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"""--... MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S…
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MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S VISIT TO NEWCASTLE. FIGHTING SPEECHES IN SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET. "LORDS MAY DECREE A REVOLUTION THE PEOPLE WILL DIRECT IT." Mr. Lloyd George met with an enthusiastic •reception at Newcastle-on-Tyne on Saturday, when he addressed three meetings. The principal gathering was at the Pala.ee Theatre, where an audience of 3.,000 assembled, then the Chancellor addressed an o verfiow meeting, and in the evening he spoke at a j dinner at the Newcastle Liberal Club. Very elaborate precautions were made to prevent. a disturbance by .suffragettes, but at the Palace Theatre there were lively incidents owing to interruptions by male suffragists. There were more extra police in the city than on the occasion of the last Royal visit. Many streets were closed to the public, who! collected in thousands behind the barriers On the doors of the theatre being thrown open every part of the house cjuickly became occupied. Each ticket was mark-id, "This will not admit a lady," and nelle of the female sex were to be seen, witli the exception of a few on the platform, Sir William Angus, president of the National Liberal Federation, presided The/e was a scene of great enthusiasm when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was accompanied by Mrs. Lloyd George, came on the platform. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S SPEECH. The Chancellor commenced by remarking -that a Minister in charge of a great Bill ha-a no time to pre-pa,re speeches. (Laughter.) He had just come there for a plain, straight talk about the Budget, the opposition to it, and the prospects of both. (Cheers.) Six years ago he at Newcastle dwelt upon the great burden imposed upon industry by t the ground landlords and the royalty owners. and mildly suggested it was about time they should contribute something out of their wealth towards the necessities of the State. Six years afterwards he came to tell them that, it would be done. (Loud cheers.) The j Bill wa-s through all its troublesome stages, and it had emerged oat of its 40 days and 40 nights—slaughter)—in the wilderness much strengthened and improved. They had made alterations and modifications. No great principle could be applied VlrithDut necessary hardships. The Government had done their best to meet every hard ease presented to them. (Cheers.) They had done their best, and done it amidst the taunts of the very people who pressed them uipon them. "Nvllen- ever we listened to them—daughter)—as I have had to do for five months—I have done live months' hard labour." Mr. Lloyd George was here interrupted by a man who clamoured for "Votes for women," but he was quickly ejected. TAX ON MINING ROYALTIES. Well, the Chancellor continued, we made alterations, but the Bill in its main struc- ture remains. (Hear, hear.) All the taxes are there. (Cheers.) Because when you order Dreadnoughts a respectable country like this must pay for them. There has been one alteration in the form of one tax. (A Voice: "There is no tax on the stomach i pumps," and laughter.) We made a.n altera- tion in regard to mineral rights. They com- plained that we taxed mineral rights, and said that, although they did not object to pay the taxes, which were uncertain, they objected to the form. At this point a gentleman noa.r the reporters' table made another suffragette interruption. There are many ways of earning a living," commented Mr. Lloyd George, when the interrupter had been thrown out. I suppose that is one, and one of the most objectionable Continuing nis speech, he said he was quite willing: to meet the objections of the landowners, so he converted the present tax, which would produce zC175,000, to a tax on mining rúya.1ti<s, which would produce £ 530,000. (Laughter.) They were not a bit better satisfied. (Laughter.) Well, now we a.re through the Committee stage —we are through the last stage where the substance of t.he Bill can be modified. The Committee stage is the stage for the axe and the chisel and the plane. The report is the etage for the sandpaper, just to alter the drafting. But the substance remains, so that you see the Bill practically in the form in which it is going to become an Act of Parliament. (Great cheers.) At this point a youth of little more tha,11 twenty made an interjection a.bout the women, and upon being seized by the stewards he fought madly, shouting, "Votes for women." After a brief, but fierce, struggle he was removed. The Chancellor then proceeded to examine the main objections to his Budget proposals The chief objection, he said, was that it was flji attack on industry and on property. I am going: to demonstrate to you that it is neitner, he said. ("Hear hear," and cheers.) It wa.s remark-able that under it trade had Improved, although not qpite recovered. A GREAT FLUMP IN DUKES. The only stock that has gone down badly— there has been a great slump in dukes, (Laughter and cheers.) They used to stand rather high in the market, espeeiallv in the Tory market, but the Tory press had dis- covered that they are of no value. (Laugh- ter.) „ They ha.ve been making speeches recently. One specially expensive duke made a speech, and all the Tory -prio,% said-well, bow really, that is the sort of thing we are spending £250.000 a year upon—because a fully-equipped duke costs as much to keep up as two Dreadnoughts—(laughter)—and they are just as great a terror, and they 3a^t longer. (More laughter.) As long as they were contented to be mere idols- A Voice: "As long as women were con- tented to he mere idols," and uproar, in the course of which the interrupter was ejected. As long as the dukes (continued Mr. Lloyd George) were contented to be mere idols on their pedestals, pres-erving that stately fnlcnce whioh became their rank and their jntelligen ce—(] a.u g h ter)—all went well, and the average British citizen rather looked up to them and said to himself, "Well, if the worst comes to the worst for this old country we have a.hvays got the dukes to fall hack on. (Laughter.) But then came the Budget. Thev stepped off their perch, they haw been pcolding like omnibus drivers, purely because the Budget cart has knocked a little of the prilt off their old stage coaoh. (laughter.) Well, we cannot put them back again. Why. asked the Chancellor, was Liberalism supposed to attack property. He ladd it down as a ProPojmon that morf of the people who worked hard for a living belonged to the liberal party-(hear, heari-and most of the people who never worked belonged to the Tory party. (Hear, hear). "HIRELING GENTLHMEN" There were further interruptions, cries of Votes for Women," and men were ejected Turning on them the Chanoellor said, If there are any more of these hireling gentle- men will they make their demonstrations all at the same time. Further disturbance led to the chairman rising and appealing for order. restored, Mr. Lloyd Sfnen1" re,mark that it was the House 'Lfi £ ,Cn L'beral side of the SrtT' tK' lfc was not the Liberal T>u- upSi Lr^ llkelyJ t0 enea^ in wanton >n up n Property and industry There were Se firsfweS0traIly °bjectedJ° the Budget those who eofSfct to establish 1'^ r. ^dt when once this Budget was ^iTsecon!