New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
Liberals, Raised from Deep De-
spondency, Begin to Talk OF
Winning Next Election.
FOOD TAXES THE ISSUE
Inheritance of Chamberlainism
Still Works It's Havoc in
Ranks of Conserva-
tive Party.
GBy Gable to The Tribune. J

Lord hath delivered the enemy into my
hands" Premier Asquith might have
said the same thing after reading Mr..
Bonar Laws speech at Ashton-under-
LYME. for it has had the effect of hope
lessly splitting the Unionist party just
Of a time when the fortunes of the Lib
erals were at their lowest eoo ana
when the Unionists were looking Tor
ward with the utmost confidence to the
next general election with the practlcai
certainty that they would sweep the
country on the cry of Down with the
Insurance act and Lloyd Georgeism'
The Liberals were disheartened ana
demoralized. Even Cabinet ministers
were beginning to admit that they had
little or no hope of success at the next
general election. This was the situa"
ton only fortnight ago. Now LID
eralism has been raised from the lowest
depths of dependency to the helght OF
enthusiasm. while the Unionists are
divided into two hostile camps
For this state of things Mr.. Bohar
law is held responsible by many peo-
ple but he is not primarily to blame
The men who have got hold OF 'he
party machine have pulled the strings
and Mr. Bonar Law has had TO dance.
AT hest he is only a mediocrity, ana the
complicated and delicate situation ere
ated by the agitation in the North oi
England against food taxes and by the
determination Of such men as j. H.
carvin editor Of 1.-The Pail Mall Ga
zette." and Leo Make, editor OF Inc
National Review" TO get ria OF the
referendum which Mr.. Balfour prom
ised In his famous speech in the Albert
Hall inst before the last general cleo
ton was enough TO puzzle Digger III
tellect than that of the present leader
Of the Unionist party of the House OF
Commons. In the circumstances ne
sdopted bold course by announcing
that If the Unionists returned to power
they would call an imperial conference
10 settle the whole question of preferen-
tial trading.
Joseph Chamberlain to Blame
He made this promise because he was
instructed 10 do so by the controllers
of the machine, all Of whom are known
10 be in closest touch with Joseph
Chamberlain, the man who wrecked
the Unionist party years ago. mus II
;s Joseph Chamber .ain who is to blame
for splitting the party to-day MT
Chamberlain has maintained for dec
ade past that the keystone of the tarlr
reform arch is imperial preference ana
that If Great Britain wants to give
preference 10 her colonies she must put
a. tax on foreign grown corn.
Mr.. Chamberlain was right, but Inc
Times" which is one of the leaders IN
the agitation against Mr.. Bonar Laws
proposal, is endeavoring TO prove that
imperial preference does not necessa-
rily mean the taxation Of food. Such
an argument is absurd because prefer
ence without food take, means a sys-
tenn OF taxes on the raw materials OF
industry.
Without food taxes, as the Liberal
newspapers are pointing out, Great
Britain cannot give any effective pref-
erence to Canada, unless timber and
wood pulp are taxed, and without food
taxes Great Britain cannot give pref
erence TO Australia unless wool Is
taxed. Great Britain imports virtually
nothing from the Dominion save food
and raw materials. and, as Mr.. Cham
berlain recognized long ago. food taxes
are essential to any scheme Of impe-
rial preference.
Bonsr Law a Fighting Man.
What the upshot of the situation will
be is uncertain, but there are at least
two possibilities. each of which might
have a startling influence on the future
course OF political events in this coun-
try. The first Of these is the resigna-
ton Of Mr.. Bonar Law just at time
when he had quite fair prospect of
creating a record in British politics by
becoming Prime Minister without ever
having held Cabinet rank. Mr.. Bonar
Law is a fighting man, but his friends
believe that unless the party recog-
Mics his leadership he will follow Mr..
Balfour into retirement, in which case
II is practically certain that EXPIRE
mier Balfour. easily the ablest man on
the Unionist side OF the House, would
again be hailed as leader of the Union
list party. The other possibility Of the
situation Is an early dissolution Of Par
lament.
Sir Thomas Roe. the veteran Liberal
member for Derby, Is ready TO with
draw from Parliamentary life, and
Raymond Asquith, the Prime Minis
ter's eldest son, has been selected as
the party candidate to succeed him.
No Labor candidature is threatened.
and a by-election in January is consid-
cred likely. In such contingency, and
IL Raymond Asquith wins, as the
Liberals now anticipate, the govern
ment will. 1t is believed. appeal TO the
country.
The Cabinet fully expects that the
Lords will throw out on second reading
all three Of the principal measures