THE VETO CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 14527, 1 December 1910, Page 6

THE VETO CAMPAIGN

THE PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS. THE ONE SUPREME QUESTION. SHALL THE COMMONS RULE? . Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright. • ' LONDON, November 30. In his address to tho electors of East ' Fifeshire, Mr Asquith says the appeal to * the country is narrowed to a single issue: 1 Are the people, through their freely chosen representatives, to control the finance, ' administration, and law-making? Tho 1 Lords' schemes were proposed for tho purpose of disguising the real issue, and would result in the creatioi of a Second Chamber capable of imposing an even more formidable veto than the present. Addressing 8,000 railway hands at Reading, Mr Asqnith said he objected to tho substitution of the casual and sporadic use of judgment by a plebiscite on an issuo imperfectly defined, and regarding which large sections of the electorates had only a most languid interest for the judgment of ths people's chosen representatives. It would degrade tho House of Commons to the level of a debating society. 1 He asked: Will tho Tories submit the question of Tariff Reform to a referendum? GREAT UNIONIST' DEMONSTRATION. WOULD SUBMIT THE TARIFF TO A REFERENDUM. TRUST THE PEOPLE. LONDON, November 30. A great Unionist demonstration was held in the Albert Hall, 11,000 people being present. Mr W. H. Long read Ulster's message, to tho effect that if an Irish Parliament were established Ulster would neither obey its decrees nor pay taxes. Mr Balfour, after warning the Government that they were playing with a revolution, disciv-'d the question of the referendum. He declared that the Radicals wero horribly embarrassed. All of them had talked of the government of the people for the people and by the people. The dissolution would bo expensive and disturbing. The referendum did not involvo , a change of Government, and it could secure a clearer verdict without that personal bitterness which was unavoidable where two candidates were in the iield. One fantastic dealer in figures (the Chineellor of tho Exchequer) had estimated the cost of the referendum at two millions, but in reality the cost would not exceed £200,000. Tho Radicals sought to put the Unionists in a hole by asking them whether they would refer vital questions wherojn tho Lords and Commons disagreed—-partieu-larly Tariff Reform—to a referendum. Mr Balfour added: "The Radicals are mistaken. They would not put me in a hole. The project, which is only three days old, obviously involves practical dil'uculties, the ; magnitude of which I cannot ignore. Nevertheless, I frankly say that Tariff Reform will involve a great change. I admit that this election, perhaps any election, cannot be described as an election on | Tariff Reform alone 1 have not the ; least objection to submitting the principles of Tariff Reform to a referendum." This announcement caused an extraordinary demonstration, the audience jumping to their feet and cheering. Mr Balfour (continuing) said that Tariff Reform was not a class, but a national and an Imperial matter. He was perfectly willing to submit it to the judgment of his fellow countrymen, and he challenged the Liberals to g\ve a similar promise ie~ garding Home Rule. Mr Asquith's nigument that the referendum would Oejlioy parliamentary responsibility was equivalent to saying : " You destroy the people's representatives; it gives the people too much power." Mr Balfour concluded by saying: "Don't trust the Radical puppets or the Irish showman who is pulling the strings; don't trust the American paymaster who is calling the time; but trust the soild sense and judgment of the people alone." •■ A CLEVER DEVICE. LONDON, November 50. (Received December 1, at 10.35 ajm.) Tho 'Westminster Gazette' (U.) says that tho Tories have uproariously welcomed the referendum as a device for enabling them to escape the presumed unpopularity of Tariff Reform, while permitting them to capture votes on the plea that they ardently favor taxing the foreigner. The paper adds that the referendum will enable the Tories to" remain in office though defeated on solitary questions. DELIGHTED TORIES. A RALLYING CRY AT LAST. LONDON. November 30. (Received December 1, at 8 a.m.) ' The Time?' says that his opponents thought that Mr Balfour lacked courage to submit Tariff Reform to the judgment of the country. The Unionist Leader had never received a more enthusiastic and unanimous proof 'hat he had his whole audieuce with him. The 'Daily Mail' lO.) applauds the declaration, which proves that Unionists would trust tho people. It also enables Freetraders to vote against the Government. The 'Daily Express' |O.) says Mr Balfour had rallied aud inspired all the forces of the Unionists. The 'Daily Chu-niclc' (G.| says that if a referendum does not involve a ehango of Government, then good-bye to the whole system of party government. The 'Daily News' |G.) says that the cancellation of Parliament's commission by repeated referenda is the antithesis o! representative government. SOME DOUBTERS. WHAT BECOMFiToF PARLIAMENT? LONJON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 9 a.m.). The 'Morning Post' (O.) is doubtful '' about the wisdom of Mr Balfour's hasty pledge. The change will have far-reaching consequences. Hitherto a General Elec- ■ tion has permitted a Government to carry out their policy. It is now suggested that an additional mandate bo required. The 'Daily Telegraph' (0.) declares that Mr Balfour has struck dismay into the , coalition. Tariff Reform cannot rest on anything except the undoubted approval of a settled majority of the nation, Mr Bonar Law and Mr George Wynd- ■ ham have both applauded Mr Balfour's > declaration. i —— IRISH HOME RULE. THE PEOPLE'S OPPORTUNITY. " T.r.'s " ADDRESS. LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 10.5 a.m.) Mr T. P. O'Connor, in his election adI dress, says that the people have at last r the opportunity of ridding themselves for ever of their servitude to a prejudiced and insolent aristocracy. He appeals to Irish--1 men mainly because the future liberty and a happiness of Ireland depend on the extinction of the Lords' absolute veto. [Mr O'Connor represented Liverpool fc (Scotland) in the last Parliament.] ? DIRECTORY MANIFESTO. 1 LONDON. November 50. °. (Received December 1, at 10 a.m.) ' -The Irish Directory., have 4§sued a Jnani-.

