 1t has the sup
port and sympathy of the trade unions,
because of it's generous legislation for the
benefit Of the poor, the unemployed and
the aged, and because the opposition or
the lords to its budget was DUE to the
increase in the income tax, the inner
itance tax, the taxes on land and other
forms of property which affect only the
rich and are intended to tighten the bur-
den of the poor. The liberals also have
the sympathy and support of the So
cialsts, who are opposed to the house
of lords, the nobility and aristocracy
and demand the adjustment OF titles
and all hereditary rights.
The parliamentary committee of the
trade union congress, which represents
all organized labor in the United King
dom, has issued a manifesto In which
1t declares that the house OF lords has
never voluntarily done anything to pro-
mote the interest of the masses OF the
people. On the contrary, 1t has protected
every abuse, supported every privilege
and persistently opposed every reform
in the interest of labor. The house OF
lords is declared to be a menace to
political freedom. and it's action in re-
jecting the budget a deliberate Insult
to the duly elected representatives OF the
people. After enumerating the measures
which the trade unions desire enacted.
the manifesto appeals to all organized
labor and all wage earners throughout
the kingdom to work zealously throughout
the campaign. and to vote unanimously
for the liberal and labor candidates OF
the house of commons. and for the aboli-
ton of the house of lords.
Similar manifestoes have been issued
by the socialists. and the leaders of that
b.y- hlnv
campaign, demanding not only the re-
striction but the abolition of the lords.
The liberal party charge the lords with
having forced a dissolution of the gov
eminent by the suspension of the budget
which is equivalent to its rejection, and
declare that if this right, never before
exercised, be sustained by the voters of
the United Kingdom, the lords will secure
control over the finances and become the
predominant power. Every budget will
be dictated by them, any law may be
defeated by the action OF small and IT.
responsible group of titled legislators:
the dissolution of parliament can be
forced at any time by the concerted &C
ton of few lords. and thus British in
of the nobility. and will cease to be rep
resentative and democratic.
The conservative-unionist are taking
no part in the defense of the peerage
They permit the noble lords to fight their
own battle, but they are attacking the
budget as socialistic legislation and a
bundle of unjust and unfair burdens to be
placed upon the shoulders Of people OF
means. They declare that this socfalistic
policy has been carried too far already:
that IL is destroying the commerce and
industry of Great Britain; that 1t Is driv-
ing capital from the country and break
ing down the middle and industrial
classes. who are the mainstay OF the gov
eminent and the source of the wealth and
power of the nation.
Advocating Protective Tariff.
The unionists propose a new system of
indirect taxation for raising revenue.
which has been adopted by all civilized
nations except Great Britain. and has
proven successful in the development of
the industry and wealth of the United
States, Germany, France and every other
nation England alone persists In free
trade. and admits the products of other
countries to compete directly with the
products of its own people in its home