New-York tribune., 1911-01-08
BRITISH POLITICS DULL
With Prime Minister in Control OF
Situation Discussion Is Futile.
TO SUPPRESS TERRoRISTS
Many Plans Suggested for Pre-
venting Desperate Crimes
at the Coronation.
tBy Cable 70 The Trlouns.l


London, Jan. 7.-Political discussion
remains gaseous and futile. The PRIME
Minister is silent, and neither Mr.. Bal
four nor Lord Lansdowne has MADE any
sign for, the direction OF the Unionls'
policy.
Ingenious moralists like the editor OF
THE Observer" Mr.. Garvin, are enter
tanning when their homilies are not 700
long, and Lord Heneage. Lord HUE"
Cecil and scores Of other correspondents
enliven the columns Of The Times anu
THE Spectator" with sanguine forecasts
of the improved Cnionist position. Rut
there is no evidence that the responsiole
leaders Of the opposition have decided
10 offer 2 determined resistance to the
veto bill.
The Prime Minister, cold and mex
o,ahle in his logic, is the master or the
situation during the early stages OF the
new Parliament. No. even Mr.. Redmond
can coercc or intimidate him. 1t would
be a breach Of faith with the nation TO
neglect TO carry the veto bill through the
House of Commons and bring out the
fun strength Of the coalition majority
Undoubtedly this will be done. and with
ont menace from Mr. Redmond, II the
bin reaches the House Of Lords before
the coronation n second reading is prob
able and crisis is likely to occur over
the amendments moved in committee.
The tendencies Of festive year will
favor a compromise, and a settlement
will he fairly certain If the Kings in
fuence he definitely exerted.
Radical calcuators are estimating that
not more than three hundred new peer
ages will he required II the worst comes
10 the worst. That would he con-
summation entirely out Of accord with
the spirit Of the imperial fete, Patri-
otIsm. If not craftsmanship. should
avert IT,
Mr. Redmond has given Ulster a
hroadside of statistics, and David Lloyd
George is reported to he drafting pro
posals for :he establishment of work
mems sickness funds and invalid pen
sions.
The Whtechapel Murders.
But the nation is preoccupied with the
extraordinary East End vendetta Of vio-
Ience and conspiracy against the law
The WhiteChapel siege Of the murderers
hiding place and the unwonted precau-
tions taken for preventing the release OF
the prisoners at the coroner's inquests
have advertised the automatic revolver
and converted it into more formidable
weapon than the anarchist bomb.
The existence of organized gangs Of
alien desperadoes. armed with pocket
catIiug guns and prepared to slaughter
policemen. execute private vengeance
and terrcrize the community, has amazed
and Mortified all classes.
The sense Of public insecurity has been
increased AZ the opening Of year when
the long professional route must be
guarded for the coronation and when
criminals and miscreants must be over
aved. Various remedies suggested ap-
pear utterly inadequate.
The registration Of the seventy thou
sand aliens in the Whitechapel district
would be a futile safeguard, when the
criminals shift from street 10 street and
change their names as often as their
addresses. Amendments for strength
eninz the aliens bill are equally unprom-
Using. when there is urgent necessity for
surpressing anarchists already here
rather than excluding vicious refugees
from Russia or elsewhere.
The policy Of arming the police with
equally deadly weapons cannot be seri-
ously entertained.
Should Disarm Lawbreakers.
What is needed is practical measure
for disarming the lawbreakers. The en-
actment Of law making II a punishable
offence TO carry firearms without a
license would enable the police TO arrest,
search and secure the conviction OF the
aliens suspected of having automatic
pistols in their possession. This could
be accompanied with stringent regula-
tons for the registry Of weapons and
supervision Of the sale Of ammunition.
The fact that suspect possessed
small magazine, quick firing revolver
would suffice 10 prove criminal intent,
end It would be unnecessary 70 estab-
lish completely with any assassination
plot.
Legislation OF this sort is indispen-
sable for the restoration Of public con-
fdence before the coronation. The min
listers will make serious miscalculation
81 they neglect TO provide safeguards for
disarming alien criminals.