The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-09-02
CURRENT GOSSIP IN ENGLISH
Politics AND POLITICIANS

the session Of the British Parliament
Just ended has made tremendous de-
mands upon the Prime Minister. Even
/ his iron physique was affected BY the
ions-drawn agony Of the national strike
Of coal miners. Member Of the House
Of Commons viii not readily forget the
moving scene at the end Of March. when
Mr. Asquith announced the final failure
of the coal owners and the miners rep
resentatives to reach an agreement- Inc
result Of that failure was the passage
of the miners minimum wage bill,
measure TO which the Conservatives In
both houses did not disguise their hos
tility. This act Of Parliament. follow
ing the trade boards act. which regu-
lates wages in the 'sweated" Industries,
win stand out like bold landmark In
the record OF the session. The principle
OF minimum wage by legislative enact
ment. applied now successfully to the
worst organized trade and the most
highly organized trade in the country.
has come to stay. Its application to
other Industries IL Inevitable.
Mr.. Asquith's ascendency in the House
OF Commons is more marked than ever.
Since the retirement OF Mr.. Balfour
from the leadership OF the opposition
there is no one left on the Tory benches
who can meet the Prime Minister on
equal terms. Mr.. isonar Law has some
times great moments; nothing could be
better than his speeches on foreign
policy and on colonial affairs. but his
general form is petty. hissiing. and in
effectual Like many second-rate men.
he makes the mistake OF imagining that
to be rude Is a symptom Of visor. and
that vehemence connotes strength.
Against this puny antagonist Mr.. A.
quith stands out a massive and impos-
ing figure. e,
Mr.. Asquith has led magnifcently in
the Parliamentary battle over the home
rule bill Following the example of Mr.
Gladstone in 1s9s. he has assumed charge
Of the measure even in the exacting
committee stage, and upon him will fall
the brunt Of the battle In the autumn
session. The Irish Nationalist are re-
warding the Prime Minister for his
labors on behalf OF Ireland with a touch
Ing devotion. Between him and Mr.
John Redmond and Mr.. Dillon a really
warm attachment has sprung up They
regard him, and Justly so. as Ireland
stanchest. most considerable, and power
full friend in the Cabinet. The unpar-
alleled ovation which the Prime Minis
ter received in Dublin must have deep
ened his Interest in the home rule cause.
ana VIII strengthen his determination to
bring II TO triumphant issue for the
sake OF England as well as for that OF
Ireland. and not less for the sake of the
empire. to which the unsolyed Irish
question is a source OF never-endins
weakness.
Preoccupied with the national in.ur-
ance act, the Chancellor of the E.xche-
quer has not bulked large in the House
during the past session. But he has in
terVened on several occasions in debate
win brilliant success His speech on the
Neish disestablishment bill had an cleo
Glcal effect. 1t is the misfortune OF
wales that its distinctive claims are ant
to be unregarded owing to the indirer-
ence OF the Predominant partner. At
Tune when the Welsh bill was going
none too well in England. owing 10 Eng.
nsh apathy. single speech from Mr..
Lloyd George quickened and vitalixed II.
ana supplied II with driving enerpv
mat Is still unspent- In that speech he
retorted with crushing effect on some Of
the people who are calling out "spolia-
ton, and placed the case for the welsh
PHI on the high. unasssilable ground OF
national right.
Mr.. Herbert Samuel, the Postmaster
General, who co-operated with the Prime
minister in devising the financial ar
rangements of the home rule bill. also
gave Invaluable support to his chief in
the debates on that bill. For aIl-around
efficiency Mr.. Samuel has few supe.iors
in the government Mr.. Lewis Harcourt
owing to. the tyranny OF departmental
work, is withdrawn very much from the
life Of the House OF Commons, but on
the colonial vote and on the second read
ing OF the reform bill he has given the
House taste Of his fine quality as a
parliamentarian.
As Secretary Of the Treasury Mr.. Mas
terman has added greatly to his repu-
tation. He had always a good parlia-
mentary manner, but has developed re-
in the session just ended He
is ripper, more virile, more authoritative.
Facing the daily fusillade of questions on
the insurance act with serene composure,
he has held his own with urbanity and
dexterity in many an awkward encoun-
ter. His speeches. too. have been good,
pithy in substance, and in spirit and
temper irreproachable. Most of them
were necessarily concerned with finance
and insurance. A fervid speech by Mr..
Masterman during the disesta blishment
debate reached a high level Of oratory.
1t was the most genuinely eloquent
speech ever heard In the House OF Com
mons.
The British government has been ex-
ceedingly well served by its law officers
Sir Rufus Isaacs and Sir John Simon.
Other subordinate Ministers who have
done good parliamentary work are Mr..
Edwin Montagu (who proposes to study
Indian questions on the spot during the
coming winter), Mr. Ellis Griffith. and
Mr.. John NJ. Robertson. Outside the
Mr.. Buckmaster, Mr.. Robert
Harcourt, Mr.. Handel Booth, Mr.. Arthur
Ponsonby, Mr.. Primrose. and Mr.. Nc
Callum Scott have been more or less
and effective.
On the opposition side. Mr.. Austen
Chamberlin has surpassed himself. II hei
has not the bite" of Mr.. Bonar Law,
he is not the less effective on that ac-