The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-04-19
HONE RULE TO II.
ENL|vEN DEBATES
Last Week Uneventful Except for
Shift in Position of Parties
In Marconi Case.
Home Rule and Welsh Bills and
Drastic Closure Expected to
Awaken Interest.
Liberals Consider the Democratic
Tariff Policy in Line With
Free Trade.

Free Trade.
The last week has seen Il noticeable
pause in the fcrocious discussions in
parliament and the situation is ex-
pected to remain so until a couple of
weeks hence when the Irish and Welsh
bills are introduced and Asquith's
drastic closure is put into effect.
The week was uneventful except for
the sudden shift Of positions in the
Marconi inquiry. The tories quickly
abandoned their plan of dragging out
the inquiry in which Lloyd George and
Rufus lsaacs is concerned when God
frey lsaacs, brother of Rufus Jsaacs,
made the startling revelation that an
organized movement by political finan-
cicrs is under way to disparage the
Marconi system. Two members of
with it and ii is thought that one, or
probably both of them, are members
Of the tory ranks. This led to re-
Vefsal Of conditions and now the lib
erals are anxious to proiong the in
vestsation until the whole matter is
revealed to the public.
Bill Against Plural Voting.
+ Commenting Oh the events of the
Meakr sE .F's~ 't.onnor in a specia. cable
to the Chicago Tribune under Lon
don date of April II, says:
Meantime domestic politics now are
i'll smooth waters, the only outstand-
ing event of the week being in the
House Of Commons where there was
a bill introduced to abolish plural vot-
ers and even this was half -l1cartedly
opposed by the tories while the lib
erals are iubilant over the prospects,
after so many years of waiting, that
this exaspcrating anomaly will come
to an end.
The suffragettcs. however, still con-
tinue to irritatc the public and puzzle
the ministers. The hunger strikers in
crease in protest against the heavy
sentence of Mrs. Pankhurst and the
lattcr's experiences absorb their at
tention and lead to threats of worse
reprisals. The attitude of the general
public remains fiercely hostile and this
leads TO Il strange Indifference as to
Mrs. Pankhurst's great sulfcrinss and
even to her ultimate fate, but un-
doubtcdly any prison tragedy might
lead to a strong reaction in the Eng
i lish public which always leans to the
sentimental side. especially where
women are concerned
The European situation cxctes less
anxiety and less interest and public
opinion, although at first inclined to
sympatllize with gallant little Monte
negro. now has swung round to a gen.
cral feeling that Scutari is not worth
European war and there is also gen
eral satisfaction that the whole crisis
reveals q general determination of all
the great powers to avoid war at any
cost and at the softcning asperity Of
the political feeling on intcrna tional
relations and especially those between
England and Germany. The present
pause in the fcroci,y Of party conflict
in the House OF Commons over govern
mcnt measures probably will disap-
pear in few weeks when the gov
crnmcnt resumes discussion of the
Irish and Welsh bills and especially
when Asauith proposes the drastic
guillotine closure giving but II few
days for their resumed discussion.
Some anxiety is felt also with re-
gard TO Lloyd Georges next budget
as enormous increases in armaments
! may render new taxes inevitable. The
,, present impression, however. : that
Lloyd George will be able to avoid this
addition to the troubles Of the minis
try and anyhow there is little appre-
| hension that he will ask poverty to
bear any new burdens in the shape of
| taxes on the nccessaries Of life
Meantime President Wl!son and his
tariff policy are closely watched here
and brought into our own democratic
,, conflicts. Liberals hail ihcse p-opos-
ais as an abandonment oi Protection
and approach acceptance of their do.-