^ 'Wa'S an end of thrir "desires. aDd more powerful, class were nnerv? Th/°and latldlord;- Wh" were they was being elev€T! to twelve millions Tfvt i?llsed ont of 'and taxes. Probably twenty"milli^>Ul(i ,K> fiometl"un^ approaching Ihi- yearnrof' and yet the land ^xes for hir- £ 650 G00 'I-awht'r. for the t nt Walt"") The tart reason taxes that wo^f„owas that they were £ 650.000. fLaughtenTW°S y 2T £ nv»w The in They were bound to reversion dutv°!^lem duty wil1 grrow- will grow. grow, the mineral duties And "TillED OF WALBOTTLES." country growSs^H^6 riches in this neople vear w' thiere are more rich IWM distributed S' RS flooo-mmodation, but .IL. a ■ eloow room, more RR," W€H,AS F? worknng^ases are demanding better homes the dni^ear Th,ey not satisfied with the dull grey street .of the past. (A V<Cf:H.Hlafb0tt]e'" and laughter J They wniLttliT 7t paUces- but they are tired of Wax bottles, ^ug'hter and cheers.) They are not satisfied[ with promises merely that the housing problem will be settled for them on the other side of the valley. (Laughter.) They are asking for more air, more light, more room, more verdure, more sujishtne to recruit energies exhausted in toil, and they will get it. (Cheers.) And I believe this Budget will help them to get it. As thete new fruitful ideas develop more land will be required, and the mare land you require the more tsfcxes will come of the Budget, and, therefore, these are taxes that will grow. That ie one reason Why they object to them, < -ind that is not the chief objection; the chief ftjeetion of great landlord# to thJ* ^ujget lies in the fact that, it has great valuation proposals. (Hear, hear.) RAILWAYS AIND LAND. Discussing the relationship between land and industry, Mr. Lloyd George dwelt on the large prices railways bad to pay for land, and said there had never been a commercial enterprise but what the landlord had generally secured anything from four to forty times as much for the value of the land as its agricultural price. Every trick and ohicanery of the law wa.s exhausted in order to prove that this land—worthless land—had enormous hidden value. (Laughter.) Here you are driving a railway right through this valley. You are separating Jiat hill from this hill. What compensation do you pay for them? Damages, gentlemen, heavy damages for severance. (Laughter.) Then they say: Do you know there are minerals here? There was not a railway train that had not at least one truck carrying the interest on the excessive price paid to land- lords. That was a heavy burden upon industry. Jlear. hear.) Take municipalities. If they wanted land for use they bad to pa.y four times as much as its agricultural value to these great landlords. (Hear, hear.) Mark how much they had to pay for land which was essential to the very life of a civilised community. Then what have we in trade, in business, in commence, ilti industry? If you want to found a new business or to extend an old one the charges for land are extravagant, especi- ally if you want to extend, because you are there then, because a trader cannot carry his trade away as if it were a coster's barrow. I have my bag packed with papers in which landlords have demanded the heaviest price they could possibly extort when addition* were wanted to existing property. The State valuation for the first time places a perfectly impartial valuation on all the land in the kingdom. It forms a stan- dard to guide the buyer." It separated the value cf land intrinsically from the value which was attributable to the expenditure of its owner. It also for the first time forced the landlord to look at the value of the land not merely from the point of view of a receiver, but of a payer. (Hear, hear.) There was nothing like compelling a man to look at both sides of the question (Cheers.) That was why there was objection to the Budget. (Hear, hear.) In future people could always quote the State valua- tion to any extortionate payment put upon land by any landlord. (Cheers.) WELSH ILLUSTRATIONS. I should like "(continued Mr. Lloyd George) to give you a few illustrations by way of showing to you how the new Budget taxes will work. I will take you fitrst of all a trip to my own country, which is quite interest- ing, I can assure you. Some of you may know the South Wales coalfield. It is not so very long ago it was a wild, unproductive country, most of it common land. Landlord Parliaments soon handed over the property to the great landlords, when they discovered there was mineral value in it. At the present moment the South Wales coalfield pays a mil- lion and a half per annum in royalties to just a few landlords-(" Shame ")-and hun- dreds of thousands in ground rents. Now, let me give you just one or two figures which will show what is done there. You get first of all land, not very rich agricultural land-rather poor agricultural land—and c'oal is discovered there. The landlord leases the property to somebody who has the necessary enterprise and capita] for the purpose of development. The landlord himself does not sink any capital in these properties. It is only in very rare exceptions that yon find that. There are just a few. Somebody else works it. somebody else faces risk and the loes, and the landlord takes sixpence a ton in the way of royalties. ("Shame.") Then you come to the surface. You must employ workmen for the purpose of carrying on your mining operations, and the workmen must have hcuses, so tlfcy start building, and the landlord then says, Yes, certainly, by all means you may build, but you have got to pay a ground rent." And there is land now leased in these valleys in South Wales for which, though even within living memory-it may be only a few years ago in some cases—-it produced only a shilling an acre, the landlord is getting £30 and X40 per acre per annum simply for the permission to build a few cottages upon it. They are able to build on lease, and in about sixty years the whole of this land will fall into the landlord's hands.. EJIONDDA VALLEY COALFIELD. Take the Rhondda Valley—it is one of the best coalfields in South Wales. In the year 1851 the total population of the valley was only a thousand. To-day the population is 132,000. The landlords receive annually £ 200,000 in royalties, they receive £ 30,000 a year in ground rents. The coHiery pro- prietors pay in rates £ 54,000 a year, the land- lords do not pay a penny. ("Shame.") That is how the matter stands. There they charge for the minerals, they charge for the surface whenever land is wanted for waterworks they charge heavy prices for it, rail- ways have to pay, and between all these charges industry is burdened and the landlords do not callt-ribute a penny toward, the heavy and growing rates of the district (Hear, hear.) Sir Christopher Purness the other day gave a case where one colliery alone paid, I think, £ 300,000 in ten years. 