New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-20
LLOYD GEORGE "BOOED"
IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
Demonstration of a Kind No
Cabinet Minister in Decades
Has Been Subjected To.
DUE TO LAND TAX IDEAS
Fury of Opposition Frightens
Asouith Government Into
Dropping Temporarily the
Chancellor's Scheme.
by Cable to The TrIbune.l

IBy Cable to The Tribune.l
London. Oct. 19.-David Lloyd George
had this week an experience such as
rarely falls to the lot Of a Cabinet
minister in England, and as result
the land campaign, which has aroused
such furious discussion, has come TO an
end before il was able to develop far
enough for any one TO get clear IDEA
Of the programme which the govern
ment intended to try to put through
or even If the Cabinet had really out
lined programme.
From everything said and done so
far ii seems more than likely there VIII
be no programme. All the public had
seen was a series of denials that TINS
or that or the other policy was the
one the government had adopted, and
IL seems probable that the government
under the domination of Mr.. Lloyd
Georges insistence on the necessity
for land reforms was merely using the
machinery at it's command to gather
information which might lead TO the
forming of definite programme OF
reform.
1t is doubtful If Mr.. Lloyd George
himself knew what he was going to DO
any more than the other members OF
the Cabinet, but he is strong enough TO
impress on the government his deter
mination to make the wealthy class
bear the principal burden of the cost
of the support Of the country, and II is
a remarkable tribute to his strength Of
character that he has not only been
able to coerce the Cabinet into accept
ing his views, but that the mere fact
that he announced himself in favor OF
land reform should arouse such a fury
Of opposition.
Colleagues Lacked Courage.
But when it came to the test in the
House of Commons, on Tuesday, his
colleagues of the Cabinet had not the
courage to stand against the storm,
though Mr.. Lloyd George probably en-
joyed It, 1t is decades since Cabinet
minister has been "booed" in the
House of Commons, but on Tuesday
night when the Home Rule guillotinc
worked automatically, after half an
hour spent in heckling the Chancellor
OF the Exchequer, a large section Of
the House stood up and "booed" him.
and this evidently was too much for
his colleagues, for the land campaign
since then has suddenly come TO an
end.
The official explanation is that the
party's energies must be concentrated
at Westminster until March, by which
time ii is hoped to have the Home Rule
bill out of the way. The semi-official
explanation is that the war in the
Balkans is attracting so much atten-
ton from the public that the latter is
disinclined TO give sufficient time TO
land reform problems and that the
government must have the strong and
undivided support of the public when
the scheme is launched.
The truth seems to be that the Bit
terness Of the opposition has fright
ened every member the Cabinet, ex-
cept Mr.. Lloyd George, especially as
he is the only one who has his heart
and soul in the plan. Doubtless other
members Of the Cabinet are heartily
glad thus to get out of a position they
were forced into with the utmost re-
luctance, but IL must not be supposed
that Mr.. Lloyd George will forget his
favorite scheme. He is temporarily
subdued. but is never silenced, and he
will come back again fighting for land
reform at the first opportunity, the
only effect of this setback being that
he is deprived Of the means the gov
eminent machinery would give him Of
obtaining much information which
would be Of the greatest benefit in
working out the details of the plan.
Appeal to Country Probable.
For, though the government states
with an air of the greatest confidence
that it expects to be busy in Parlia-
ment with Home Rule until March, the
probability is that soon after the first
OF the year it will find itself confronted
with A situation which will force It to
appeal to the country in a general
election, and the trend Of recent by
elections, together with the ever Wild
ening breach with the Labor party,
affords but little hope that the Lib
erals will continue in power after the
general election.
The operation Of the Parliamentary
guillotine will bring a final vote on
Home Rule in December. There is
small reason to doubt that the bill will
pass the Commons, though not by 4
large majority, and there Is even less
reason TO doubt that the Lords will
throw II out by an Overwhelming ma
jority.
The House Of Commons will then
face for the first time the working OF
the new Parliament act curtailing
the veto Of the Lords, and II is unfort-
innate that this first experience. with
no precedent by which TO measure ac-
tons, should come on a bill of such SUI
preme Importance 10 the country.
On a minor bill. and with a large
ministerial majority in the Commons