The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 7

THE MACHESxjcxt GUARDIAN. MONDAY. FEBRUARY 12. 1912. ENGLAND AND GERMANY MANCHESTER DOCKS.

WORK OF THE SESSION, LORD LTSTER. WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE: A SURVEY. presumed that some system of closure is to be applied to most of the big legislative projects of the session. There is even a rumour not, however, of any substance of prevailing in maternity hospitals had made an appreciable difference in the vital statistics of the Registrar General. Lister had do; a his work and he reaped his reward in full measure, as far as human organisations can reward such work.

He was tho first medical man who was elevated to the peerage of this realm, and in the same year he was made a Privy Councillor. He was made president of the Royal Society, and the academic lion ours showered on him included tho degrees of Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Durham, and the Victoria University. On the Continent he "was granted degrees by the Universities of Bologna, Wurburg, and Bnda Pesth. His was ono of the first nominations to the Order of Merit, he was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Daneborg, and Knight of tho Prussian Order pour la nierite." He was a Laureate of the French Academy of Sciences, and was made an honorary member of almost every learned society of Europe and America. All these honours are but the symbols of the gratitude of civilisation for benefits which even yet have not been fully realised.

But not even the completion of this triumph could distract the mind of Lord Lister from the ruling passion of his life, and in his eighty-second year he contributed an article on a surgical subject to the British Medical Journal." As a man and a doctor his portrait has been drawn for all time by W. E. Henley in that part of his famous hospital poem on "The Chief." His brow spreads largo and placid, and his eve Is deep and bright with steady looks that still; Soft lines of tranquil thought his face fulfil His face at once benign, and proud, and shy. 1908-1912. We give below a connected account of the Steps by which tho suffrage movempnt has reached its present position a position which may well inspire alike hope aud confidence in the minds of its supporters.

Dangers there still are in abundance rlmm (hit. Uor rely on tho definite pledges which have boen given them and tho fairness with which they have been met even by a declared opponent like the Prime Minister. Since 18G7, when the first Women's Suffrage Society was formed, the demand for the political enfranchisement of women has been articulate. 1SSC there has been a continuous majority in favour of women's suffrage in the Hou.se of Commons whatever party was in power. Women's Suffrage Bills have passed second reading seven times (in 1S70, 1SSG; 1S97, 1908, 15109, 1910, 1911).

The bill which passed its second reading in 190S (known as Stanger's billl was one to givo women the vote on the same terms as men now have it, and it secured a majority of 19, bub was not allowed time to proceed any further. On May 20, 1908, in reply to a deputation of Liberal members of Parliament in favour of women's suffrage, Mr. Asquith said ho regarded it as tho duty of tho Government to introduce before the end of thus Parliament an effective scheme for electoral reform. That being the intention of the Government, it would clearly bo within the competence of those present to seek to introduce oy amendments or by extensions the object they desired. Tho Government could hardly resist such an amendment, for the simple and sufficient reason that probably some two-Thirds lns ooHiirue.s tho Ministry were in favour of it.

It it wero approved of by tho House it could not bo any part of the duty of tin- Government to oppose such an atnciulmenr, and tlu-rel'oro the matter must bo left to the uecii-ion of tho House. He must give them one word of warning, lmwever. It must bo a distinct condition that any proposed change mu.t be a chungi- upon democratic limvs. Subject, to that i-nmlitioii In? i-ould not oppose siielj an amendment, if he desired to do so, having reirard to the statu ot opinion in the Literal party on this question. In conclusion he pointed out that a measure of women's stiff r.iu'o bucli as he had touched on, to be accepted, must have behind a the overwhelming support of tho women of tho country tllo of men.

Mr. Lvit Jones lh(v Minister whether tho Electoral Reform Bill would be drafted on to admit of an amendment proposing women's suffrage being moved. Mr. Asquith is underwood to have replied that ic would bo a breach of tho understanding if bill wero not drawn on lines nido c-nou-h to admit ot this. On March 19, 190(1, a bill introduced bv -Air.

