New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
Unionist Party Mismanagement
Causes Revival of Popularity
for Asquith Ministry.
INSURANCE ACT A FACTOR
Doctors Now in the Main
Anxious for Government
Jobs-Attacks on "The
Times" Significant.
fBy Gable 10 The Tribune. !

has had the satisfaction OF being able
to announce this week that the insur-
ance act would go into successful oper-
alton on the day provided, January 10.
A month ago all the evidence was to-
tally against the government and the
act. 1t seemed then as though the
doctors were practically unanimous In
their opposition. and that the act must
surely fail through the governments
inability 10 provide medical service;
but whether the medical upheaval and
the split in the Unionist party form
part of the same movement, or whether
the split in the British Medical Asso-
citation merely happens 10 be coinci-
dental with Unionist differences. It Is
a fact that at one and the same time
the Unionists and the British Medical
Association are both split wide open.
There is every appearance that the
government could go TO the country to-
morrow and obtain a majority for It
self on almost any question It chose 10
stand upon. while doctors In the last
ten days have flocked 10 the insurance
panels in such numbers that four-hfths
OF them have been filled with strong
indications that with the weeks extern
sion allowed BY Mr.. Lloyd George the
remainder OF the panels will have their
full quota OF medical men. and there
will even he some hundreds Of doctors
throughout the country carrying about
an air OF disappointment at falling 10
get these government Jobs.
Startling and Spectacular.
Even the quick overturns in politics
frequently seen in America present
nothing more startling and spectacular
than the Unlonist performances In this
country within little more than a fort
night. Before the Christmas holidays
the Conservatives were presenting
united front against IA dwindling gov
ernmental majority that was seeking n
means TO cover Up virtual Parliament
ar defeat
The House OF Commons has reassem-
bled after brief holiday with the gov
eminent ma jority increased in strength
and working like "A time clock on
burglar proof safe. and putting into ef-
feet the very acts which jubilant OPP
position declared so recently would
wreck the ministry and the Liberal
party, while the Conservatives are en-
gagged IN "A fierce guerilla warfare
among Themselves. one OF the astonish
ing features Of which is the concerted
attack on that bulwark OF English
Journalism and Tory sentiment. The
Times
Five years ago such attacks on The
Times" would have been considered i'm
possible. They have come with the ad-
vent OF Lord Northclifie into It's man
agement. IL stu remains 10 be seen
whether they represent any real loss OF
power or authority or whether they are
merely another evidence Of the des-
perate struggle OF the classes to hold
their position.
foSltloN OF no tunes.
. The Daily Mail" has without ques
ton the largest circulation OF any Eng
lish newspaper. and though Lord
Northcline can hardly succeed. in Civ
ing The Times" a circulation that will
anything like approach that OF The
Daily Mail" II ~ 81 least open 10 de-
bate whether he may not have greatly
Increased the authority OF The Times"
and its power in the country. even
though IL has ceased 10 be observed
with scriptural dignity by those who
have been lately concerned in the signs
~ revolt.
In all this the ability OF Mr.. Bonar
Law az party leader plays a very large
part. II seems highly probable that
Mr. Balfour's dexterity would have
avoided such situation in his own
party at time when all signs pointed
directly 10 great victory impending
for him and his followers, but this
after all Is really a question OF minor
importance. for Mr.. Bonar Law has
been only the instrument 10 point out
with particularly sudden emphasis the
new Influences and the new course OF
thought that are rapidly and with
seeming inevitability coming into the
control of English affairs.
At a time when a Conservatism
which might almost be called Toryism
seemed 10 be about to recover the
ground lost In the conflict OF the last
two decades o Liberalism which some
times seems like Radicalism suddenly
shows again that II In In fact the mas
ter. Not the most determined efforts
Of Tory or Conservative can force
again into the background the great
masses OF the people OF England who
have learned both their right and their
power.