1 should like to know how much the landlord contributed towards the rates of the di'Ttrict Probably not a penny—certainly not a penny of the £ 300,000. But the colliery company ai the same time contributed heavily to the rates of the district. I know that is the case so far as South Wales is concerned. There was a case given to me from South Wales the other day of a company which had sunk a good deal of money in mining operations and they sent me their balance-sheet. I find their profits are £ 3,COO per annum. The profit- of last year—I won't say per annum. And what do you think they* paid to the land- lords in royalties? £10.600. This company paid £ 3,500 in rates, they made a profit of £ 3,000. and the landlords got £ 10.600, more than the profits and tlle rates together, and iret they do not contribute a pen'ny to the raftes of the district. ("Shame.") YOU ARE A WELSHMAN." And when I come along and say, Here, gentlemen, you have escaped long enough— (cheers)—it is your turn now. I want you tc pay just 5 per cent. on the £ 10,000 odd." "Five per cent. they say to me. "You are a thief." (Laughter.) "YQu are worse. You are an attorney"—(loud laughter)-" worst o! all, you are a Welshman." (Benewed laughter and cheers.) That always ie the crowning epithet. Well, gentlemen, I don't apologia -(hear, hear)-alld I don't mind telling yoi. that if I could I would not. (Cheers.) I "n proud of the little land among the hills (cheers)—but there is one thing I should likr to say, whenever they hnrl my nationality at my head. "Yon Unionists—(lond laughter and cheers)—hypocrites, Pharisees, you a r. the people who in every peroration—well not in every case; they have only got one- daughter)—always talk about our being onf kith and kin throughout the Empire, froir the Old MR-n of Hoy in the North down t< Van Die,mem-, Land in the South." And yet if any man dares to aspire to any position if he does not belong to the particular -nationality which they have dignified by choosing their parents from-(laughter and cheers)-well, they have no use for him Well, they have got to stand the Welshman this time. (Cheers.) I have just given you some facts from the Welsh valleys, but then you will probably say to me these are Welsh landlords- daughter)—our landlords are not like that. (" 011," and laughter, and Voices: "Worse.") I thought from your pa.tience that they must have been angels, but I see that you have got just the same sort. Well, you know you may say to us, "Why do you stand them?" Because you force us to stand them. We would have got rid of them long ago. When the Celt has a nail in his hoot he takes it out, but you have been marching on until there is a sore. Have it out. (Cheers.) I have been inquiring what is happening in England recently. (Hear, hear.) Landlords have no nationality; their characteristics are cosmopolitan. (Laughter.) The Chancellor then gave an illustration from Yorkshire as an example of the effect of the taxes in his Budget. WHERE MY BUDGET COMES IN." Well, now (he asked), where does my Budget come in? (Laughter.) It comes in rather late, I admit. It ought to have come in in one of tho earlier chapters; still, it comes in soo-n enough to give the story a happy ending. (Laughter and cheers.) When the forty thousand royalty comes 5 per cent, for the first time will come to the States ("Hear, hear," and a Voice: "Too little.") The land outside, the land which is nominally agricultural land, but which is really now valuable building land, will pay a halfpenny in the L. When it is sold we will get 20 per cent. en the increase. (Hear, hear.) And when the landlord passes away to another sphere we shall then get the dead rent. (Laughter.) Twenty per cent. on the increase. More than that, we have made another little provision. We have considered his case thoroughly. (Laughter.) When these cot- tagee fall in and his heir comes and walks in for the whole of thi. beautiful model village -thie model landlord r" a model village—the State will then, under this Budget. say, "Very well, if you really must take all that property I think we bad better get a toll of 10 per cent, off it." At any rate, we shall be able to do something for the people who live in these cottages. We have got a little provi- sion. He has only leased one seam of coal. They have discovered, I think, four seams. Some day the other three seams will prob- ably be leased, and then the 5 per cent, only applies to existing collieries, but we have got a special provision for future col- lieries. (Laughter.) CHANCELLOR'S GAME EPISODE. We shall then ask from him, not 5 per cent, of the royalty, but 20 per cent. (Loudcheers.) Where is the injustice there? (Cries of None.") I agree with you. (Laughter.) I have been listening to criticisms for five months, and they could not point out a single injustice in it. They simply scolded at large. Let me ca.11 a-t tent ion to one provision in this lease, because it really casts a strange, almost a weird, light upon the landlords' ideal of rural life in this country. There is a clause in the lease of the model village that no person shall reside in any of these oot tages if they have ever been convicted of an oftence against the game laws. (Cries of Shame.") No person shall lodge there if he has been convicted of a game offence; no per- son shall reside there if th? landlord or his agent has any objection to them. ("Shame.") And this is a free country. Here is a poor miner who is guilty of—what? Of doing some- thing which the landlord spends his life in doing—(A Voice: Gan on, George," and cheers)—and which I have done myself many a time without a licence—(laughter)—only in Wales. (Renewed laughter.) What happens? Not merely is he to he fined, he is to be deprived, as far a.s this gentleman is con;, cerned, of the opportunity for all time of earning a decent living for himself and his family. All I can pay is that a provision of the sort in any lea-se is an outrage. (Cheers.) LORD LANSDOWNE'S MUTINOUS CREW. Asking what will the Lords do, Mr. Lloyd George said:—I tell you frankly it is a matter which concerns them far more than it concerns us. The more irresponsible and featherheaded amongst them (laughter) — want to throw it out, but what will the rest do? It will depend on the weather. Laughter.) There are some who are not fair-weather sailors, and they will go on, but poor Lord Lansdowne—(laughter)—with his creaky old ship and his mutinous crew- there he is; he has got to sail through the narrows with one eye on the weather-glass —daughter)—and the other on the forecastle. (More laughter.) But it does not depend on him. It will depend in the first place, prob- ibly, on the reports from the country. The most important gentleman in this business is not Lord Lansdowne, with all his adroit nanagement of the House of Lords, not even Mr. Balfour, with his invaluable services to his party. The real sailing master is Sir Arthur Acland Hood, the Chief Whip of the Tory party, and that ancient mariner- (laughter)-is engaged at the present moment in trying to decide whether it is safe to shoot the albatross. (More laughter.) He would probably not discover it until too late. But "till this is the great Constitutional party, and if there is one thing better established than another about the British Constitution it is this, that the Commons, and the Com- mons alone, hawe the complete control of supply and ways and means. (Hear, hear.) And what our fathers established through centuries of struggles and of strife, even of bloodshed, we are not going to be traitors to. (Loud c.heers.) "BLACK RETINUE OF EXACTION." Who talks about altering and meddling with the Constitution? The Constitutional party the great Constitutional party. (Laughter.) As long as the Constitution gave rank and possession and power it was not to be interfered with. As long as it secured even their sports from intrusion, and made interference with them a