Geoffrey Il.iward to givo tho Parha-mentary vote to all men nml women on a three months' residential qiialihYation was reafl a second time bv lo7 votes to 12 On December 10, 19U9, on the evj of tho election, Mr. Asquith said in the Albert Hall Nearly two vi-are behalf of the hl lhc 4, Via, ii uie" w'rtuuidatcd. olir hriiKdiilr itoj?" 1 Hhi i.rs"rUo of tlJ. II an filiation for Hie x1iilc or intention and no fault of ours, that opiortl ty tor rawing the matu-r has teen taUn Our friends and fellow-workers of Uoiupii's Literal I-enration havu atktd mo to sav that my drrlaration survives the expiring Parliament JUMl will hold its and, tiiat their cause. fnr the Government concerned, fdiail be no vorso off in tho jww Parliament than it wouid Utn in th- old I havo no Invitation aci-i-dinf to that le-queet.

The tho and mii of a small sixtion of the advocates of the lia.4 no or buik; this it in clearly one on whivh a Hoiisu of Commons to be th-e opportunity to its view. Suffragists all over the country held this to he a definite placing of ihe question before the country, and the National L'nion 'organised a great voters' petition, names of voti-rs only bring taken, and theso mostly at tho ar-tual polling-booths. In two or thrci; weki about 300,000 signatures voter? wero obtained, asking fur the vote to be given to women '-'on the same terms as it is or may be granted to men." At the time candidates were publiclv questioned and urged in cn-ry possible wav to declare their views on the subject. lit was never known exactly liow manv mentioned tho subject in their election addresses, but it was over 250; it was possible to that over -100 of the new members were lis-tinctly favourable, while only 51 could ho reckoned as certainly unfavourable, tho remainder not having pledged themselves categorically. The Conciliation Committee.

In 1910 was formed tho Conciliation Com mittee, composed, with tho exception of tho hon. secretary, Mr. II. N. Brailsford.

and Lord Lytton, entirely of members of the House of Commons. Tho general election of January, 1910, had greatly reduced the Liberal majority, and it was clear that a bill of the nature of Mr. Howard's, which ha1 only passed by a majority of 34 in a very much more Liberal House, would havo no chance whatever in tho new House. It was the object of tho Committee to ascertain what kind of bill would command the support of suffragists of all parties, and it was found that many Conservatives and some Liberal. who approved of enfranchising women on the same terms as men would not support such a bill as Mr.

Howard s. Some Liberals, on the other hand, objected to an extension of tho pTopcrtY vote. The present franchise being taken as the basis, it was resolved to eliminate the ownership, graduate, and lodger franchise, to meet objections from the Liberal side, and leave only the householder and occupier. This was the text of the bill commonlv- known as the Conciliation Bill of 1910 1. Everv woman possessed of a housobnM ounlification or of a 10 aualifioatinn within the meaning of the Representation of the People KA 4 LA ACt ocrj aiAv eukikim iw uc TCji5iere4 as a voter, and when registered to vote for the county or borough in which the qualifying premises are suuaic.

9 VnT the uurooses of this Act a woman hf.M not be disqualified by marriage for beinir registered as a voter, provided that a husband and wife shall not both be qualified in respect of the same property. 3. This Act may be cited as The Kepresenta-tiot of the People Act, 1910." The title of the bill was purposely re LORD HALDANE'S ACTIVITY IN BERLIN. CRITICISM OF THE GLASGOW SPEECH. (Recteb's Corbespoxdent.) Berlin-, Saturday.

Lord Haldane and his brother, Professor Haldane, lunched to-day with Herr von Stumm, head of the Political Department of the Foreign Office. Sunday. Lord Haldane and his brother left for London via the Hook of Holland this morning. They arrived at the station unaccompanied, and were seen off by no one but a handful of journalists. Among the Minister's luggage was doubtless a bronze bust of the Emperor, which has been presented to him by His Majesty as a token of personal regard.

"Whether Lord Haldane is taking back any other fruits of his mission is unknown. Sir Ernest Cassel, whose presence in Berlin has naturally been connected with the visit of Lord Haldane, left yesterday. He arjrived by tho same train as Lord Haldane, and stayed at an hotel adjoining tho British Embassy, where Lord Haldane conferred with him. The fact of his visit here has been kept profoundly secret. A local agency this morning publishes a story that while Lord Haldane was supposed to be at tho Embassy he was reallv in secret conference with Sir Ernest Cassel, having surreptitiously entered the hotel bj- a side entrance nest door to the Iimbassy.

According to tho same source, Sir IS. Cassel also conferred with Lord Charles Boresford and another petvonage. whose name is withheld. As a matter of fact, Lord Charles Beresford left before the arrival of Lord Haldane and Sir E. Cassel.

