The Washington herald., 1916-04-09
Political Uoheaval Likely to
Follow Continued Failure
of Army and Navy to Win
Victories, Is General Belief.
By JOHN L. BALnERsroS.
lCowright, l9lsD


London. March 25.-The voice Of the
English politician for the moment
cannot be heard above the sound of
the guns in France, but the political
situation here is a serious one, and It
Is getting worse. No one doubts that
the first effect OF a land or sea dis
aster Of the first magnitude would be
the overthrow of the present cabinet
and perhaps something in the nature
OF a constitutional revolution. The
same result, in my opinion, will follow
further prolonged period of stagna-
tton or OF indecisive land fighting. Only
victory, the fruits OF which Britain
mas not tasted in this war, can save
the coalition government.
Before anslyzing the nature of the
widespread discomfort in these islands
one fact must be made perfectly clear
There has been no slackening in the
resolve of the people to beat Germany.
No political faction wants peace ex-
cepting the Independent Labor Party,
small group Of seceders from the
Dro-war labor ma jOrity. 1t may be
that the time will come when a drawn
war will be accepted by public opin-
ION, but that time is not yet, and
Snowden, Ramsey Macdonald, Trev-
elyan and the handful OF other peace
advocates in the House OF Commons
have been emphatieally repudiated by
their own constituents, who clamor
for them to resign.
outcry From All Glasses.
The outcry against the government
rises from all classes. The coalition
would be oUsted tomorrow il the peo-
The most serious criticism centers
around conscription, the army. the
navy. air defense. the blockade, war
finance, and the trea tment of labor.
Wanted, a mani" is a popular cry.
We are sick of government by a de-
batting society," This demand for
dictator suffers from the fact that no.
body can agree on who is to do the
debating. Curiously enough, it is the
name of Kitchener that is most pop
uiar in this connection among the
masses. although the secretary for war
has been shorn of his power, and a
member was permitted to say in the
Commons without rebuke that all cab
met members. in private conversation,
made no secret of their belief that
Kitchener in his present position has
been a colossal failure
There have been those who con-
tended that the prevailing discomfort
was confirmed largely to political
circles in London, and that the mass
OF BritOns are stOlidly content to plod
along under the control of the heads
They received a rude awakening at
the hands of Noel Pemberton-BiIling
an apprentice airman who threw up
his job and ran for the TIouse of Com
mons in East HertfOrdshire. where
there was a by-eIection. He had no
political organization back of him and
no money. In view of the political
coalition, the Liberal and Tory organ
iZations in the district combined to
elect a candidate.
Billing, single-ha nded. fought both
political machines on the issue of air
supremacy, denOuncing the govern
ment for not preventing the Zeppelin
raids Bombs had been dropped in East
Herttordshire, which did not diminish
the force of Billings appeal. and he
told his audiences. There is nothing
In this war that greatly matters at
present except air warfare!" The bet
ting against the air candidate was 20
to /. but he was elected by 1901 ma
pority out Of S,149 votes. There is no
labor vote in the district, and there
was no apathy. The entire electora te
turned out, and Unionists and Liberals
alike deserted their old colors. Such a
result would be remarkable even in
America, but here, where party ties
are far stronger. it appeared a miracle
to veteran politicians.
The present Parliament is in a sense
having
voted itself continuance of its term
Instead Of holding the required general
election last winter. The election of
Femberton- Billing is regarded by many
as a stray showing what the country
would do to the representatives of
both old parties if it had a chance at
the polls.
HoratiO BOttomly is regarded by
most sober Englishmen as dema-
Eogue, but he is a very powerful man.
His weekly paper. John Bull, is read
by five million Britons, his followers
are able to elect him to Parliament
from many constituencies in the coun-
try. and the government which &C.
spises him, has more than once during
labor crises in the war appealed to
BOttomly to go to the North" and set
tie the trouble. and BottomIy has in
variably done so, and then taunted and
lwitted the government with having been
forced to seek his aid. Lets Have a
Dictator! Suspend the Constitution Is
Bottomlys new platform, announced
through his journal
Unable to Find Dictator.
The amusing thing about BottomIy's
peaceful revolution" is that he is un-
able to find a dictator, though he
names the members Of two councils
which he wants formed to assist the
strong man and supplant the House OF
Commons. This is how Bottomly
sounds the tocsin: Unless we sweep
away the incongruous collection 'of
dudes and billiards at Westminster and
put things into the hands of practical
men OF business, we shall soon see the
people rising in revolt. And call
earnestly upon the king to step in and
prevent this catastrophe. BY so doing
he will be not only earning the ever
lasting gratitude Of his subjects, but,
at the same time, establishing his
throne on a firmer and more enduring
basis than 1t has ever rested upon be-
fore.
Just reflect for a moment how we
are being governed today. We have
what is called cabinet. It consists
- twenty-three members, mostly law
yers, who take, between them, in one
way and another. about s5O0,o00 year
the last addition being another lawyer
Lord Robert Cecil. who till the last
minute stood out against making cot
ton contraband, so he is now made
blockade minister. Their job is to run
the business OF the British empire, and
there are not more than four men
among them with any business exper-
fence at all! Is IL any wonder that
We were unprepared for the war? Any