crime; as long as the Constitution forced royalties and ground rents and fees, premiums and fines-the black retinue of exaction; as long as it showered writs and summonses and injunctions and distresses and warrants to emforce them, then the Constitution was inviolate, it was sacred, it was something that was put in the arne category as religion, that no man ought to touch, and something that the chivalry of the nation ought to range in defence of. But the moment the Constitution looks round, the moment the Constitution begins to discover that there are millions of people outside the park gates who need atten- tion-(hear, hear)—then the Constitution is to be torn to pieces. FORCING REVOLUTION. lJØt them realise what they are doing. (Cheers.) They are forcing revolution. ("Hear, hear," and-a Voice: "And they will get it.") But the Lords may decree a revolution which the people will direct. (Cheers.) If they begin issues will be raised that they little dream of. Questions will be asked which are now whispered in humble voices, and answers will be demanded then with autho- rity. The question will be asked -why five hundred men, ordinary men-(Laughter)- chosen accidentally from among the unem. ployed—(laughter)—should override the judg. ment, the deliberate judgment, of millions of people who are engaged in the industry which makes the wealth of the country. (Hear, hear.) That is one question. Another will be, -Who ordained that a few should have the land of Britain as a perquisite; who made ten thousand people owners of the soil and the rest of us trespassers in the land of our birth? (Cheers.) Who is it—who is tesp&nsible—for the scheme of things where- 6y one man is engaged through life in grind- ing labour to win a bare and precarious sub- sistence for himself, and when at the end of his days he claims at the hands «f the com- munity he served a poor pensioa of eight- pence a day he can only get it through a revolution; and another man who does not toil receives every hour of the day, every hour of the night while he slumbers, more than his poor neighbour receives in a whole year of toil? ("Shame.") Where did that table of the law come from? Whose finger inscribed it? These are the questions that wul be asked. The answers are charged with peril for the order of things the Peers repre- sent, but they are fraught with -rare and refreshing fruit for the parched lips of the multitude, who have been treading the dusty roa-d along which the people have marched through the dark ages, whiçh are now emerg- ing into the light. The right hon. gentleman, who had risen at ten minutes to three, resumed his seat at 4.25, the finish of his speech being greeted by loud and prolonged cheering,,
AN EMIGRANT'S MONEY
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AN EMIGRANT'S MONEY ♦ IRISHMAN VICTIMISED BY A CARDIFF MAN. At the Guildhall, London, on Friday, Henry !irtis (38), who described himself as a com- .neircial traveller, giving an address at a tem- perance hotel at Cardiff, was changed on romand with obtaining by false and fraudu- f mPret€nces froari JosePh Doyle, a tailor, oi Iralee, County Kerry, Ireland, three £ 1 Lank of Ireland notes. The prosecutor arrived with a friend at huston Station from Ireland, and proceeded toLiverpool-street Station to make inquiries af**ut the boat train. He was emigrating to sydney On the platform he met the accused, who forced a oonvereation upon him, dis- covering that he waA sailing by the steam- ship Oratava. „ j' V^llat a funr)y thing," exclaimed Curtis; I also am going to Sydney by the Oratava We must be chums. I've got an uncle just outside Sydney who has a large estate. I'm taking a pumping plant out for him, and must go and see if it is ready. Will you come along and have a cup of tea?" He consented, and, after having the tie a, during which time the accused had held out great hopes of his obtaining employment for Doyle <>n his uncle's estates, they proceeded to see if t.he pumps were ready, the accused entering a shop in Bishopfiga.te-etreet. He quickly came out, and said that all were ready, but, unfortunately, he had not sum- cient to meet the hill, and would have to go back to the station to get the money from his trunks, unless witness could oblige him and lend him some money. Having three JEl notes in his pocket, he consented to lend him the £ 3. and accused went back to the shop hut was seen to leave hurriedly by a side door'. He was ohaped and given in custody, when the three notes were found in his possession. The prisoner Was now charged under the Prevention of Crimes Act for that he, having been previously convicted on indictment, was found in the City awaiting the opportunity to commit a crime. Detecti ve-sergeant Bareham proved a previous conviction of felony against him at the Liverpool City Police-court. He was regarded by the Liverpool police as a dan- gerous young criminal. Sir Charles Wakefield described it as a par- ticularly cruel theft from this young Irish emigrant. It might have been all t.he pocket money he had. and had it not been for the vigilance of t.he police the prisoner might have escaped and the Irishman have lost his money. It was gratifying to know that the money had been recovered and restored to its owner, who had sailed for Sydney. He sent,onced the prisoner to three months' hard labour as a rogue and vagabond.
CHARGE AGAINST SOCIETY SECRETARY.
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CHARGE AGAINST SOCIETY SECRETARY. Alexander Gibson, late secretary of the Penzance Building Society, made his tenth appearanee before the Penzance magistrates on Friday on charges of fraud in connection wit.h the society. After a long consultation the Bench held that a prima-facie case had been made out on each of the sixteen charges preferred against the accused, and committed him for tri&l. The Bench granted bail in the aum of £ 1,K0, eubJf to polloe supervision.
- -------SENOR. FERRER SHOT.…
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SENOR. FERRER SHOT. ♦ THE CONDEMNED l\IAN'S FORTITUDE. REMARKABLE SCENES IN PARIS. TWO POLICEMEN SHOT DEAD. POLICE CHARGE CROWD WITH DRAWN SWORDS. BLACK FLAG HOISTED IN ROME. MADRID, Wednesday. A telegram received this morning from Barcelona announces definitely that Senor errer was executed this morning, the sen- tence being carried out bv a small firing party trom the fortress of Montjuich. A Barcelona telegram states that the con- demned man asked to see his counsel, who was accordingly admitted several hours before the execution. Ferrer maintained per- fect serenity of mind, except during his fare- well interview with his counsel, when he could not control his feelings and was over- come by emotion. Measures of precaution had oeen taken all round the castle. There were no more than 40 or 50 persons on the hill-side, and there was no demonstration. The execution wa.s carried out by a platoon of infantry. Ferrer was 'attended by two brothers of Peace and Charity, but refused to take the Sacrament. Senor Ferrer wa.s shot standing erect, with a bandage over his eyes. Before his execu tion he made a will in the presence of Senor Permeyer, doyen of notariej. The terms of the will are not yet known. The soldiers forming the firing party were chosen by lot. General Eserin, of the Engineers, was in command of the troops composing the garrison of the fortress.— Reuter.
RIOTING IN PAHIS.
