The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-02-16


 played quoits. In later life golf was his recreation.
 Admitted to Bar
 In 1876 Asquitn was admitted to the bar, and when still an al most briefless barrister, married his first wife. Helen Melland of Manchester. Four children were born of the union. His wife died in 1891 and later he pursued and captured the cleverest political woman of London of that day, Miss Margot Tennant. Five chil- dren were born of the subsequent marriage. Three died at birth.
 Asquith entered parliament in 1886, giving up a highly success full legal practice and three-quar- ters of his income. He was onc of few young parliamentarians to have had his maiden speech eulo- gized by Joseph Chamberlain, and his clear ideas, lucid style and brilliant oratory soon attracted attention from older members of the house. Shortly after his cleo tion one of his motions brougn. about the downfall of Lord Sails, bury's cabinet and Gladstone as- cended to power. Six years later Gladstone gave him the Home Of. flee portfolio and thus at the agt of 40 he was a cabinet minister. He conducted great reforms in the Home Office. and then was put on the opposition benches for ten years by the victory of the Unionist party and Lord Sails bury, who was succeeded by lls nephew, Arthur Balfour.
 Made Liberal Leader
 Liberals returned to power i.i 1905 and Asquith was made Chal- cellor of the Exchequer under Sir Harry Campbell-Bannerman. He introduced three budgets and showed such talents in keeping the nations checkbook that when the prime minister died in 1908 there was no reason for the Lib eral party to seek a leader. As quith was the logical man.
 Once in power Asquith began a policy of radical parliamentary, social and constitutional reform that continued throughout his cA- reer, and by no means the least radical of his acts was that of 1924 when his attitude made pos sible Labor rule in England. No political figure in century had such important problems to solve; free trade fights, opposition from the House of Lords, the Great War, and finally the question should Labor rule?"
 In all these great crises his calm and direct manner secured support from his friends and re. spect from his political enemies. Being without egotism, vanity, jealousy or paltriness, he did not insist on playing the leading role always. When one of his col leagues in the cabinet suggested a reform he let him work 1t out in his own way, at the same time giving him his strong and whole hearted support. When the na tional insurance scheme providing sickness benefits, the workman's compensation act, old-age pensions for the poorer classes and the measure restricting the power of the House of Lords to veto popn lar legislation were under discds- sion, Asouith lent them all the support of his strong intellect and lucid, orderly thought.
 SkiilfuI in War
 The Great War came to his calm being like a bolt from the blue, but he handled the cri 'is with great skill until the disjoln,- ed times demanded more emo fional leader. In foreign affairs Asquith had wanted the closest relations with foreign powers. He was without prejudice or ill-feel ing abroad. as at home. He dis liked the prevalent Russopho5la of his land. He stood by the en. tente with France but he looked upon the alliance as but the first step toward a series of other eI tentes in which Germany would find her place.
 However, he did not want for nal alliances. In these days oi European appeals for American participation in continental af fairs, Asquith's words in what is his best remembered speech of the pre-war era read strangely. He asked: What have the people of Great Britain done or suffered that they must now go fouting for alliances in the and byways of Europe?
 SympathIes With U. s.
 As for his American attitude, even before Anglo-American ac- cord became the subject of such widespread hands-across-the-sea enthusiasm MT. Asquith stood much more strongly than many statesmen for the friend Hest of relations with the United States. Speaking during the Spanish-American war, he said;