New-York tribune., 1911-10-22
MINISTERS KEPT IN LINE
Asuuith'S AScendency UnChal-
lenged, Even by Lloyd George.
PACT MADE WITH TORIES
Front Benches Assumed to Have
Agreed to Truce Permitting
King to Visit India.

taNlc
London. oct 21.-The Prime Minister
and Mr.. Balfour have resumed in scot
land their familiar game Of beggar my
neighbor as naturally as though 'hey
were facing each other ufder the
Sneakers ewes at Westminster. Mr.. AS
ouith. at Ladybank. is more confident ana
senial than the leader of the Opposition
in GLASGOW. because his own ascendehcE
is unchallensed and everything seems 70
b going his way.
While at one time it may have been
difficult to keep Mr. Lloyd George under
control. IL is easy 10 10 it now that the
Prime Minister has the credit for enact
Ing the Parliament bill. \ Cabinet coun-
eli will hardly he necessary before the
meeting Of Parliament next week, so
definite is the government programme
end so adroit are the Chancellor OF the
Txchequer's concessions 10 the trade
unions and friendly societies respecting
his insurance scheme The unemploy-
ment section may he entombed in stand
ing committe, but the remainder of the
insurance bill now seems to he safe, to-
gether with the Osborne judgment BILL
and there Is only a bare possibility II
the rejection of the naval prize bill by
the Lords. seeing that the Declaration
OF London has received the sanction OF
the imperial conference.
Mr.. Baifour Violent.
Mr. Balfour is violent in denunciation
OF Radical vickedness. because there
ere persistent ntrisues against his
leadership and he is forced to make an
artificial display of lighting power: yet
there are no signs in his discussion Of
the insurance bill and other matters that
he considers his own prestige impaired
10y the formation Of the Halsbury Club
and the formulation of an unauthorized
programme. He can stamp out the re-
volt by calling n meeting Of his Union
ist supporters and askin, for vote Of
confidence. but he is more likely to treat
the Halsbury Club as a harmless side
show for breaking in for leadership un-
manageable 5roncos like F. Z. Smith.
Scornful as Mr.. Asquith may be Of
Unionist condemnation Of the govern
ment plots against the constitution, and
vehement as are Mr.. Balfours TRADES
against Radical socialism, il may safely
be assumed that there has been an
understanding between them by which
the King is enabled 10 go 10 India with
out fear of a political crisis during his
absence. HctspuTs and trlmmers may
make brave show Of fighting strenu
ously hand over hand, but the business
session is virtually regulated in ad-
vance by prearrangement between the
front benches.
Rumors OF Cabinet Changes.
Persistent rumors Of Cabinet changes
probably foreshadow spring reconstruc-
tion rather than autumn repairs. A
High Church man ike Mr.. Masterman is
not likely 10 succeed Mr.. Runciman on
the Board Of Education, and Mr.. Birrel
III forecasting Home Rule on colonial
lines in place Of a glorifled local gov
eminent. does not talk like the retiring
Chief Secretary for Ireland for whom
Winston Churchill must he substituted.
main source Of danger for the gov
eminent is the report Of the Railway
Commission, which. while unanimous, IS
g compromise. The trade unions obtain
partial recognition by the selection Of
the secretary Of the Cancellation board
from any source, and the bringing with
I'm the scope Of railway peacemaklng
conditions Of service a We'll as questions
of hours and wages is a point in favor
of the men. These are substantial
gains. but the Labor party is not likely
10 he satisfied with them when strike
leaders profess themselves disappointed
and show symptoms Of rebelliousness
4 renewal Of the labor agitation on a
large scale is not improbable before
Christmas with troublesome political
Conylica tons