The Nome nugget., 1928-02-18
ceeded by his nephew. Arthur Bal

ceeded by his nephew, Arthur Bal four.
 Liberals returned to power in 1905 and AsQuith was made Chan cellor of the Exchequer under Sir Harry Campbell-Bannerman. He introduced three budgets and show cd such talents in keeping the ma tion's cheek book that when the Prime Minister died in 1908 there was no reason for tte Liberal party to seek a leader. Asquith was the logical man.
 Once in power Asquith began a policicy of radical parliamentary. social and constitutional reform that continued throughout his ca reer. and by no means the least -adical of his acts was that of 1924 when his aattitude made pos-
 ible Labor rule in England. No political figure in a century had such important problems to solve: Tree trade fights. opposition from the House of Lords. the Great War and finally the question of should Labor rule?"
 In all these great crises his d. rect and calm manner secured sup port from his friends and respect for his political enemies. Being without egotism. vanity, jealousy or paltriness. he did not insist on playing the leading role always. When one of his colleagues in the Cabinet suggested reform he let him work 1t ont in his own way. at the same time giving him his strong and whole-hearted support. When the national insurance idea providin" sickness benefits. the workmens compensation act. old age pens ons for the poorer classes and the measure restricting the power of the House of Lords to veto popular legislation were under discussion. Asquith lent them all the support of his strong intellect and lucid. orderly thought.
 The Great War came to his calm being like a bolt out of the blue. but he handled the crisis with the greatest of skill until the disjoint- ed times demanded more emo- tional leader. In foreign powers Asquith had wanted the closest re- lations with foreign powers. He was without prejudice or i'll feel ings abroad, as at home. He dis liked the prevalent Russophobia of his land. He stood by the entente with France but he looked upon the alliance as but the first step toward a series of other ententes in which Germany would find her place.
 However, he did not want for eign alliances. In these days of European appeals for American participation in continental affairs. Asqnith's words in what is prob ably his best remembered speech of the pre-war era read strangely. He asked: What have the peo- pie of Great Britain done or suf- fered that they must now go tout ing for alliances in the highways and byways of Europe?"
 As for his American attitude, even before Anglo-American accord became the subject of such wide spread hands-across-the-sea enthus- iasm. MT. Asquith stood much more strongly than many English statesmen for the friendliest of re- lations with the United States. In speaking during the Spanish-Amer- ican War he said: My sympathies are and have been since the first with the United States"
 In liberating Cuba, he said. the American nation was responding to the demand of humanity and liberty and was setting a worthy example to the great powers of the world. Speaking later in the same year. he rejoiced in the growing together of the American and English peo- pies mot in a mere gust of transi- ent enthusiasm but by strong and durable bond"