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RIOTING IN PAHIS. FIGHTS IN FRONT OF THE SPANISH EMBASSY. PARIS, Wednesday. A correspondent of the Temps in Spam has sent the following message to thai journal The Cabinet met yesterday to consider the sentence of the Barcelona court-martial upon Senor Ferrer a.nd numerous pleas for a com- mutation of the sentence which had been received. It was decided, in view of the record of the trial, t.ha.t justice should be allowed to take its course, and that in conse- quence of the threats uttered against the King the Cabinet should not make any pro- posals to his Majesty for commutation of the sentence. In the evening the Ministers telegraphed to the Captain-General confirming the sentence. Senor Ferrer proceeded in the chapel nt nine o'clock last. evening, and was shot a.t six o'clock this morning in the trenches at Montjnich. He passed the day yesterday quietly writing a number of letters, in which he praised the brilliant manner in which Cap- tain Galceran had conducted the defence. A ■jroup of people remained nil night, in th vicinity of the fortress, but were prevented by troops from approaching very near. The Minister of the Interior has announced that he will have the threats received sincc the imprisonment of Senor Ferrer published. The press is only publishing short official messages on the subject, a.s all other informa- tion is censored. The" Rumanite" to-day Published a special edition calling upon the people of Paris to hold a mass meeting in front of the Spanish Embassy at 8.30 to pro- test against the execution of Senor Ferrer. The "Journal" says that the conscience of mankind cries aloud that it will not permit such crimes, and that if the Spanish Government will not listen the people of Spain will, and will realise that the moment for grea-t decisions has • arrived. Ten p.m. As the evening wore on crowds of demon- strators against the execution of Ferrer col- lected i,n the streets, and went to the Spanish Embassy in the Boulevard de Gourcelles, and at half-past nine one of these bodies, headed by Deputy M. Vaillant and members of the Ferrer Defence Committee, tried to break through the police cordon at the corner of the Boulevard Malesherbes, shouting "Down with the culotte," "Down with the mur- derers," but they were driven back. The demonstntion then formed in proces- sion, and paraded the neighbouring streets, yelling and whistling. Shortly before ten revolver shots were fired in the direction of the police at the corner of the Avenue de Villiero, and M. Lepine, the Prefect of Police, ordered out the Republican Guard. At the same time he put himself at the head of the police and harangued the mob, exhorting them to keep calm. The crack of another revolver shot, and one of M. Lupine's men fell in a heap to the ground. He was removed to hospital in a carriage, a.nd at the same time the police cleared the avenue with drawn swords. Eleven p.m. During the demonstration round, the Spanish Embassy a policeman cyclist was killed by a revolver shot. Another policeman and one of the municipal guard wera wounded, the former seriously. The policeman who was hit by a revolver bullet at the corner of the Boulevard Malesherbes was killed instantaneously, the shot being fired point-blank. During the charge of the municipal guard some of their number and several of the demonstrators were wounded. At twenty minutes past nine M. Jaures, accompanied by M. Sembat, deputy, a mem- ber of the editoriaJ staff of the "Huma,nite. left the offices of that journal and motored to the Spanish Embassy. The crowd near the Boulevard Malesherbes obliged him to get out and walk to the Embaasy, a distance of about 500 yards. M. Jaures went down tl, Boulevard do Gouroelles, followed by several thousand people, who sang the" Inter. rationale," and alternately cheered for Jaures and Ferrer, and shouted, Death to the murderers, "Death to Alphonso," "Death to Mawra." The police rushed at the crowd, and a short struggle ensued, 51. Jaures being struck on the head. M. Touny, director of police, intervened, and M. Jaures started on the way back to the offices of the "Humanite," followed by a large crow-], which increased at every step, continuaH- cheering him. In the Place de 1'Opera the crowd had increased to the number of 10,000. cries of "Death to Alphonso" rending the air The police here dispersed the demon- strators, only M. Jaures and some friends being allowed to pass in order to reach the Humanite offices. Crowds are still flocking towards the Spanish Embassy. The man who shot at the police has been arrested .-Roeu tar. FERRER'S DAUGHTERS. „ PARIS, Wednesday. The late Senor Ferrer's two daughters live in Paris, where the elder is employed at a biscuit factory at a daily wage of 2s., while the younger is an actress. The latter yester- day telegraphed to the King of Spain implor- ing his clemency, but received no reply The elder sister, interviewed this evening stated that she endeavoured to see the French Premier yesterday. She was received by his secretary, who promised to acquaint if Briand of her visit. She requests the press to state that Senor Ferrer was a good father. The report that he had abandoned his daughters was unfounded, and he had never left them without means. In his last letter dated the 4th inst., Senor Ferrer said he needed all his courage to bear his lot in his insanitary prison. He re-asserted his innol oence, dectArin? he was in England at the time of the Barcelona outbreak. He was still full of hope and courage. Since then his daughters have had no news, except an envelope endorsing press cuttings of his trial this morning. In their anxiety, the two yonng women telegraphed to him. and on their handing the message in the clerk who took it said, You are wasting your money."—Router. "KING ALPHONSO'S DEATH WAR- RANT." PARIS, Wednesday. M. Gustave Herve's journal, Guerre Sociale," published a special black-edged edition at eight o'clock this evening bearing the inscription The Suicide of Alphonso VIII." In a violent article M. Herve declares that in signing the order for Ferrer's execution the King and Premier have signed their death warrants. The Journal" calls upon all Socialists, Anarchists, and members of the General Labour Council to proceed to the Spanish Embassy at nine o'clock this evening, and to hold a demonstration there.— Reuter. REVOLUTION PENDING. BIARRITZ, Wednesday. Senor Ortega, one of the leaders of the Spanish Republican party in the Senate, interviewed, said he bad heard of the death of Senor Ferrer with deep grief. Although he knew him but slightly, he admired his generous and altruistic sentiments and his efforts in the cause of education and moral enlightenment. He foresaw that the drama of Montjuich would create a deep impression all over Spain and throughout Europe. There was. he declared, a latent, but deep, unrest in his country. Grave events were preparing, and these would be hurried on by to-day's execution Revolution wa.s threatening and seemed imminent.—Reuter.
BLACK FLAGS IN ITALY.
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BLACK FLAGS IN ITALY. THE REPORTED INTERVENTION OF THE POPE. ROilE, Wednesday. The news of the execution caused intense indignation here. Black qav- were hoisted at the Capitol and other buildings. Anti-Spanish demonstrations continue, and general strikes as a sign of protest have been declared at Genoa, Turin, and other places, —Central News. The most rigorous reserve is maintained at the Vatican about tire reported effort of the Pope to obtain the pardon of Senor Ferrer, and neither a denial nor a eonfirma- tion of any step having been taken in that direction can be obtained. It is understood that if anything was done with that object the negotiations were carried out directly between the Pope and King Alphonso, and it is believed that the execution was hastened by this attempt at intervention by the Pope. It is even hinted that the Spanish Government may have hurried on the execution in order to avoid putting the young Sovereign in a position oi having cither to grant cr refuse the Papal request for a pardon. The Vatican empha- tically denies the assertion that the Spanish Embassy here took any action to prevent Papal intervention. The municipal council of Genoa, which sent a telegram to Senor Maura asking for a pardon for Senor Ferrer, to-day adjourned out of respect. Labour leaders decided to order a cessation of work for 24 hours, and men working this morning ceased this after noon. The trams liavestopped running-. About 2,000 people held a meeting of protest at Naples, and 500 students met at the univer- sity and discussed the presentation of a protest to the Spanish Consul, but the authorities forbade this. The Florence Chamber of Commerce is organising a meeting in memory of Ferrer to-morrow.-Reu teL LEADER OF THE "MODERN SCHOOL." Senor Francisco Ferrer, who was regarded as the leader of the Modern School in Spain, was arrested while trying to cross the French frontier after the recent revolt in Spain, it being alleged that he was the leading spirit in the revolution. Ferrer, without denying his Republican sympathies and Socialistic leanings, declared that he was not implicated in the Barcelona riots. However, the examining magistrate, when Senor Ferrer was placed on trial in the Model Prison at Barcelona, declared that documents found in the accused man's possession proved that he had had dealings with revolutionary organisations for years. The Public Prosecutor asserted that Ferrer had founded the modern school of Anarchism. Senor Ferrer, who was allowed to address the court after several witnesses had testi- fied against him, declared that he was not connected with any political parties; he only concerned himself with education. The result of the military trial was that sentence of death was passed, that sentence being endorsed by the Council of Ministers. Senor Ferrer, against whom allegations were made of being implicated in th» attempt on the lives of the King and Queen of Spain on their wedding-day, paid a visit to Paris and London shortly after that event, accompanied by Solidad ViHafranca, a lady who assisted him in his work at the Barce- lona Grammar School. CARDIFF AND THE EXECUTION. At the monthly meeting of the Cardiil Inde-pendcnt Labour Party on Wednesday intense indignation was expressed at the summary execution, without proper trial," of Senor Ferrer, and it was decided to make this a subject of public protest in the Theatre Royal on Sunday next, when the Rev Stitt Wilson. will be the principal' speaker.
