The Washington herald., 1911-03-23
SONS OF THEIR FATHERS.


intending or ending this survival of
feudal times, there is being created
within the English body polite an
olgarchy of only slightly different char
acter.
This oligarchy of fathers sons as
it now stands, includes such shining ex-
amplcs as Winston Churchill. home sec
rotary in the present government, and a
son of Lord Randolph Churchill; Austen
Chamberlain, a leader of the opposition.
and son of Joseph Chamberlain, the
backbone of the Conservative party;
Neil Primrose, son of Lord Rosebery;
Lord Hugh Cecil, son OF the late Marquis
of Salisbury. and ever so many sons OF
wealthy peers of recent creation. whose
way to the front has been paved with
gold from the money bags of their sires.
Then until recently there was Herbert
Gladstone. son Of the Grand Old Man"
and now peer and governor general
OF South Africa.
In one respect the House of Commons
has gone the upper chamber one bet
ter. For whereas the House of Lords
includes but single son OF deceased
peer. the lower chamber in many in
stances boasts two and in one case re-
Gently il had three. members of the
same family. The association of brothers
in the House of Commons lends the air
of family affairs to the proceedings.
One OF the most interesting OF these
family doubles is that which embraces
Bobby Harcourt and his half-hrother.
Lewis Vernon HarCourt. the colonial sec
rotary. The first-named has but lately
become a member OF Parliament. He
is % interest to Americans because he
is the son Of the late Sir William Yer
non Harcourt by his second wife.
daughter Of Motley. the historian. one
time United States Minister in London.
Bobby" was educated at EtOn and
Cambridge and became a clerk in the
foreign office. After six years he de-
serted diplomacy and became parla-
mentary correspondent Of the London
Tribune. Under the suspension Of tho
paper. Bobby" turned to politics and
fought three elections before finally
landing as representative for Montrose
Thu pOwers-t hat-bc Immediately looked
a: ound for soft berth for the son OF
the lat" Sir William. and presented him
with ;he post Of parliamentary secretary
to the home secretary.
Before he became member OF the
government he had never spoken word
in Parliament. yet from the beginning
If his official career he was a success The
work that has been intrusted to his care
has been done with a skill that won
warm praiS" from political friend and
foe alike. But the influence Of his Ameri-
can wife has not been limited To- tho
rojuvenation OF his mental CONTINENT.
When She married him. Harcourt was a
careless dresser. To-day he is "A prince
OF dandieS. There may he two opinions
on his place in the political world. there
IS but ono opinion on his larc in the
sartOrial world. ~ A dresser he domi-
mates the House Of Commons while in
the House Of Lords there Is only one man
who can dispute his claim 10 the first
place AS an arhitor Of fashion among the
Law makers OF England. namely, the lord
chamberlain. Earl Spencer.
The HarcOurts represent the power OF
blue blood. Tho British dearly love a
lord. but also the mighty dollar Thus
side by side with the IGarrourts in the
House of Commons We find the Samuel
brothers. whose presence there is an eX-
ample Of the power OF money Their
uncle. the lat" Lord SWaythlnC. formerly
Sir Samuel MontaCu long was one Of
tho money pots of tho Liberal party. He
was the founder and head OF the banking
firm Of Samuel MontaCu & Co. and both
his parliamentary nophews. Herbert and
Stuart Samuel. are members OF the same
firm.
OF the Samuel brother. the least in
teresting. from parliamentary point Of
view. is Stuart.
Herbert Samuel, postmaster general,
takes his public career seriously. Al
though he had been in the Commons only
three years. when the Campbell Banner
man ministry was formed. such were the
services rendered to the Liberal party
by Lord Swaythling. that Herbert Sam
uel could not he ignored. He was ap-
pointed assistant to Herhe-t Gladstone
then the home secretary. He proved VAL
liable 10 the son OF W. f. Gladstone. for
h" possessed the qualities Of mind which
his chief signally lacked. He is practical
and has the characteristics Of his race
Application. perseverance, and singleness
of aim. He has been described as A
walking encyclopedia. His speeches are
a mass of figures and facts and he soon
succeeded in winning the respect of the
House of Commons
notable pair of brothers-in-law in
the Commons. whose success is due 10
tn" double influence of wealth and po-
'itical relationship, consists Of Mr.. As
Guth. the prime minister, and Fl. J.
Tenant. head of a great aIkali indus
try. which he inherited from his father.
the late Sir Charles Tenant. Mr.. AS
quith married Miss Marget Tenant. who
a. n child WAS a pct of William T.. Glad
stone. and who is the original of f. F.
Benson's "Dodo." H. J. Tenant is dis
tinCUished for his capacity for hard
work as a collector of facts. He has
served with industry on 4 number of
parliamentary investigation committees.
As I am writing this the cable brings
tho news that Mr.. Asduith. as premier.
age.
On the Tory side Of the last House Of
Commons there were two pairs OF broth
ers who, beyond being good fellows and
universally popular. have nothing but
their wealth to recommend them, and in
both cases that wealth was derived from
catering to the thirst of their country
men. They are Rupert and Walter GUM
ness and Sirs John and Arthur Dewar.
The Guinnesses are the sons of Viscount
Iveagh, the head of the famous Dublin
brewing firm, and the Dewars belong to
the family which is famous for its Scotch
whisky.
A couple of years ago there were three
brothers sitting on the Liberal benches.
The triumvirate was broken by the ele-
walton of the eldest, Sir John Wynford
Philips, to a peerage. The two younger
members. Col Ivor Philips and DIVINE
Cosby Philips, still sit in the House.
These brothers owe their political in
portance to their connections in Wales,