The "Rundschau" publish.es what it describes as a semi-official statement affirming the political character of Lord JIaldane's mis- sion, but denying that it is connected with the question of naval disarmament, and says tho statement is sufficiently disproved by Mr. Churchill's speech. It is added: Germany has, howeveT, for some time past perceived an indication in England of a desire for more friendly relations. This disposition has naturally been observed with pleasure here, and it can only be welcomed that Lord Haldane should use the opportunity of his Berlin visit to sound the ground for an understanding and ascertain in what way we can advance from tho stage of mere discussion to that of possible results. Mli.

CHURCHILL'S SPEECH. (Reuteh's Correspondent.) Berlin-, Saturday. Tho general impression here of Mr. Churchill's speech at Glasgow is that it is not calculated to lighten Lord Haldane's task and mission in Berlin in preparing tho way to an Anglo-German understanding. Most commentators seize upon tho description of the German fleet as a "luxury" as exemplifying tho incurable wrong-headedness of the British point of view.

Tho Berliner Tageblalt notes that Mr. Churchill spoke in a tone which was applauded more by Conservative Chauvinists than by his own party, and that this is not very fortu nate at a moment when England is announcing that nothing shall be put in tho way of Germany's colonial and commercial expansion. Such expressions as ho used may easily lead to dangerous misunderstandings. The journal, however, admits that tho" fleet for Germany is her second lino of defence, and adds: "Mr. Churchill said much witli which we can agree.

We share the feeling of all reasonable Englishmen that the competition in armaments is melancholy, dangerous, and fruitless, and a disgrace to our civilisation." Tho journal thinks that- Mr. Churchill's adherence to tho principle of British supremacy does not close tho door to an agreement. "With regard to the future, a friendlier British policy towards Germany would cause a charge in German naval policy. This can ho declared as candidly as Mr. Churchill laid down tho British standpoint." The Tiisrliche Rundschau" mentions four topics, which, according to report, formed the subject of discussion between Lord Haldane and tho German statesmen.

These aro an Anglo-German agreement to forbid espionage in each other's territory, tho recognition of the principle that Germany and England have a common interest in tho maintenance -nf the siatus quo in China and Persia, tho settlement of the Bagdad railway question, and lastly the cession of Walfisch Bay and the demarcation of the Anglo-German frontier in South-west Africa. Tho Liberal Bbrsencourier says that Mr. Churchill intended to destroy every possibility of Lord Haldane's visit to Berlin having a good effect. He could not havo achieved his aim more adroitly than by his speech at Glasgow. When the head of tho British Admiralty describes tho German fleet as a luxury, and declares openly that if Continental Powers increase their naval armaments Great Britain will increase her proportionate superiority, he must have had the' assurance that the whole of the Government was behind him, and then there is little hope that the recognition of the fact that England has no need to fear an attack from Germany will be victorious over the nervous insistence on supremacy at sea at all costs." "Impulsive and Unconsidered." The "Frankfurter Zeitung" says: The people of London will not fail to perceive that nothing can be done at present in Berlin with the most well-meant assurances of British friendship, and that something in the nature of tangible proposals on which an understanding could be reached must be offered.

It is doing the British Government, which in a few weeks has to submit Naval Estimates, no wrong to assume that it would not only like to know what it has to reckon with, bnt would be glad to avoid having to appear before Parliament with increased naval demands. The journal inclines to the belief that Lord Haldane's conversations in Berlin touched upon aspects of the political situation of even wider application, "but it hardly thinks that he will find his task lightened by Mr. Churchill's speech, which in some places reads like a threat veiled by amiable words. The journal wonders whether the reference to an increase in Great Britain's proportional superiority at sea means that Mr. Churchill contemplates a new standard of strength for the British Navy exceeding even the latest dogma namely, the superiority to any possible hostile combination.

"The most surprising thing is," continues the journal, that the First Lord of the Admiralty should publicly call the German fleet a luxury," but in view of Mr. Churchill's "impulsive and unconsidered habit of speech it thinks it unnecessary to regard the Glasgow utterance as a premeditated blow at the policy of conciliation, although naturally it is not calculated to promote the efforts of Lord Haldane in Berlin. In connection with the Church of England Mission in Manchester a service for the theatrical profession -will he held to-morrow afternoon in the Prince's Theatre. The Dean of Manchester will be the preacher. We regret to announce that Lord Lister, the famous surgeon, discoverer of the anti-septio principle, died at Walmer yesterday.