ADMITTED CLAIMS TOTALI £ 160,428.
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ADMITTED CLAIMS TOTAL £ 160,428. The liquidators (Messrs. 0. E. Dcvey, 31, Queen-street, Cardiff, and R- H. itarch, Mount Stuart-square, Cardiff) of the affairs of Powley, Thomas, and Co. Limited coal exporters, Cardiff (ill voluntary liquidation), ehow that the assets realised a-mounted to £2,6,381 5s. lid. The total cost of the liquidation jvas £ 3,462 Os. Id. Prefer- ence creditors took £1,{)75 lis. 2d., and the dividend of 2s. 7Jd. in the £ on the claims admitted required £ 21,643 148. 8d. The admitted claims totalled £166,42.8 9s. lOd. Tbe liquidators in their observations state:- In the statement of affairs laid before the first meeting of creditors the trade credi- tors were disclosed at E,36,807, the Italians Bank £ 29,000, loans £ 5,000, and au estimate of £ 80,003, the amount of foreign claims under contracts, making a total of £1S\J,007. The amount of liabilities admitted to rank for dividend, as shown in the above state- ment, £ 166,42-8 8s. lOd., includes the claim of the Italian State Railway and the Credito Italiano Bank and the Meridionali Railway Company, at £ 50,000: other claims under con- tracts for coal, freights, Ac., £ 72,059 5s. 6d.; claims admitted in respect of salaries and wages through breach of contracts, £ 65? 4s. 4d.; claims in respect of loans, £ 6,284* 4s. 4d., leaving a balance of £ 37,445 15s. 8d. in respect of ordinary trade creditors. The a.ssets were estimated to realise JE25,639 9s. lid., which was practically the amount realised after taking into account the interest allowed to the liquidators on their credit account. allowed to the liquidators on their credit account. "The delay in closing the estate has arisen through litigation in the French courts in contesting various claims for breach of con- tract and recovery of outstanding assets. Certain claims were originally lodged for £ 262,055 Os. 6d., and the liquidators were successful in reducing them to jE135,450 10s. 3d., and this amount is incl-uded in the total claims admitted at EI66,428 9s. lOd." The liquidators' return of the payments made is as follows:—Trade expenses and petty ca-sh, £ 236 13s. 7d.; insurance premiums, £ 546 9s. 5d.; Board of Trade fees, £ 219 12s 9d.; law costs, £ 818 7s. 8d.; liquidation expenses, £ 1,640 16s. 8d.—making total costs of liquida- tion £3.462 Os. Id.; preferential creditors, £ 1,075 lis. 2d.; dividend of 2s. 7Jd. in the £ on claims admitted at £ 166.423 Ss. 10d., £21,84.3 14s. M.—total, £ 26,381 5s. lid.
MEMORIAL TO A WELSHI HYMN-WRITER.…
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MEMORIAL TO A WELSH HYMN-WRITER. 4 TO BE UNVEILED BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE. When Mr. Lloyd George visits the Rhondds Valley next Monday in connection with the Welsh Baptist Union, of which he is presi- dent, it is expected that he will unveil a memorial to David Williams, the author of the well-known Welsh hymn. "Yn y dyfroedd niawr a'r tonan." The time for this cere- mony has not been fixed, but it will probably take place before the evening meeting at which Mr. Lloyd George will speak. Mr. Lloyd George has promised to attend a meeting at Swansea when his Budget labours are over. A letter has been received from Mr. Lloyd George's secretary ftating that the tradition that ne had said that he would never deliver a speech in Llandudno was pure rubbish, and he would certainly hope to be present at the convention of the Welsh National Liberal Council if held at Llandudno.
"SHOCK TO THE NERVES."
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"SHOCK TO THE NERVES." ABERTRIDWR WOMAN TELLS A CURIOUS STORY. A peculiar case was heard a.t Caerphilly on Tuesday, when Margaret Newton, a married woman, of Abertridwr, was summoned for using threats towards Eleanor Jones, Aber- t.ridwr. Mr. C. S. Goodfellow said his client pleaded guilty, and asked the bench to bind both parties over, otherwise there would be no peace for them, and he would be obliged to take proceedings against Mrs. Jones for slander, the compla.inant having alleged that defendant had drugged her on a few occa- sions. Complainant asked for the case to be adjourned to call Dr. M'Kenzie, as she was suffering from shock to the nerves. "She dragged me to the fish shop, and the woman there will oorne as a witness." Questioned by Mr. Good follow, complainant said she was not in the habit of going to licensed pre- mises, but she had had a few drinks with the defendant. She would not say Mrs. New- ton drugged her, but^he wished she could accuse one woman. "I can drink in any company," she added, "a. bottle of stout or a glass of whisky, but when I am in her company I am done. (Laughter.) I say Rome- tiriing was put in my drink, but I never said anything about a drug." Further questioned, she said" I'll say the truth, sir; fhe said she wvuld n-t dr-g any woman, but she would drug a man for his —— money." (Laaghter.) The, Benoh bound both parties over to be of good behaviour.
RIOTOUS SWANSEA MEETING.
