Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-24
PREMIER SHOUTED DOWN
Not Allowed to Make Himself Heard
on Lords Veto Bill.
ACCUSED OF EDWARDS DEATE,
Startling Charge Is Hurled at Him
From the Opposition
Benches.

commons today. Half a dozen times the
premier rose to move consideration OF the
lords amendments to the parliamentary
BILL and each time he was howled down
by din so terrific that the speaker had
difficulty in making himself heard as n,
appealed to both sides to observe parlia-
mentary decorum. Again Asquith es-
sayed to speak. but was unable TO prevail
against the uproar.
After trying vainly for three-quarter
Of an hour to get hearing Premier As
quith cut short his projected speech. and
amid hubbub declared that II the lordy
would not consent to restore the veto bib
even with reasonable amendments TO SUBJ
stantially its original form. the govern
ment would be compelled TO invoke thel
exercise OF the royal prerogative for tho
creation OF new peers.
Intense Interest Shown.
No parliamentary event Of moderrE
tmes has 50 quickened the public pulss'
as the present political crisis arising from
the veto bill, and anxiety to know tho
exact terms Of Premier AsQuith's ultima
tum to the peers crowded the house and
its galleries in way not seen before for
The members OF the lower chamber.
usually SO decorous, gave vent to their
FEELINGS by rising and cheering frantically
ana waving handkerchiefs as their re-
spective leaders entered There wera
some sroans from the unionist benches.
lntermingled with an occasional shout OF
Traitor" when Asquith made his an
pearance
Cheered by Radicals.
The opening scenes of the historic
session We're among the stormiest ever
witnessed in the house AS he rose to
speak, the premier was encouraged bv
roar Of applause from the radical
Irish and labor benches, but an answer
ing volley of cheers came from the
! opposition, while a small group OF
| standpatters busily chanted Traitor.
| traitor, traitor" until Speaker I,owther
warned them to control themselves
Prominent among the disorderly ones
was Lord Hugh Cecil the conservative
free trader from Oxford University.
who necessarily chanted Divide. di.
vide, divide.' This created fierce indig-
nation on the radical side from which
the members appealed to the speaker
to metaphorically turn him out
| Frederick F. Smith. unionist for the
Walton division of Liverpool inject
| ed the claim that the unioists we're
entitled to protest In this fashion ie
| they thought that the cabinet had de-
graded the political life of the coun-
try. This led to removal of ths
outbreak. Meanwhile Premier Asquitlt
stood al the table waiting lull I'm tho
storm. His first word. however. was
a signal for another cyclone, and for
twenty minutes the premiers stood un-
able to get in word. Cries of 'lfur-
rah for Redmond. the real leader"
tive benches. I'VE will listen to Redo
THE British aristocracy." was the
scornful reply of the radicals. look at
EN-
| Sir Edward Henry Carson, unionist for
Dublin University, moved an adjournment.
The speaker said that he would be delight
| ed to entertain the motion, but the pro-
ceedings had not yet started.
Voice Repeatedly Drowned.
Again and again Asquith tried to speak.
but a whfrlwind Of cries drowned his
voice.
divide, divide" Let us know the terms
Of the bargain Write another letter."
| TOE the line" were among the favorite
shouts.
| A strong appeal by the speaker finally
caused a momentary cessation of the
verbal tornado, and Asquith got out a
couple Of sentences, asserting that the
principle of the parliamentary bill was
affirmed as far back as 1907 and after
ward was confirmed at the general cleo
ton.
Interruptions followed. the unionists
shouting Cannot We hear the dictator?
Asquith went on: The house of COM
mons carried resolution in favor OF the
bill in 1910 by large majority. and but
for the death of King Edward
Keep the king out Of politics. Who
III M rpS0unQed
opposition benches.
Fails to Get Hearing.
During the next lull the premier re-
sumed:
But for the death of the king and the
temporary truce (cries Of A bright sort
of truce.o. 1t would have been passed at
that session through all It's stages. The
constitutional conference proved that
with the best bill a settlement by agree
ment was impossible. This bill was pre-
scented to the lords. 1t was laid aside in
favor of an alternative scheme put for
ward by Lord Lansdowne on behalf OF
the responsible leaders OF the opposi-
ton"
As the premier spoke the uproar was
continued and only snatches Of what he
said could be heard. He referred To-
criticisms Of the lords amendments
Only slight verbal changes were required
and very few to alter the entire sense
of the bill to which, after due time and
consideration. they We're going to ask
the house of commons to consent. He ad
ded: 1.-The situation has been created
(cries of by Redmond) from which
there IS only one constitutional escape.
That is, unless the lords consent TO re-
store this bill with, if You like, reason
able amendments consistent with its
principle and purpose, We shall be COM
PEELED to invoke the prerogative OF the
crown
At this decla ration the tumult was re-
newed in all its earlier strength. Theirs
were shouts of Shame Redmond, You
are disgraced; you are no prime minis
teri
quite inaudible to those in the press gal
and with emphasis. AS he sat down he
received an ovation from his supporters.
AS the premier sat down Mr.. Balfour
rose and cries OF Hush came from
the ministerial benches, and the stiffness
was marked.
81 frankly regret that I was unable 10
hear the prime minister" began the OPP ,
nosition leader: Everybody will under
stand that such proceedings as those in
which his majesty's ministers have in
dulged cannot but excite the deep and
passionate feelings of the great mass or
the community. Nevertheless, my own
feeling is that, however deep and passion
ate may be the resentment produced by
that line of policy, however deep and
inst NAV be the Indignation which We
feel against those responsible for IL, in
this house, at any rate ii is desirable that