Joseph Lister was born at Upton, in Essex, on April 5, 1827. Both his father and mother were members of the Society of Friends, and the young Joseph Lister received his education at a Quaker school at Tottenham. But both his heredity and his home environment were favourable to the scientific bent which ho so industriously pursued, and which has caused his name to become perhaps the most revered in science. His father, like Ruskin's, was a wine merchant, and incidentally a man of great intellectual calibre. He devoted his leisure to natural science, and became one of the leading microscopists of the day.

For the improvements ho introduced into microscopic technique and his investigation of the nature of the red corpuscles of the blood he was rewarded with the Fellowship of the Royal Society. On leaving school Joseph Lister proceeded to University College, London, where he graduated in Arts in 1847, qualifying in Medicine in 1852, and taking his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in the same year. From the first ho devoted himself to practical surgery, and at his hospital came directly under tho influence of Erichsen, for whom he acted as dresser and afterwards as house surgeon. But even his immersion in the practical details of his profession did not prevent his pursuing his scientific bent, and within a year of taking his qualification he published his first scientific papers, on the muscular tissue of the skin and the contractile fibres of the iris. On completing his term of office at the University College Hospital ho went to Edinburgh to study under tho great Syme.

whose resident surgeon no Decanie, until in lboo no was appoiniea assistant surgeon to the lloyal Infirmary. During this time he married Agnes, the daughter of Syme. This lady, daughter of tho greatest surgeon of ono generation and wife of ono still greater, was intimately associated with her husband's work until her death in 1S93; she lived to seo his fame established and his life's work triumphant. Du ring this time in Edinburgh his reputation was already made, and ho had a large private practice but nothing could distract him from his scientific pursuits, and as early as 1859 he had the honour of delivering tho Croonian Lecture, an address which embodied the results of his researches on the coagulation of blood, and in the same year ho published an important essay on Tho Early Stages of Inflammation." These contributions to science had boon preceded in 1S57 by a paper on The Minute Structure of Involuntary Muscle Fibre," a masterpiece of microscopical research, which was published in tho Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, of which body he had been elected a Fellow. Antisepsis.

The year 1SG0 was important in Lister's life. Ho left Edinburgh an being appointed to tho chair of Surgery in tho University of Glasgow, and in the sarao year was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, of which ho ho-came President in 1LK30. After a year at Glasgow ho was appointed surgeon to tho Glasgow lloyal Infirmary, and there began those researches which were destined to revolutionise surgery. At this time the germ theory of disease and putrefaction had been firmly established by Pasteur's researches, which had finally refuted tho old doctrine of spontaneous generation. Carbolic acid had been discovered, and bad actually boon used in the treatment of wounds by Cruvoilhicr, roller, ana Kignauit in idol), and in tiie following years bv Petit.

Maisonneuvo. and Bottini, by Wolff of Aberdeen and John Wood of Edinburgh. But it docs not appear that Lister knew of these experimenls. Ho was attracted to carbolic acid by his observation of 1 ho result of its application to sewage at whero it not only prevented putrefaction but destroyed the entozoa, or parasites, which had hitherto preyed 011 the cattle grazing on tho sewage farm. It required great courage to introduce so caustic and poisonous a substanco into wounds, but, strong in his fait li anil his reasoning.

Lister took the stop. At first his results wero obscured by tho caustic effect of tho acid on tho tissues, but he soon learned to dilute it, ami bei'oro long ho was a hie to boast that his wards were the wholesomcst in tho world thouerh onlv a corridor finnr.itcil tiv. 1 1U other wards which still reeked of suppuration anu gangrene. in lsiw Ho was in a position to contribute to tho Lancet" a series of papers On a new method of treating com-notmd fracture Jihsri-ss. A-n m-UU 1 (A tions on the conditions of suppuration," and thus the antiseptic principle was announced to the world.

By this time he could show thnfc mortality following amputations in hi. 4 wards had fallen from 45.7 per cent to 15 per cent early results which, of course, wero very soon improved on. But, even so, his doctrine met with much opposition. Nussbaum, of Munich and Professor SAlillnt. nlnnocl i 1 11 lULMS with enthusiasm and immediate success; but 'oucnoc dismissed ootn tne germ theorv and the antiseptic method as absurdities, and tho famous Chassaignac spoko of Listerism as "laboratory surgery which has destroyed very many animals and saved very few human beings." It was at this period that Lister made what may be described as his crucial experiment.

