The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-07-25
COMMONS, BY HooTS ANc
JEERS, REFUSE TO LISTEN
TO PREMlER'S SPEECH.
D|SC0URTESY
Mr.. Asquith Attempts to Make Known
tho Governments Position But
Voice Is Drowned Out by Riotous
Noises Such as Never Have Oc.
Cured Before.-Sittins Ndiourned.

London. July 24.--The last act of the
parliamentary revolution was ushered
I'm today with a revolutionary scene.
For the first time in it's history the
house of commons refused to listen to
a speech by the prime minister. For
the first time In its history the speak
er was compelled to invoke the rule
which empowers him, "in case of grave
disorders" TO declare the sitting ad-
journed on his own responsibility.
No such hostile passions have been
given free rein in chamber. which ira
ditionaiy carries on its debates with
chivalrous courtesy. since the stormy
days of the. Gladstone home-rule bills.
Probably there has been no such pas
sage In the American congress since
the reconstruction era.
During the three-quarters Of an hour
Mr.. Asquith rose at short intervals
and read sentence Of two from a
manuscript only to ne overwhelmed by
jeers, hootings and cries, among which
traitor" was the most frequent. but
with Redmond" Patrick Ford and
American dollars often distinguish
able
Again and again the prime minister
tried to speak. but his voice was
drowned. He spoke a few broken SEN
tences. word or two of which could
be heard. Finally. his mouth hardened
and he glared at his tormentors like a
lion at bay-an impressive figure, with
straight-cut features flushed with
10 al r. tnt
cried:
Il am not going to degrade myself.
| shall simply state the conclusions at
which the government has arrived"
Having announced the governments 3
intention as briefly and hurriedly as
possible-although they were not heard
the premier sank back in his seat.
Leaders Of the Outrage.
The leaders in the outburst against
the prime minister were Lord Hugh
Cecil, an intensely unpopular member
of one of the most patrician families.
and a young barrister +. II. Smith, who
recently achieved prominence In the
conservative party.
The former kept up constant fire
of monotonous cries and the labor
member. Will Crooks. In rough clothes
and slouch hat, sitting across the
aisle, several times jumped up as
about to assault him, but was pulled
back by friends.
The speakers pleadlngs to Observe
the decencies of debate" were
drowned In the trmult. The wonder
was that the crowded house did not
sn In lint hn hal m
members were pulled down by neigh
bors. The political hatred engendered
by the veto bin made today's session
the stormiest In the memory of the
oldest member.
Every means short of physical yio-
lence was successfully used to pre-
vent Mr. Asquith from explaining the
views OF the government. So violent
were the opposition members and so
indignant were the minlsterlalsts that
the speaker after two hours, decided
to suspend the sitting to obviate
disorders.
Violent Excitement.
The members dispersed amid a scene
of violent excitement, shouts of
traitor" coward" following the prime
minister as he departed, to which the
ministerialists hurled back cries OF
"You are beaten. We will win"
Mr.. Asquith tonight issued to the
newspapers a summary of the speech
he was prevented from delivering In
1t he contended that the principles Of
the machinery of the bill had been be-
fore the people ut two elections. BY
no form of referendum deyisab abla could
the opinion of the electorate have been
more carefully ascertained.
The government has accepted the
important amendments In the house OF
commons. The purpose of the lords
Continued on Page Three)