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RIOTOUS SWANSEA MEETING. + MR. KENSIT REFUSED A HEARING. An uproarious meeting was held at the Albert-bail, Swansea, on Monday night as a climax to the disorderly street scenes which have attended the efforts of the Kensities, or WicJiffe preachers, to hold public gather- ings in the town during Churcn Congress week. From the first these street meetings have been broken up by gangs of men, women, and children from Greenhill, the Irish district, who were incensed by the references to ritualism by the speakers. As nn outcome of these disturbances, Mr. J. A. Kensit wag announced to address a meeting at the Albert-hall on Monday. Further disorder was naturally anticipated, and the police had made extensive preparations accordingly. The Rev. E. M. Townshend, rector of Llan- va-pic y, Men., presided. Immediately the meeting began it became evident that the gathering was divided into two hostile camps and that no one would be allowed a hearing. A big Roman Catholic contingent occupied the middle of the floor. A young man who appeared to be their spokesman got on a chair and put a number of ques- tions, the answers to which were heard with niuck^ difficulty. The interrupting speaker nad furnished himself with a whistle, with which, in the pauses in his speech, he called for order; another had a frate on which he performed various airs, and which, when he was tired, he handed to a con- federate, who kept up the tooting, while several other persons who could make room tor the purpose engaged in step dances ana tor the purpose engaged in step dances ana jigs. To add to the uproar and confusion, a nexplosive of some kind was let off, and others contributed to the merriment wiiii comic ciioruses. One man created a diversion in quite a different manner; he fell into St. and had to be carried out During one of the pauses Mr. Kensit waF asked why he objected to Roman Catholicism, and his answer that he only objected to its introduction imo the Church of England merely added to the disturbance. He added that, personally, he was firmly persuadeC that Roman Catholicism was not of God. whereat the Roma.n Catholics in the cnitwd became still more unmanageable. First one and then another shouted volubly, but, of course, little could be heard in the din. Some of the people on the platform sang Crown Him Lord of All," and the crowd responded with" Antonio." Mr. Kensit conferred with Police-inspector West, and formally requested that the police should take the name and address of tin. man with the whistle. The inspector made his way along the gangway, amid a crowd of "ilel der.ions.r uor?. chiefly women, and tooi; the man's name. The inspector returned to the platform, and Mr. Kensit said, "I charge that man with organising a disturbance at this public' meeting, and request you (the police; to take him in charge under the new Act." The young man concerned now came to the front, and was apparently about to mount the platform, when Inspector West took him to a side door and put'him outside the hall. Tbe disorder continued unabated, and the police prepared for rough work. Down the hall a man was seen in angry debate with one of a knot of women. They came at last into physical conflict, and a dozen women rushed to take part, belabouring the man with their umbrellas. Then fifty or sixty poiicemen. who had been there in readiness in a side room, marched into the hall, and proceeded in singie file to the central scene of disorder. A few people rushed away in alarm, others mounted the platform with a view to safety. The police performed their work with expedition; the disorder was soon quelled, and they proceeded next to clear the hall. While the din was proceeding Mr. Kensit, speaking to our representative, said that the disorder had evidently been organised, and it was the most rowdy meeting he bad erer addressed. He had never experienced any- thing like it. His intention had been simply to deal with Church matters, and he would not have introduced any question of Roman Catholicism. Their resolve would be, he added, to carry out that meeting some time or other. They would organise in Swansea a Protestant Defence League in order to protect freedom of speech at Protestant meetings. As soon as they had got the organisation into working order they would renew their protest.
HEAVY FAILURE OF A NEATHI…
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HEAVY FAILURE OF A NEATH DRAPER. INSUFFICIENT PROFIT AND BAD TRADE. Samuel Curry Roberts, draper, of 4, Green- ■rtreet, Neath was publicly examined at Neath Bankruptey-oourt on Tuesday. His liabilities amounted to £2,324 lis. lOd., an ,1 deficiency to £1,504 lOs. lCd. Debtor alleged as the causes of his failure want of capital, insufficient profit and bad trade, and ill- health." Debtor's deficiency account showed net loss arising from carrying on business from the 17th of August, 1907, to the date of the receiving order, after deducting from profits the usual trade expenses. JM33 14s. 8d.: bad debts, 1938 and 1909, C14 IBs. 8d.; house- hold expenses of self, wife, and children, JL615 Is. id.: written off stock and fittings. £402 6s. 5d.; and interest on loans, dE40 10s. The receiving order was made on the debtor's own petition, which he filed in consequence of one of his creditors not agreeing to a deed of assignment The debtor oommenoed busi- ness with the late Mr. James Glass in Decem- ber. 1899. patting £ 400 into the business, £ 200 of which was subsequently re-paid him. After the death of Mr. Glass in March, 1907, the assets and liabilities were taken over and the business continued by the debtor up to May. 1907, when he executed a deed of assign- ment of his estate, and a final dividend of 15s. in the £ was paid to the creditors. In August, 1907. debtor ag-ain started business with a borrowed oaixitai of £ 430 (all of which was still owing), but through the causes z stated he had to file his petition in bank- ruptcy. Debtor holds a lease of bi., ahon and premises, but as the nnexpired term is only sixteen months he regarded it as being of no value- In reply to the offioial receiver (Mr. Henry Rees\ debtor said that he had had a large turnover, and during the first eighteen months he had taken £ 3,000, but there was a net lo=»i of £ 433 14s. on his trading. A letter was received from the trustee ,t under the deed of assignment stating that he was satisfied with the results of his inves- tigation. and the case was closed, subject oo the signing of the notes.
CELTIC ASSOCIATION. -I
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CELTIC ASSOCIATION. PARTICIPATION IN BRUSSELS CONGRESS. The committee of the Celtic Association has decided to take part in the Pan-Celtic Con- gress to be held at Brussels during Aag-ust of nex-t year. The organising committee consists of Sir William Preece, K.C.B. (Wales), chair- man, Lord Castletown (Ireland), Mr' F W Crossley (Ireland), Mr. S. Cope IGorITWalJ), thee Marquis de l'Estourbeillon (Brittany)' Mr. F. Vincent Evans (Waies), Mr. A. Perceval Graves and Mr. A. P. Graves, jun. (Ireland), Mr. Henry Jenner (Cornwall), Mr. George Moore (j..le of iMan), Count Plunkett (Ireland), Dr. Farquhar M'Crae (Scotland), Mr. T. W. Rolleston (Ireland), and Mr. T. J. Evans1 (Wales). The congress will be held conjointly with L'Union Celtique. The central authority of the Celtic Association is to be shifted from Dublin to London.
