The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-04
NOTABLE CAREER
COMES TO CLOSE
Joseph Chamberlain, Striking
Figure in English Politics,
Dies at London Home.
DEATH COMES AS SURPRISE
Pioneer in His Country of Tariff
Reform and Great Advo-
cate of Imperialism.
DEATH COMES AS SURPRISE

London. July 3.-Joseph Chamber
lain. one Of the most striking figures
in British politics In the past gen
Grafton. died at his London home here
late last night. His death came as
surprise. He had been suffering
with paralysis, yet the condition of his
health was not known to be any worse
than II had been for the past three
years.
Mrs. Chamberlain. who never LETT
her husbands side since he was
stricken With paralysis seven years
ago. and his son. Austen Chamber
lain. we're with him when death
came. Tho event cast a gloom over
the London season. which was at it's
height
Mr.. Chamberiain's last public ap-
pearance was at garden party on
the grounds OF his birmingham home
on May last, when, with his wife
and son. he received several hundred
constituents. He WAS wheeled out on
the lawn In a chair. and appeared very
feeble when he lifted his hat TO friends
and neighbors in acknowledgment OF
their salutes.
The cause OF Mr. Chanberlain's
death was Officially announced to-day
as heart failure. Although he had
been gradually sinking since Tuesday.
, members Of the family had referred
that his condition should not become
publicly known.
PIONEER IN GREAT BRITAIN
FOR REFORM OF TARIFF
The Right Honorable Joseph Cham
berlain Was the pioneer In Great Bri-
tain of tariff reform and the great ad-
vocate OF Imperialism. For thirty
eight years. with a BRIEF interregnu,n
he represented birmingham in Parlia-
ment In 1906 his career OF stormy ac-
tivities was ended by a stroke of pa
rnlys!s. The blow fell when he was
in tho midst OF Il strenuous campaign
for the establishment of protective
tariff with preference for the British
colonies. and just after his constitu
ency had celebrated the thirtieth ami
versary OF his first election.
Since that day the strong fighter
had been an invalid. a pathetic on
locker at the political game. pictured
always with his loyal wife. daughter
OF W. G. Endicott, of Massachusetts,
who was President Clcveland's Secre-
tary OF War. beside him. His chief
consultations were the growing politi-
cal prominence of his son, Austen
Chamberlain, and the loyalty of his
constituents. Birmingham would not
depose her leader. although he was
no longer able TO represent her upon
the floor of the House OF Commons.
In each election he was returned TO his
old seat, and appeared afterward in
the House but once. where. amid re-
spcctful silence. lie made his way 10
the Speakers desk OH the arm OF his
son and took the oath OF office. ON
January 5. 1919, Mr.. Chamberlain
wrote to his constituents rcsigning
his seat and saying:
II cannot hope again to do my work
in Parliament. and ! feel that our city
and the constituency need the ser
vices of n younger man"
INVOLVED Ills COUNTRY
IN GREAT BOER CONFLICT
While his greatest claim to fame was
his determined and brilliant advocacy
for years OF protective policy for
Great Britain. the citadel of free ira dc.
he Will also be remembered as the
bitterest and most forceful opponent
OF Gladstone in that statesinans eff
forts for home rule for ireland: as one
of tho founders of the Liberal -Unionist
party. and as the minister whose pol
icy In South Africa involved his coun-
try In the greatest war 1t had expert
enced since the Crimean conflict, but
blotted out the two Eoer republics
md made South Africa "all red
From the day he left University Col
legc. London, 10 enter his fathers
screw factory at birmingham. Joseph
Cham berlain devoted his best energies
to the principle of constructive re-
form" II was in 1SGS, just thirty-two
years after his birth in London, that
as town councillor of Birmingham. lat
cr serving as Mayor for successive
terms. lie gave his whole time To the
cause of municipal reform. and what
had been previously one OF the worst
governed cities in England, became "A
model for municipal reformers.
In 1876 he entered Parliament. being
elected without opposition as a Liberal
from Birmingham. In his carly years
In the Commons he sat among the
home rule Liberals with whose aspi-
rations he was supposed to sympa thiZe.
but "A few years later lie emphatically
disabused his associates in the House
OF amy motion they may have had OF
his belief in separate government for
ireland
HOLD on PtBI.IC ALMOST
As GREAT AS GLADSTONE'S
In less than four years he was a
Cabinet minister. entering Gladstone's
government in 1850 as president Of the
Board OF Trade. and in less than
decade his hold on popular opinion was
almost as great ~ Gladstone's.
After the general election of 1885 he
became president Of the Local Govern
ment Board but by the spring of 1856
his and Gladstone's relations on the
latter's Irish policy had become so
strained that he broke with tho great
Premier, resigned his place in the Cnbi-
net and left the Liberal party never TO
return TO II.
lie, Lord Harrington afterwards the
Duke Of Devonshirc), c.. j. Goschen
and others high in the Liberal party
who saw in their former leaders, home
rule proposals and propaganda n men
ace to the integrity OF the empire.
formed 4 new party to resist them
The new organization called themselves
Liberal Unionists, and anti-home rule
was. In the beginning. their main tenet
Lord harrington was the first leader,
but when he was elevated to the pcer-
age through tho death OF his father,
Mr. Chamberlain was chosen the party's
chief.
Meanwhile Mr. Chamberlain had Wis
itcd the United States, November. 1887,
to February 1855, as the head OF the
British representatives upon the Ameri-
can British joint high commission
which was to negotiate n treaty for
the settlement Of the long standing
fisheries dispute.
UNITED STATES SENATE,
REFUSES TO t4rtE'Y TREATY.
y treaty was signed, but tho United