New-York tribune., 1911-11-11
b0NAR LAW, NEW LEADER
Tariff Reformer, Never in a Cab
met, to Head British Tories.
KEEN AND CLEVER DEBATER
Selection a Compromise Between
Supporters of Austen Cham
berlain and w. H. Long
fBy Gable TO The Tribune. !

By cable 70 The Tribune.
London, Nov. ia dark horse has
won the race, and A. Bonar Law will be
the new Unionist leader in the Com
mons. The arrangement is provisional
one, and does not at all imply that in the
event of the Tories returning to power
Mr. Law would necessarily become
Prime Minister. According 10 constitu-
| tional usage the sovereign can choose
the leader of the party in either house.
The various sections agreed TO accept
Mr.. Law in order 70 close up the divided
ranks Of the party. Both Walter Long
and Austen Chamberlain had q bigger
following but the election Of either
would have left behind too many disap-
pointments for the unity Of the party in
the future. To overcome the difficulty
the two favorites consented to the with
drawal Of their names from nomination.
F. f. Smith and f. A. Goulding, NJ. P.
chairman of the Constitutional Club, are
believed to be the principal movers in
the game that has dashed the hopes Of
the two men who had the strongest
claims to the leadership, and though the
party will declare absolute loyalty to its
new chief it is well known that there is
considerable bitterness beneath the sur
face and that many Of the most ardent
/ supporters Of Mr.. Long and Mr.. Cham
| berlain are furious
| Meanwhile Mr.. Balfour is chuckling.
He has retired from the leadership, but
not from Parliament, and there yet may
/ be return from Elba-
| London. Nov. 10-At a meeting TO be held
| al the Carlton Club on Monday, Walter
Hume Long will propose and Austen
| Chamberlain will second the nomination
| of Andrew Bonar Law as the leader OF the
Unionist party in the House Of Commons,
TO succeed Arthur ]. Balfour. Mr.. Laws
election is assured and the leadership OF
| the party will thus be placed in the hands
Of a man whose parliamentary experience
is brief and who has never held seat in
any Cabinet. In his short political career,
however, Mr.. Law has proved himself a
brilliant speaker and a resourceful de-
batter. The Liberals frankly acknowledge
1 MS utncSs W DC li4C beAlNs i'AN~'f INV
| among all the names suggested for the po-
sition regard him as the most dangerous.
| from their party point Of view.
The campaigns in favor of Austen Cham
berlain and Walter Hume Long for the
| leadership developed such bitterness OF
feeling that 1t became evident that the Sc
! lection Of one OF them at the expense Of
the other would leave behind TOO many rsw
places.
Ar. Law, who is sitting for the Bootle
! division of Lancashire, was born In New
( Brunswick in 1858 His father was the Rev.
James Law He was educated in Scot
land and is an ardent golfer and chess
player.
He vacated a safe seat in the Dulwtch
division Of Camberwell in the last general
election to fight in Northwest Manchester
on the tariff reform platform. but failed
of election, and in March last found safe
seat at Bootle.
His political record began only eleven
years ago. He was brought UP in the iron
trade, and until his election to Parliament
from, the Blackfriars Division Of Glasgow
In 1900, he had devoted himself almost ex-
clusively to business.
Eventually he became member OF the
firm OF William Kidston e. Sons. iron mer-
chants. of Glasgow. and Of William Jacks
Co. also Of that city. He has been for
years chairman Of the Glasgow Iron Trade
Association.
In 1900 he gave up active business for
politics. From 1902 to 1906 he was parlia-
mentary secretary OF the Board Of Trade.
A strong protectionist. the Unionists con-
slider Mr.. Law their most persuasive
sneaker on tariff reform. Therefore the
party will more than ever be committed TO
tariff reform. and expect that MS leader
ship will infuse a strong fighting spirit in
their ranks. His selection. however, being
a compromise one. due to the rival claims
of more prominent leaders in the party. is
certain TO engender some dissatisfaction.