Up to that time all the ligatures used in controlling hsemorrhage after amputation were left, and tho ends of them brought out in a bunch through tho wound, forming a certain channel for infection. They were removed by degrees as the process of suppuration and sloughing allowed them to separate. Lister knew that if his theory were right and his methods perfect, it would be possible to cut the ligatures short, to leave them absolutely 171, situ, and close the wound completely. But even he dare not make the experiment for the first time on a patient. The effect of a bad result would have been a disastrous check to the progress of his ideas.

Ho did the operation on a horse. The result was completely successful, and amputations were robbed of more than half their terrors. After this his results were such that ail opposition to the Listerian methods was rendered futile. The principles of antisepsis were established wherever surgery was practised, and Lister was recognised as the greatest innovator who had ever applied his genius to surgery. Later Days.

The story of the rest of his lie is soon told. it is simply a prgres- sion from honour to honour. His prin- ciples havine been established, it van a a. TiAT-foof int7 the ttkehnTmia .1. uiiiLici A11 tut, early days he had attempted to achieve an antiseptic atmosphere, and surgeons operated in the mist of a carbolic spray.

The present writer has seen the apparatus involved relegated among the curiosities of a general hospital as much as twenty years ago, and Lister was among the first to recognise its inutility. He abandoned this idea with the equanimity of the true scientific idealist in search of nothing but the truth. He was among the first to recognise that the inevitable corollary of antisepsis was asepsis, and no finer tribute to his progressive and unbiassed methods can be found than the famous remark of the "Times" that as Lister's solution grew weaker his arguments grew stronger. He left Glasgow to continue his work in London as surgeon to the King's College Hospital in 1877, bnt by that time the battle had been fought and won. Not only had the mortality from the old recognised opera tions been reduced to almost zero, but hitherto undreamed of surgical triumphs had been made possible, and the new conditions the possible introduction before Easter of a rew scheme of procedure reform, and already Liberal protests are beginning to be raised against the prospective and always unpopular course of a forced curtailment of debate.

Even with tie aid of euillotine and kangaroo the latter, by the way, a moderate ana efficient yet strangely neglected foTm of closure the session is pretty sure to be of portentous length and to be full of laborious sittings. With no such aid Ministers would probably have to set about the immediate revision of their programme. Clearly therefore the issues involved in this question of time are of great importance and might come to exercise a vital influence on the fortunes of the session. NEW JOINT EXAMINER OF PLAYS. MR.

E. A. BENDALL APPOINTED. It was announced on Saturday that the Lord Chamberlain had appointed Mr. Ernest Alfred Bendall to be Joint Examiner of Plaj-3 with Me.

Charles Brookfleld, in the room of Mr. G. A. Eedford, resigned. Mr.

Bendall is the doyen of London's dramatio critics, though not in the first rank in point of distinction. He began journalism at an early age on the "London Figaro," where he succeeded Clement Scott. In an interview on Saturday Mr. Bendall explained that he had been selected from among twenty-five candidates for the post. I was asked to go down this morning to see Sir Douglas Dawson," he Baid, "and was asked then and there to say whether I would take the iosition.

The reason for the hurry was that Lord Spencer wanted the appointment to bo made by himself and not by his successor. Fifteen ago I was one of the candidates when Mr. Bedford was appointed. Probably one of the reasons for appointing me is that I have had experience of official work already. I was eighteen years in the office of the Paymaster General.

Then, as to my technical experience, I have been dramatio critic of the Observer since 1874, and for the last year or two have occupied a similar position on the Daily Of course the office is a difficult one and no doubt I shall be a cockshy for everyone, but still it is an interesting office to try to fill. I shall take up my new duties as soon as I can arrange to be released from my present position. There will be no question of seniority between Mr. Brookfield and myself. We are to be joint examiners of play3." STRIKE RIOTS IN BELGIUM.

MOB FIRED ON BY TROOPS. Router's Mons correspondent states that tho miners' strike in that district is assuming serious proportions. Tho Burgomaster has asked for troops to bo sent. Tits strikers have looted a number of shops, and many malicious acts aro reported. Five revolver shots have been fired at tho windows of tho Burgomaster.