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STOP PRESS. A PROFESSIONAL BURGLAR. THE RAID ON SIR HIRAM MAXIMS RESIDENCE. James Kemble (23), described as a clerk, and Jamee Baxter (23), an ostler, were indicted at the Oentral Criminal Court on Thursday on rev-e-ral burglary. One of the houses entered was that of Sir Hira.m Maxim, Ryecotes, West Dulwich, and property to the value of L21 stolen. Kambl-e pleaded guilty and Baxter not guilty. The latter was acquitted. The Common Sergeant said that t.J:!6 prisoner was cleerly a professional burglar. He sentenced him to six years' penal servitude, I
- KING'S EFFORTS FOR PEACE.…
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KING'S EFFORTS FOR PEACE. ANOTHER CONFERENCE ON THE BUDGET. LORD LANSDOWNE AND MR. BALFOUR. IN AUDIENCE WITH HIS MAJESTY. A very significant movement regarding the political situation took place on Tuesday, when Lord Lansdowne and Mr. Balfour waited upon the King by appointment. After- wards the Premier also arrived at Bucking- ham Palace, and had an interview with his Majesty. Lc.rd Lansdowne and Mr. Balfour went to Buckingham Palace at noon for their audi- ence of the King. The audience was some- what prolonged, and doubtless had reference to the Finance Bill controversy. Just as the Unionist leaders were leaving the Palace, at 12.45, Mr. Asquith arrived in his motor-car and proceeded direct to his Aiajestr s private apartment. The Premier's interview was of very brief duration, Mr. Asquith leaving the Palace fifteen minutes later. All endeavours to ascertain some official guidance as to the meaning of these confer- ences between his Majesty and the respon- sible chiefs of the Opposition were futile, but it is self-evident that they were more than nicro courtesy calls, and that considerable significance attaches to them. Last week it was announced that the King would confer with the leaders of the Opposi- tion in the House of Lords after the visit of the Premier to Balmoral, and although it was officially denied, the denial had reference only to a possible journey of Lord Lansdowne to Balmoral for the purpose. What is quite certain is that his Majesty. so far as he can properly and constitution- ally do so, is anxious to preserve political peace. His keen interest in all that concerns the welfare of his people, the best interests of the country, and the smooth working ot the Government, no doubt has caused the ,-i i. mg to ascertain direct from the responsible heads the bearings of the political situation. For the moment, at any rate, Tuesday's audiences have not involved any important development cf the political situation. Any suggestion of any approach to a round table conference or even of a calling together ot the Cabinet seems to be disposed of by the circumstance that the Prime Minister, who would be the central figure at either such gathering, left London for the country on i uesday afternoon, where he will stay during the remaining days of this week. The right hon. gentleman did not return to London till Monday evening, and then it is understood only to obey the King's command to attend at Buckingham Palace. Mr. Balfour also left London in the after- noon. :i ,,d wiil spend the rest of the week at Sandwich. After the reception of the political leaders the King lunched at Buckingham Paiaoe with about a dozen members of the House- hold Staff and of the Lord Chamberlain's Department, and then motored to St. Pancras Station with Colonel Holford and Colonel Ponsonby. His Majesty left by the 5.5 train, to which a saloon was attached for his Majesty's use. From Cambridge onward this part of the train was taken as a special to Newmarket, where the King will attend the race meeting, and at the end of the week go to Sandringham. THE DECISION OF THE CABINET. In Parliamentary circlet, (says the Central News) it is now known that the visit of the Prim# Minister to Balmoral last week wai!: the direct outcome of the Cabinet Council held on the moruins; of his departure North, at which the Government decided to send the Finance Bill to the House of Lords and toO insist upon the Upper Chamber accepting -t without amendment. The suggestion that any negotiations for farther amending the Bill are in progress is scouted by Liberal members who are in the confidence of Ministers. It is interesting to note that Mr. Balfour last week bad an interview with Lord Cawdor, the ex-First Lord of the Admiralty, who was recently one of his Majesty's gue&ts at Balmoral, and who is understood to have been consulted by the King on the political situation. There was much speculation in the Lobby of the House of Lords on Tuesday night as to the outcome of the visit of the party leaders to the King. Those peers who share the con- fidence of the Opposition leader studiously refrain from expressing their views, while others, in the absence of definite information, were disinclined even to hazard an opinion. NEGOTIATION NON-EXISTENT. There is no room for anything in the nature of negotiation of any kind, and as a matter of fact nothing of that nature is in exist- ence (says the "Times"). The King has gone to Newmarket, the Prime Minister is off to the country, the Leader of the Opposition is spending a week at Sandwich, and Mr. Lloyd George has gone motoring on the Continent. He who can construct from these daita. a. cri- tical negotiation must possess an abnormally developed imaginative faculty. Such an one would probably remain unmoved by the circumstance that since Mr. Asquith s visit to Balmoral Mr. Lloyd George has delivered his speech at Newcastle. MR. LEWIS HAR COURT AND TARIFF REFORM. Mr. Lewis Harcourt, MP., presided on Wednesday a.t a conference called to form a local brench of the Free Trade Union at Oxford, and said that Tariff Reform was no alternative to the Budget, for it could not'raise the money required, or. if it did, the sacrifice imposed upon the people would be more crushing than they could bear. He objected to retaliation, because he had seen it fail. If the country had Protection it would mean that wages and employment would be worse than they were at the present time. THREE-CORNERED FIGHT AT BERMONDSEY. With the definite adoption of the Con- servative, the Liberal, and the Labour candidates, the situation in Bermondsev on Wednesday lost a considerable amount of its speculativeness, and the day saw the opening of a strenuous campaign. Mr. Pownall, who was to have been the Conservative candidate, has telegraphed to the Conservative headquarters stating that, as he is unable to return in time for the election, he agrees to the selection of anoth-er candidate. Mr. John M. T. Dumphreys, a well-known Tariff Reformer in the division, was on Wed- nesday adopted as the Conaerva-tive candi- date. Mr. Hughes is the Liberal candidate, and Mr. S.alter is the I.L.P. nominee. It is understood, thai the writ for the con- stituency will be applieod for on Monday or Tuesday next, and that the polling will be fixed for Thursday or Friday, the 2&th or 29th. Mr. Dumphrys, the Conservative candidate, who is manager of a large firm of provision dealers, has been mayor of Bermondsey, and has filled various other local offices, in 1885 he contested West Birmingham against Mr. Chamberlain as a working man candidate.
THE KING'S INTERCESSION
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THE KING'S INTERCESSION MR. A. HENDERSON AND A BUD- GET REFERENDUM. "I am not prepared to attach undue sig- nificance to the visits of the Prime Minister and the leaders of the Opposition in the Lords and Commons to his Majesty," said Mr. Arthur Henderson, the Labour party chairman, when discussing the latest politi- cal development on Wednesday. "Doubt- loss, for some time," he continued, "the King will have been an interested spectator, and from the press will have learned of the threatening situation in regard to the Bud- get It was only to lie expected that his Majesty should desire to learn at first-hand what the Government and the Oppositioi, p-opose to do an certain eventualities. That the King atteml^gd to arrange a compromise involving a change in the principles of the Government Bill I oould not bring myself to believe. His Majesty has always shown himself above party, and however anxious he may be at his time of life to ward off a great Constitutional crisis, no effort on his part would be in harmony with the non- party position he has always adopted. I therefore, conclude that nothing furtber occurred at the interviews than that to which I have already referred, namely, the soliciting on the King's pa.rt of information as to the policy to be adopted in different sets of circumstances." Alluding to the suggested Budget referen- dum, Mr. Henderson said —"Whatever there is to be said about the merits of the prin- ciple of the referendum, it would, in my judgment, be a mistake in tactics for the Government even to entertain the suggestion so far as the Budget is concerned. It would indirectly mean a capitulation to the Lords, and also mean the taking of the judgment of the electorate under circumstances that 'are far from satisfactory. Wo have to remember that it would be an entirely new policy in this country, and the last form of Bill on which any Government ought to be prepared to try the experiment is -a finance measure. If the Lords and the Tariff Reformers, in harmony with their threats, believe the people in the country are behind them in their opposition, they ought to be compelled manfully to faoe the issue by the old-timov 1 -»rooes6 of a general eleotion."