SPECTATOR SUMMARY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 133, 12 June 1909, Page 12

SPECTATOR SUMMARY.

(JFor .Week Ending Saturday, 24th April, 1909.) PEOGEESS IN TUEKEY. Since we last wrote, the whole situation at Constantinople has been radically changed. Instead of the Sultan triumphant and the cause of thp Young Turks in ruin's, we find Shevket Pasha, a general who has the complete confidence, and may, indeed, be described as the instrument, of the Committee of Union and Progress, outside Constantinople with a splendidly equipped array of some thirty thousand men, ready the moment the word is given '4o occupy the capital, and to exact an exemplary punishment from those who were false to their oaths and their military duty, and who brought about the counter-revolu-tion and the wholesale murders of ten days ago. The fact that so large a force, fully dipped with guns, ammunition, and si^ plies, was brought from Salonika without hitch. or disturbance shows that this portion at any rate of the Turkish Army is in a far 'better condition than has hitherto been supposed. We have no" doubt that the explanation is to be found in the fact that during the past six months the Committee of Union and Progress have been silently working at the restoration of efficiency among the troops. The result makes for the peace of Europe. The belief that the Turkish army has under the old regime become hopelessly demoralised, and that Turkey had no force available to protect herself, offered many temptations to her neighbours. After the display of energy and military capacity shown by the Salonika army, the various Powers interested in the Balkans will feel that, the problem has entered on a new phase. "DAYLIGHT SAVING." A crowded and enthusiastic meeting in support of the Daylight Saving Bill was held in the Banqueting Chamber of the Guildhall on Tuesday, the Lord Mayor being in the chair. Sir Rob"ert Ball, in a most interesting speech, showed that the opposition to the measure had no right to rely on astronomical arguments. In observatories they already had all sorts of time and if a uttle* stranger ' called summer time arrivpd, they would . extend to him the most hearty welcome. J The resolution was carried unanimously, the Lord Mayor expressing his strong approval of the measure We may note that on the same day the Ilouse of Commons Committee on the Bill held a meeting, at which Mr. Gatti offered evidence on behalf of the West End Theatre Managers' Association in opposition to the measure, which, lie dt cleared, would be very detrimental to the interests of the theatrical profession. We have every desire that all opponents of the Bill should have a fair hearing, but we must protest against the notion that the public is not to be allowed a greater share of daylight during the summer lest the profits of the theatres should be decreased. Such opposition reminds one of Bastiat's humorous peti- | tion of the lamp and oil merchants against the unfair competition of the sun ] with their industry. A FIREBRAND. On Sunday last Mr. John Dillon, M.P., delivered a violent and inflammatory speech on the new Land Bill before a large Nationalist meeting at Thurles. Wholly disregarding the situation created by recent land legislation, Mr. Dillon said that "until they had smashed landlordism, it was idle to hope that Ireland could be free. How was it possible to lead the people successfully through a struggle for the liberty of their country i if every agent and bailiff and landlord could walk over them and drive them out of their homes?" After developing this monstrous perversion ot facts at great length, Mr. Dillon denied that the financial breakdown of the Land Act of 1903 was the only, or the main, reason for the introduction of the ne.w Land Bill. "The people demanded compulsion —compulsion for the Clanricardes, the Cardens, the Trants, and the Clarkes" Mi. Charles Clarke, whose outrageous treatment by the local league is due to the fact that, like his predecessors, he is a farmer proprietor, lives close to Thurles. These landlords, Mr. Dillon went^on, were both fools and tyrants, and "there was no remedy against such men, but agitation and disorder." The present Bill ler-ogimeil two great pun ciples— -compulsion and inspection as a protection against an extravagant price, and protection to the future tenants. A FERTILE IMAGINATION. Mr. Dillon then proceeded to make a violent attack on the existing inspector*, as belonging to a gang whose sole objt-ct was to destroy the efficacy of the land laws. "The people could not place any confidence in the majority of the inspectors. He had been told that there ' were inspectors who actually discrimin- j ated against individual farmers who had . ! been active in the land agitation, and all he could say was that if he got information about any such inspector, his term I iof office would be short." Mr. Dillon concluded in his most bellicose vein by appealing to the people of Tipperary to "dress their ranks and rally for the final charge." If the House of Lords threw out the Land Bill, the Irish people would "cry havoc and lot loose the dogs of war." We have already noted Mr. Dillon's astonishing assumption that landlords and agents are still masters of j the situation, and his absolute disregard ' of judicial reductions, and the still fur- : ther reduction in the annuity paid by purchasing tenants. Even more significant is his attack on the inspectors, ■ men who hold their offices at the plea- ' sure of the Executive, and have the best reasons in the world for not favouring the landlords in their valuations. J A PAUPER FACTORY. The Manchester Evening News of 13th April, in reporting the proceedings of the Manchester Distress Committee, states that, the farm colony at Barton Moss, which has just been closed, proved a loss to the ratepayers of £1761 during | the two years of its existence. "In the whole period an average of twelve men had been employed at an approximate cost to the committee of £1 6s per week."' We have here another example of a rule which appears to be without exception — namely, that distress works are the most costly way in which the | community can make provision for persons who are unable, or are alleged to be unable, to support themselves. It would have been far better in the case ot the twelve mei\ who were set to work at Barton Moss Fjirm Colony if they had received, say, 13s a week each from the committee. The extravagant amourt expended was, in fact, a cruel injustice to those who were forced by law to »provide the money — the taxpayers and ratepayers of the country. Unfortunately, the public, while it shows so much sentiment and pity for the visible unemployed sufferer, seems to have none for the silent and I inconspicuous poor man who is held in the bondage of poverty by high rates and high taxes: While we are seeking to relieve one set of paupers we are ! manufacturing another.

"Ve'll cut the Panama Canal," Said UncJo San}, "You'll see wo shall." "Wo shall; no sham; as sure's I am The Boss Tobacco-rhewer ; For during Winter time I guess For coughs and colda v/b can't do less Than ease the workman's wheoziness I With Wocdi' ftreafc Peppermint Cure! — 1 A.d*fc.