Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-29
Pleased at Resignation of
Lord Loreburn.
HIS SUCCESSOR DISCUSSED
Col. Seely Likely to Be Secretary Of
State for War.
STRIKE RIOTS MFREoUENT
Chauffeur Has Established Position
After a Stormy Period of
Domestic War.

Special Correspondence OF The Star.
LONDON, June 20. 1912
The resignation Of Lord Loreburn has
given great satisfaction to the group OF
radicals who for the last six years have
| been ciamoring for his retirement and
displaying indecent haste to secure the
achievement Of their ends.
When he was appointed to the greatest
position at the bar by Sir Campbell
Bannerman. after the general election OF
1905. incessant demands were made upon
him TO swamp the magisterial bench with
members Of his own political faith
When the liberals took ONCE there
was a preponderance Of conservative
justices, and the cry was made by those
who had just tasted the sweets OF OF
hce' that the balance should be re-
stored" They declared that magisterial
appointments were the spoils OF office,
and that the lord chancellor, in whose
gift all such appointments were, shoniu
forthwith discharge his obligations to the
party.
refused to subscribe to this doctrine. His
view was that the commission OF the
peace should be outside all party consld,
erations and that the only test should
be that Of personal worth and ability to
administer the law. Believing that po-
litical convictions have nothing whatever
to do with the administration OF justice,
he vigorously declined to be bullied into
doing that which was abhorrent to- his
sense of honesty, and selected the best
men that were offered for the vacancies.
Sought to Force Hands.
BaIked in their efforts. the radicals
sought to force Lord Loreburn's hands
by raising the question In the house OF
commons, but they met with no better
success; AS a last resort they took ev-
cry opportunity and means of compelling
him to resign his high Office. Their
wish has now been gratifed, but 1t is
consoling to reflect that Bob Reid, as
Lord Loreburn has always been AT
fectionately called has throughout this
reputation for highmtndedness. honesty
of purpose and fearlessness, and that II
is only on the grounds Of Ill health that
he has at last felt compelled to resign
the reins Of Office.
Speaking some time ago in the house
OF lords, Lord Loreburn complained OF
the overwhelming burden laid on him
by the duties Of his high office in terms
which were the echo OF expressions USED
by Lord Herschell nearly nineteen. years
ago In reference to the pressure OF work
which devolved on the holder of the
great seal. The bestowal of the patron
age at his command would be regarded
by many men as an ample occupation in
itself Nearly thirty high court and
quite sixty county court judgeships. be-
sides innumerable supreme court appoint
ments. are in his gift. These alone rep
resent salaries amounting in the aggre-
gate to E225,OOO a year. And there are
ecclesiastical appointments as well.
Wants Seat on Woo1sack.
Lord Haldane long has coveted a seat
on the woolsack. and his lengthy legal
training and brilliant mental capacity
well At him for the post. But the fore
most question which arises is, what OF
the army? All parties are agreed that
his appointmtnt to the responsible Of
flee Of secretary Of state for war was
happy choice. and that he had justified
the confidence placed in his administra-
tive and creative abilities.
He has remodeled and refashioned the
defense forces but it can hardly be
said that his task is yet complete. He
has remained long enough In his present
Office to see hts schemes materialize.
been valuable-and, indeed. is required
to secure the success Of the plans
adumbrated by him. The shortage Of Of
ficers. the lack Of an, adequate number
of recruits. the inadequate supply OF
horses for the troops, to mention only a
few Of the innumerable problems con-
fronting the minister responsible for the
safety Of the nation, are matters of
pressing need. and the man who has
reorganized the defense forces on a
ly to '.see the thing through"
In the circumstances, perhaps, no bet
ter choice Of successor In the war Of
flee could be made than that Of Col.
Z hao n<,,ol ~ he
work of the army. and his services as
under secretary for the colonies should
prove OF great value in dealing with the
problem Of imperial defense: His Of
Gently had the advantage Of assisting
Lord Haldane In his work on behalf Of
the army and navy, and his own knowl-
edge Of service conditions should ma
terially assist him to fulfil the condi-
tons attaching to the responsible Office
to which he Is named.
Head Of Gardiner Regiment.
Col. Seely commands the Hampshire
carbineers. one Of. the regiments of yeo-
many that is in orders to take part in
the maneuvers with the regulars this au-
tumn. It will be an unparalleled event in
the history Of the British army IL the
secretary Of state for war does duty as
q regimental colonel. AS far as one can
Judge the service will welcome Col. Seely
The complaint Of the officer usually has
been that the civilian minister does not
appreciate many matters In the organi-
cation of the army which are really a
second nature to the man who has served
his country in peace and war. Col. Seely
may not have been a great soldier, but
he was always sensible soldier, and he
has always shown the soldiers instincts.
This means that soldiers will always
have confidence in the purity of his in
tentions.
One OF the most valuable assets which
Lord Haldanes control gave to the army
was the organization known as the off,
GERS training corps. The effects OF this
innovation have not yet fully developed,
but there is no doubt that without in any
undue way forcing spirit Of militarism
upon the youth of the country this sys-
tenn has raised the standard OF youths in
educational institutions who have taken
an interest in the cadet movement. One
has only to study the returns OF the uni
versity divisions Of the corps to see that
whereas six years ago volunteering was
looked down upon 1t is now one of the
most fashionable institutions among un-
dergraduates. It has. moreover, given to
the army during the last two years a
larger percentage of Officers with uni
versity education than the army has ever
before had.
Strike Riots Are Rare.
Whenever there is strike in America
riots are almost always inevitable and
often bloodshed is the result. / have