The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-25
LORD CURZON EAGER
FOR POLITICAL FRAY
Arlstocratic Viscount Will
Face Redoubtable Burns in
Battersea Election.
ASQUITH MAY RETIRE
Lloyd George Mentioned as
Premier, but His Selection
Is Extremely Doubtful.
MAY RETIRE
By PHILLIP EyERETT.

Special Cable to The Tribune.
LONDON, Feb. 24.-Whether or noA
another general election is potcntiality
of the next few months, activity Ia the
selection OF candidates goes forward with
no Bnall Significance. and there VIII be
no prettier fight when election does
come. than that in Battersee. where thS
redoubtable John Burns fs TO be opposed
by vigorous young Bcion OF the aris-
tocracy In tho person Of viscouut Our
zon.
Lord Curzon is already being doomed
by his party and his notable ancestry
has been frequently mentioned az cup
porting the view that the stalwart pres
ident of the local government bcasd IL
Ia for ''hot time" It Is very prooa-
BILE, however. that Lord Cuz1on WIN be
the gentleman who will have the shot
time" It Is true that Lord Howes son
and heir can look back upon his encss-
try with no smell pride, and there are
things In connection with the Howe
pedigree which arc 30 little known that
the present Is q unique opportunity for
referring to them.
Lord Curzon, like 10 many of IDS
ancestors. has q connection with Shs
royal navy and ia a commander IN tbs
naval reserve. with which he has been
associated for eight years. In the ses
forces OF Britain the Howes have won
the highest honors, and Lord Curzon
can boast that he descends from a sailor
who was the only British naval of,oer
ever offered a marquisate.
Asquith Retirement Rumored
In political circles here the Turnoc has
lately been persistent tha6 Mr.. Asquith.
in a very near future, intended TO re-
tire from his present position as head
OF the exchequcr, Lloyd George, Wes 10
be his successor, The rumor has even
been cabled abroad as an indisputable
fact al and has has -four found It's way into into mary
pcrs, but I have it from a very high
authority that no such plan has even
been considered.
One reason why Lloyd George is not
likely to take the office OF prime min
ister even If asked-which IL improb-
able--is the consideration OF health. We
ma nov oG all aFrfs sers wf 5 o5o p4ss 3ns or
which there cannot be the slightest
shadow Of doubt, and that is that lie
has to0 Grsd s ne ss result at the tasks
TO himself is that he has injured his
health. and became much aged since he
took ONCE. NODQoy can deny Cnl6 VINO
knows the gentleman, even slightly. All
the old enthusiasm Is still there. but
there is no denying the fact that his
physique will hardly stand much lonEer
the strain Of the last few gears.
Life Of Turmoil
And Il must not be forgotten that LloYd
George had to fight hard to attain the
position nc now holds. and ever sincs
nc has been chancellor Of the excheduer
moil. This was bound. sooner or later.
to bring about breakdown. and al
everybody knows his health has caused
himself and his family much concern.
There is another reason why Lloyd
George Will not be prime minister. At
the present moment he Is. among tne
middle classes. probably ths most un-
popular member Of tho ministry. This IS
due in great part. no doubt. to mis-
press. But there ie no DENYING the fact
that he Is unpopular among that class
which finds the struggle 10 keep up ap-
pcaranceS almost unbearable.
Taxation upon taxation, without rhyme
or reason. has been the portion OF tha
middle and lower middle classes for the
past three years. aud, with the cost OF
liylng-or perhaps [ ought to say. ex-
isting-goinG up by leaps aud bounds,
Lloyd George Is unfairly blamed for
the lot,
Now the Liberal government is de-
pendent for It's existence on the votes
of this class of elector. and II LLOYD
George came forward at the present
moment as the leader OF the government.
there can be no two opinions as 10 what
would be the result In the event Of an