New-York tribune., 1912-04-15
WESTMINSTER GL|NPSES
Leaders and PartiSans-Risinu
Men-P0IitiCaI Colts.
London, March Is

been on the front bench at Westminster
during the last three weeks. Mr. Nc.
Kenna has led the House, answered
questions, made provisional arranoa.
ments and expedited financial votes. M
Asquith has been strike settler outsIda
hobnobbing with coal owners and tina
official residence, alternately coaxln,
and rebuking extremists at the Fore,a,
Office, and striving with all the arts n,
peaceabe persuasion to reconcile ths
most obstinate OF the capitalists. Mr.
| Thomas, and the most belligerent striks
| leaders, Mr.. Hartshorn and Mr.. Smtlls.
and to save the country from the dead.
ening effects Of creeping paralysis Of in
dustries Patient, conciliatory, resource.
full and high-minded, he has been the
one figure OF commanding authority dur.
ing these prolonged negotiations Ths
country has been dependent upon his
cleyerness, perseverance and impartial.
ity, and he has labored strenuousy asa
peacemaker. Nobody doubts that he has
been in the right place during this mo-
mentous crisis. But what commentary
it is upon the altered conditions Of con.
stitutional government that the Prime
Minister should be compelled 70 suspend
his work at Westminster and 10 devote
three anxious weeks TO the apparently
hopeless undertaking Of bringing ex-
tremlsts like Mr.. Thomas. Mr.. Smlls
and Mr.. Hartshorn 10 a state Of reason!
Mr.. Balfour, after prolonged holiday,
has reappearsd on the front Opposition
bench, but not in his familiar place as
responsible leader. Possibly II he had
been armed with oldtime authority there
might have been a fusion OF the two
main parties for patriotic service. Mr.
Asquith and Mr.. Balfour are intimate
personal friends and are capable Of rs-
ing above the low levels OF partisanshp
whenever there is a supreme emergency.
A compulsory arbitration bill rapidly
enacted with the consent Of the two
main parties would have offered ths
basis for a permanent settlement Of ma
tional strikes and for the prevention Of
| Syndicalst oonspiracies against the In.
terests OF industries and consumers. IL
would have been an unmixed gain for
the country If there could have been d
patriotic uprising of men OF all parties
against the forces OF socialism and civil
war. Cooperation on an elevated plano
was impossible because Mr. Balfour had
been forced into the background by dis
sensions on his own side. Mr.. Law lacks
the conciliatory temper and the re-
sources Of authority required for pa
triotic conduct of the Opposition in SO
grave an emergency. The main body or
his followers are partisans bent upon
lighting their way back TO power and
disinclined to make any arrangements
with ministers which will be perrna-
nently helpful to the nation.
One thing Mr.. Law has accomplished
on the Opposition side which his prede-
cessor in the Unionist leadership never
seemed able to do. He has given new
members and younger men opportunities
| for distinguishing themselves In debate.
Not only has he welcomed the assistance
of experienced colleagues like Austen
Chamberlain, George Wyndham, Sir Ed
ward Carson, Lord Hugh Cecil and +. l..
| Smith, but he has also developed the
talents Of a larger group OF ambitious
Unionists. Mr.. Worthington Evans. as
a social reformer Of constructive ability,
is already marked out for well earned
promotion; and Mr.. Forster, who has
shown fine capacity for work, can hardly
he kept out OF the next Unionist min
istrv. Mr.. Goulding who had more than
little to do with Mr.. Laws succession
TO the leadership, is steadily enlargng
his reputation: and Sir Gilbert Parker is
on his way TO an Under Secretaryship.
The Hon. Auberon Herbert has proved
| that he IS one Of the best debaters on
! foreign affairs, the Hon. c. T. Mills has
displayed ability as an economist. and
| Lord Tullibardine. Mr.. Amery, Mark
| Sykes, Lord Alexander Thyme and
dozen more have won their spurs as
fluent, If not brilliant, speakers. The
| time has passed when IL was mpracti-
| cable for any one outside Of Mr. Bal.
four's circle Of intimate friends TO make
a name on the Unionist side.
Indeed, the new men are making such
rapid progress in Opposition that sus-
picion is aroused that the old stasors
may be crowded out when the Unionists
return 10 office. There is an interesting
club with headquarters out OF ST.
Jamess street which is restricted 10
! Unionsts who have been candidates for
/ Parliament, whether successful or not.
The appointments, decorations and liv-
cries are old-fashioned while the mem.
bers themselves are mainly raw poll
I ticians and ambitious youngsters. Vet
Grams in business or politics who saunter
through the smoking and reading rooms
toward midnight have a disconcertins
feeling that they are becoming old ana
rusty, and that a new generation Oh
fluent takers and pushful intriguers Is
elbowng them out Of the way Inc
youngsters seem 10 know everything
about politics. present and future. and'
! with a cocksureness that is most exas'
perating TO their elders, revise the party
policies stiffen the Opposition tactics
and arrange the staff appointments OF
the next administration! This Is per-
haps the ordinary course OF events IN
politics as well as in everything else
and the old fogies ought not 10 be either
surprised or dismayed. Indeed, they
ought TO be thankful that their party IS
attracting once more ambitious young
III, ~ their energy