New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-15
LLOYD GEORGE RISKS
HIS OWN POPULARITY
Presses Forward His Insurance
Bill, Despite Evidence That
Workers Don't Want II.
HIS FINANCE CRITICISED
Last Ditchers" Form the Halls
bury Club and Issue Unauthor-
lied Tory Programme-Would
Resist Home. Rule by Arms.
LBy Gable 70 The Tribune. ]

London, oct. 1.-THE Chancellor Of
the Exchequer is making a rather des-
perate attempt to save his insurance
bill by the specious argument that by Us
provisions friendly societies, trade unions
and doctors can settle their differences
and form a powerful coalition In favor
of social reform. He is plausible ana
ingenious, but no devices of platform
oratory will serve to conceal the fact
that the scheme is unpopular among the
working people, VINO find the measure
complex and unsatisfactory. The doc
tors quarrel can probably be arranged
by a dexterous compromise, but the
projects fatal source Of weakness Is the
apathy toward it of the trade unonists
who assert that the benefits of the yari-
Gus classes Of insurance are remote ana
that the working community is indiffer-
ent to the success or failure of the
measure.
While the Chancellor is labOring to re-
vive public enthusiasm for the insur-
ance bill. or at least to hold the Oppo-
sition responsible for blocking the meas
ure by an exhaustive discussion OF de-
tails. his famous budget is condemned
bv partisan critics because the yield IN
land taxes is meagre and the processes
of revaluation are costly and wearisome.
This criticism is manifestly premature
since the. increment and reverslon du-
ties and other sources of revenue con-
templated by the author Of the budget
cannot be obtained in continuous volume
until the second Domesday Book Is maze
Nd. A railway is never prontable our
ing its period of construction, and lana
taxation may be highly remuneratlVe
when the new scientific basis of valua-
ton is thoroughly established.
The last ditchers," having formed 'he
Halsburv Club. which will fight and ole
hard on every Unionist issue, are no"
nrenaring an unauthorized programme
u hicb will frighten the mandarins re-
sponsble for the leadership ana reihVls-
CRATE the demoralized Opposition. Inc
reneal of the Parliament act, the creation
Of an elective second chamber, the intro
duction Of a fiscal system based upon
imperial preference and the taxation OF
food. prevention of Home Rule by the
instigation Of civil war in Ireland ana
the promotion Of comprehensive social
reforms are suggested by Lord Will
loughby de Broke and other hotspurs as
the great causes which will fire the
nonular heart. Mr.. Balfour has already
included these in the authorized pro-
pramme. with the exception Of the repeal
Of the Parliament act. food taxation and
civil war in Ireland.
The Unionist party needs unity and
discipline more than 1t does fighting
mower. The formation of what is called
the young Halsbury guard, for beating
drums and forcing the fighting, is not
likely to hasten the return Of the party
TO the stronghold OF power. In reality
the campaign is directed against Mr..
Balfour and Lord Lansdowne, for whom
substitutes can be found in Austen
Chamberlain and Lord Selborne. BIZ
mingham Conservatives are already Civ
ing warning that the party organization
will be captured by the Chamberlain
men and Mr.. Ralfour expelled from the
leadership If these tactics are followed
These faction feuds are likely 10 com
pIete the disruption Of the Unionist party