festo, in «av that r the defeat ol tho Lords will clear the pata. for Home Bale,

THE VOICE OF WISDOM. BACKEDBY £SOO. LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 10.5 a.m.) A Mr T. Brasscy, in forwarding £SOO to Mr W. O'Brien's "All for Ireland" fund, says that Ireland has no worse enemies than the extremists who preach hatred of England, or the Orangemen, who are threatening bloodshed if the existing form of government is not preserved. ADDRESSES AND SPEECHES. MR GEORGE'S WELSH TOUR. LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 9 a.m.) Mr Lloyd George is Busy campaigning in Wales. He attended two meetings at Card ill', addressing 5,000 people at each. SIR E. GREY'S ADDRESS. LONDON, November 50. In his address to the electors of Berwick, Sir E. Grey states that the House of Lords is not the only danger to the House of Commons. Without a large measure of devolution the House of Commons cannot attend to Imperial affairs and matters concerning tho whole country. Sir Edward continues: "If local powers resembling those of the Canadian provinces are given to parts of the United Kingdom they will not endanger, but secure- the su- | premacy of the Imperial Parliament. A j reformed Second Chamber is a necessity, but with machinery ensuring that the considered opinion of a substantial majority ot tho House of Commons shall prevail." PREACHING PROTECTION. IN THE FREETBADE CENTRE. LONDON, November 50. (Received December 1, at 10 a.m.) Speaking at Manchester, Mi G. Wyudhain said that forty-three out of every thousand tnuh unionists were unemployed to-day. Thirty years ago the pioportion was only ten. This unemployment was duo to allowing imported goods to be sold below the cost of production. A DIPLOMATIC CHANGE. LONDON, November 50. (Received December 1, at 10 a.m.) ■ Truth' says that tho Peers had suddenly changed front, but they were wise in their generation to otl'er hah' measures. It condemns what it terms .Mr Lloyd George's inflammatory appeals to class prejudice. I'l'wentv years ago Mr Labouchere and his paper ''Truth' were the most caustic of the Lords' critics. The Loids were satirised in every way that wit and caricature could suggest, tho comparison of the Upper Douse with a waxworks exhibition being among the mildest of Mr Labouchere's analogies. The member for Northampton, as lie was then, was regarded with an indignation and anger that afforded him much amusement.] SOCIALISTS IN THE CABINET. LONDON, November 50. (Received December 1, at 10 a.m.) In a letter to the electors of Newcastle Lord Joicy (colliery proprietor) says that the Socialists had captured tho Cabinet, and the trade unionists, thougli they are in a minority in both. Instead of promoting reforms such as Gladstone, Bright, and Cobden did, they are mere wreckers and Socialists. LORD ROSEBERY ALARMED. PERSONAL LIBERTY AND STATE INTERFERENCE. LONDON, November 30. (Received December 1, at 10.55 a.m.) Speaking at Manchester, Lord Rosebery said ho was alarmed at the encroachment on personal liberty under the present Government by ineius of a bureaucratic inquisition. He emphasised the danger to the State from Irish dictation subsidised by foreign gold, and asked whether this was not a greater danger than a Single Chamber proposal. ELECTION ITEMS. THE FIRST POLLINGS. LONDON, November 30. The polling will take place in lifty-n'vo electorates on Saturday, including the various Birmingham, Bristol, Manehestei, Salford, Camberwell, Shoreditch, and We it Ham divisions, also Grimsby, Darlington, and Newiugtcn. Mr Lewis Harcourt is confined to his bed, and his wife is conducting an electioneering campaign on his behalf in the Rosscudalc Division of Lancashire. The Liberals will contest all the London seats except London City. AN OLD-TIME ELECTION. ROTTEN FISH FOR MR CHURCHILL. LONDON, November 50. (Received December 1, at 9 a.m.) At Colchester yesterday Mr Winston Churchill was pelted with rotten lish and mud. The windows of the Liberal Committee room were smashed, and the Young Liberals' van was destroyed. A large force of police subsequently patrolled the streets, fearing retaliation in tluj Unionist quarters.