The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-16
TORIES NOW WANT
To TRY II AeA|N


the Liberals VIII claim that the re-
suit constitutes an emphatic popular
approval of the Liberal proposal to
destroy the Conservative character OF
the Lords by the creation Of Liberal
peers to he followed by the abolition
Of the Lordso veto power, The Con-
sertatiFes are violently nsistent that
"a mere coalition majority. of practi-
ealiy The same size as in the last par
liament is an insufficient warrant tor
such revolutionary changes as the
Liberals propose.
There is absolutely no proof that
King George ever promised Asquith
tsat he would change the complexion
- the Lords veto power. The Con-
eminent victory. The premier has
allowed this impression to obtain, but
he has never positively said that the
king has made this promise The
Conservatives deny that such assur-
anees have been given Us the king.
Commons viii Vote for Home Rule.
owing to the fact that the Liberals
will have 10 depend on the Irish Ma
tianalists for Il majority in the next
Parliament, It is a foreEone conclusion
that they will pass a home rule meas
ure. and just as certain that the Lords
Will reject II. They win also pass Il
hi! abolishing the veto power of the
Lords. and this too. will be rejected
is' the Lords.
On the two main issues OF the day,
therefore, the situation will he un-
changed from ting last Parliament,
which means that ut an early date
Parliament will again be dissolved and
another general election ordered. All
this is. of course. ON the assumption
that the ords win not be changed
through any action Of the king. should
the king create the 800 new peers re-
quired to MAX" the Lords n liberal
body, the home rule and veto bills
would go through. along with 81 lot of
other reform legislation proposed by
the Liberals.
Disestablshn,en in Wales.
The Liberals viii try to effect the
disestablshment OF the Church OF Eng
land in Wales IN the Forthcoming ses-
sion of Parliament and win take the
initial steps toward the ultimate d.
vorcing of Church and States all over
the Great Britain, provided these meas
ures are not side cked the moment
the clash comes on the more important
questions.
Early in the election there was talk
of eornpromise on the question OF
curtailtng the power of the Lords. but
this has ceased, Us the only compro-
misc the Liberals aud Irish viii agree
II Is the abolition OF the veto power.
The Lords Were willing to cut their
number down IT, gao with half of tho
number chosen by their ownhody. but
ih" Liberals figured 1t out that such q
change would make the Lords more
powerful and reae tlonary than ever. In
that it would weed out the weak mem
bers of the body.
The election viii probably mark the
retirement of Balfour AS the Conserva-
ton Of r. f. Smith, the newly elected
member from the Walton district OF
Liverpool, in his stead. Balfour has
now led his party through three sue
cessive defeats and scores OF politi-
clans of his own faith have their knives
out for him.
Not Ready for Protection.
Incidentally. the election has again
demonstrated that England does not
think herself ready for q protective
tariff The Conservatives did their
best to force this issue to the front.
but the effort fell flat. Another "cry
OF alarm" that failed was the infiu-
enee Of America dollars on English
elections. The Conservatives decried
tho American contributions to tho Irish
cause as an attempt to control English
politics. but 1t Is doubtful II the charge
changed the result in a single con-
stituency.
With the exception Of one or two re-
mote constituencies. the election will
end Tomorrow