New-York tribune., 1911-02-26
UNIONIST FIGHT ON
PARLIAMENT BILL
Liberals Assured of the Meas
Ure'S Passage On Second
Reading in the Commons.
APATHY OF THE NATION
Efforts of the Conservatives to
Inveigle the Premier Into an
Agreement for a Second
Conference.


Iondor, Feb 25.--Full steam ahead Is
now the coalition password. The passage
on second reading Of the Parliament OH
is assured by the full strength OF inc
majority obtained in December, ana no
amendments will be accepted IN the COM
nittee stage. The government has tne
irestimable advantage Of superior logl-
cal position.. Its chief measure was SUD-
rajtted to the country, ana the coahtlon
majority is proof that the electorate "a
vors this method Of regulating the rela-
tions between the two houses.
Tho ministers would be guilty OF 4
breach OF faith If they consented to any
material modification OF the Parliament
bill. They have the unwavering support
n, their followers and are fighting a win
ming battle in the Commons. IL inc
Prime Minister has received IN adVanCe
guarantees for the creation Of five nun
dred peers, as is generally believed pE
the Radical side, the attack on the 'egis-
lstiye powers Of the privileged oroer
promises 10 prove irresistible.
The Unionists are not going down.
however, without exhausting the re-
sources OF resistance. Their present pur-
pose is TO outmanouvre the ministers
and draw them into a conference. lhey
ere attempting at the outset 10 entice the
Prime Minister into full explanation OF
the failure of the first conference when
there had been a close appi oach TO an
de- an device
for a renewal of the negotiations for the
substitution of joint session ano
referendum for the Parliament Dill. Ihe
Prime Minister when AIr. Lawson queS-
tons him on Monday. only needs to re-
peat that his lips are sealed by the
pledges Of absolute confidence exchanged
when the conference met for the last
time.
The work Of the negotiators cannot be
taken UP al the point " here its actlVl-
Ties were suspended. 4 new situation
must be created by the action of the
Lords in setting their house IN order
This has been the view Of an influential
section Of the Unionists in the Com
mons. and Lord Lansdowne. with Loras
Curzon and Rosebery and Seloorne ana
Miner behind him, is endeavoring to
carry it out These ingenious tactics are
designed 10 substitute for the preamble
OF the Parliament bill complete outline
OF reform Of the upper house and 70
supplement the Radical legislation with
q referendum clause. Lord Lansdowne
PROPOSALS TO drag the government into
eecond conference. where a settlement
bv the consent Of both parties can be
arranged -
A referendum clause can be easily
framed, but the problem Of reconsututing
the upper house IS a complex one. Lord
Curzon's scheme would leave the Union
lists in undisputed possession OF the up
Der house and would be promptly re-
tected by the coalition majority in the
Commons There seems 20 be only n
faint chance Of modifying II so as TO
satisfy the groups which now have the
Dominating influence by the grace Of the
general electorate.
The most remarkable feature Of this
anomalous political situation is the
apathy Of the nation. The most mo-
mentous constitutional changes are pre-
posed. and neither the masses nor the
classes seem to care what happens. The
members on the opposing benches nay
work themselves up TO a white heat in
Debating the Parliament bill. but there
IS no excitement outside. The conditions
Of the reform bill Of 1882 are not repro
duced. 1t is Coronation Year, and there
IS q general conviction that the country
will pull through somehow and that
settlement will be reached long before
The King goes to India, if not before the
Imperial Conference meets.