The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18

clously for centuries. They have given
up, or professed to give up, the heredf-
tary principle IN the house of lords;
they have given up. or professed to give
lords in the joint meeting which they
have proposed in case of differences of
opinion; and. finally, they have given
up protection.
But perhaps the best title to give to
the election is the most abusive cleo
tion in modern times. Never has such
violent language been used. It was
started by the cry of American dollars:
which brought out the retort with re-
gard to the American heiresses of
which I have already written.
The peers naturally came in for
good deal Of abuse. This brought on
the scene everybody in America who
had been prominent in the Irish cause
and Patrick Ford has played almost as
prominent part as the American
duchesses.
REASON FOR PROMINENCE
This is one of the reasons why the
men most in command of eloquent vitu-
peration have been the most prominent
among the stump speakers. This is
one of the reasons why f. E. Smith
has been the chief tory fgure-espe-
cially down in Lancashire. He is the
champion spellbinder of his party.
i
still on the right side of 40 years of
age. If you saw him seated in the
house of commons he is the last man
you would credit with any powers of
speech or Of intelligence. Very tall,
very thin, with a clean ShaVen, youth
full face with black hair shiny and
thick, with clothes careful almost to
dandyism, high collar and an i'm
passive air, he might well be taken for
a young buck who was more likely to
be found outside the stage door of a
variety theater than on political plat
form. AS a matter of fact, he married
happily and recklessly for love when
he was a penniless youngster and
spends all his time either in the law
courts or on the platform.
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES
One Of the little ironies of our politi-
cal life is that while no two men ex-
change more bitter observations against
each other on the platform than Smith
and winston Churchill. they are in
private warm and even intimate friends.
When Churchill is to be seen walking
home at nights from the house Of COM
mons, with his prematurely bent back
and his feverishly eager and rapid
stride he is nearly always to be seen
with 2. p. Smith as his companion.
Boner Law another prominent figure,
is quite a different type He is Cana
dian by birth, Scotch by blood l be-
lieve he comes from the maritime prov
ince of Nova Scotia. province more
Scotch than any other in Canada. He
is a real Glasgow man-it was in
Glasgow that he spent most of his life
cold. deliberate. measured hard head
ed He rarely says anything bitterly
personal He is one of the real pro-
tectionists in the tory party; and one
Of the men whose constant pressure on
Balfour has brought that gentleman
nearer and nearer every day to the
abyss of full protection.
COMPANION OF LEADERS
Law ought to be chancellor of the
exchequer in a tory administrations; but
Austen Chamberlain blocks the way;
for Austen Chamberlain has been chan
cellor of the exchequer once, and it
would be difficult to prevent him being
chancellor again.
Austen Chamberlain is intellectually
Of no great account. his rhetoric is still
of the schoolboy debating society order.
Trained from childhood by his father,
who even at the family dinner table
never discussed anything but politics.;
member Of the house of commons from
boyhood, he had caught what is called
the "patter" of parliamentary debate;
and makes a good show. But he is in
ferior to Bonar Law. both as to intelli-
gence and debating power. He-would
be shunted If 1t were not for the domi-
nation which his father still holds in
the tory councils.
Liberals Equal Unionists
LONDON. Dec. 17.-With the excep-
tion OF few personal changes the new
house of commons will be unchanged.
If results in six districts yet to be de-
IL ., ,trf<> x,fl lref