POLITICS AND SPOOKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 274, 28 December 1909, Page 1

POLITICS AND SPOOKS.

MR. GLADSTONE'S SI'UUT. SHAMELESS DEVICES. Loudon, November 5. Whatever there was in it, it certainly looked as if the friends of the Budget were in desperate straits for new defenders when the Daily Chronic.e (oi

tin; Daily Georgic, as some of the liippant Unionists term it) published tlie extraordinary interview by Mr. W. T. Stead with tlie "Spirit"' of Gladstone. This is another of tlie emanations of "Julia's bureau.'" Gladstone himself seems to have hesitated to be "contacted." He rather objected to being used as an instrument in a political fight which was none of his making, and he must have felt reassured when the shade of Cardinal Manning appeared on the scene and assured him that "It would do liim good to once more contact the throbbing feelings" of the "dear people —the bliad, ignorant masses whom both loved so well." The special seance at which the interview took place was held I at the bureau on Saturday morning. On Monday the Chronicle starred it, as it had done the Liiuehouse speech of -Mr. Lloyd - George and the Birmingham speech of Air, Asquith. It was, in fact, treated as the bona-lidc utterance-of a prominent living statesman, and consequently as an actual factor in the present political controversy, heedless to say, Mr. Gladstone took the Chronicle's view of the present crisis; and needless to say also, both the Unionist Press and a great section of the sceptical, public regarded the whole thing as a piece ot arrant humbug. Mr. Gladstone, in short, declared against any interference by the .Lords with the financial proposals ot 'Hie Government, but he announced his adherence to the principle'of the Second Chamber.

Incidentally the G.O.M. is said to have deplored his inability to make a satisfactory "earth contact." Nor could Mr. Stead help him much.

\V. T. S. lour old friend, Lord Morley. Is he no good! "W. E. G.: He is useless for this purpose, as lie lacks tlie fire and energy so necessary at this juncture. W.T.S.: How about Lloyd-George? W. E. G.: He has the necessary fire and energy for the purpose, but he lacks carefulness of expression, and he lacks the steadiness and balance which will be necessary. It is difficult, it is difficult.

W.T.S.; What about Mr. Balfour, your old friend? He is' on the other side; but 1 should think that through his distinct and clear ideas you might be able to—

W.E.G.: Yes, that is quite true that (I can contact much of these lower 'worlds through the personality of inj ihonorable friend, but it is difficult to grouse iu him the feelings of intense ■lire which this campaign will arouse, and besides, as you have remarked, he tis not working on our side.

I What confidence might possibly have jbecn placed in the whole affair was (practically dispelled by the announcement of the clairvoyant that the "little fircle would have to be held without the assistance of any extraneous members." This meant that reporters were not permitted to attend, so that the whole story, so far as the outside world is concerned, reposes in the transcript supplied by Mr. Stead. The solemn acceptance of this sort of thing is a remaskable development of political controversy. ''Julia" is said to be the spirit of Miss Julia A. Ames, a deceased Chicago journalist, who was once on the staff of the Union Signal.

Lord Curzon addresses to The Times a strong protest against what he terms "the latest attempt to exploit a political manoeuvre by shameless devices 1 ' in the "alleged interview between a notoriously hysterical journalist and the spirit of the illustrious departed.'' Speaking at Liverpool on Wednesday night, Mr. W. G. C. Gladstone protested Mr. Stead's' "interview" with the spirit of his grandfather, referring to it as "farcical."