At Bouvcrie food is running short. Riotous scenes occurred in many parts of tho mining district on Saturday. Near the Framerics station a crowd attempted to liberate two persons who had boen arrested for looting, and the gendarmes were compelled to iiio their rifles into the air to drive back tho mob. While protecting a cart which had attacked and pillaged at Paturages a detach ment or soldiers was attacked by a crowd, who showered stones and bricks on the soldiers, several of whom were iniured. one seriously.

A band of five hundred strikers aftorwards attempted to pillage tho-eart. but wero interrupted bv a detachment of Chas seurs, who, after bayonet charges, wore finally compelled to nro on tho mob, two of whom wero hit. Enraged by this, the crowd attacked so fiercely that tho soldiers had perforce to break ranks and flee, though they 1 allied later and again charged. A woman was injured. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN RUSSIA.

Router's St. Petersburg correspondent states that the Council of the Empire on Saturday passed the Duma's bill providing for the introduction of general elementary education in Russia, but in a greatly amended form. The bill as it left the Duma expressly provided for non-interference on tho part of the clerical authorities. The Council of the Empire, however, set aside a million-and-a-half roubles (150,000) for the parochial schools of tho Holy Synod. The measure has been referred to a committee for adjustment.

FORTIFYING THE PANAMA CANAL. Reuter's correspondent in "Washington telegraphs that the United States War Department has ordered a beginning to be made immediately with the construction of a great fortress at Flamenco Island, at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, with defences oi the most modem type, comprising four-teen-inch guns and tho heaviest type of sea-crast mortars in pits. The engineers will shortly begin the construction of similar fortifications on the Atlantio side. ITALIAN SENTENCED FOR BRIBING A GERMAN SOLDIER. An Italian named Giuseppe Barsanti was tried in public by the Imperial Court at Leipsic on Saturday on a chargo of espionage.

A German private asserted that Barsanti tried to -buy from him a service revolver of the pattern 'of' 1908. Barsanti (states Reuter's correspondent) was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment for attempting to bribe soldiers, but was acquitted of espionage. THE SCULLING CHAMPJOXSHIP- ARKST TO MEET BAB.RY. Reuter's Sydney correspondent confirms the announcement that Arost will row Barry on tho Thames in June for the sculling championship of the world. BRITISH CRICKETERS IN ARGENTINA.

Reuter's Buenos Ayres correspondent telegraphs that the team of English cricketers, under the captaincy of Lord Hawke. which is to tour in Argentina, arrived there on Saturday. They were cordially welcomed by the English residents. Mr. Roosevelt, who is honorary vice president of the Boy Scouts, entertained to luncheon at Oyster Bay yesterday General Sir Robert Baden- I Powell and several leaders of the American Boy Scout movement.

Reuter's correspondent at Cannes announces the death of M. Dela uhax-Belle vtlle, the engineer. He was born in SETTLEMENT OF THE STRIKE. WORK TO BE RESUMED TO-DAY The strike of Manchester dockers came to a peaceful end yesterday, and instead of a general disturbance of transport work in the city occurring to-day, an event that seemed very probable on Saturday, the dockers and carters concerned in the dispute will this morning be at work as usual. The trouble, as we have reported, began through three of the dock workers refusing to handle goods taken to the docks by a carter who was unable to show the ticket which indicates that the holder is a member of one of the unions affiliated to the Transport "Workers' Federation, and the settlement of the strike was reached by the dockers deciding to accept the promise of Mr.

Browning, the docks manager, that everv man should be reinstated. On Saturday the docks were wholly idle, and it was estimated that (roundly speaking) some 4,000 men were on strike. The resolution passed by the meeting held on Friday night (reported in our issue of Saturday), demanding that only men should be given work at the docks or employed as carters who wero possession of the Federation ticket, was submitted to representatives of the Canal Company during the day. Later a conference took place of representatives of the four unions concerned the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General Labourers' Vnion (whose principal office is in London), the Dock Labourers' Union (Liverpool), the Seamen's and Firemen's Union, and the United Carters' Association (Manchester). Mr.

Wignall, one of the organising secretaries of the Dock and General Labourers' Union, came specially to attend tnis meeting. Nothing was decided upon on Saturday, but the conference was resumed yesterday, and at tho opening it was stated that unless the troublo came to an end within 24 hours members of tho Sailors' anil tho Carters' Unions would join the strikers. A more conciliatory view, however, prevailed later, and after representatives of the conference had had .1 two hours' interview with Mr. Browning (the docks superintendent) a meeting of tho men on strike was at once called. Tin's meeting was held on the Salisbury Croft last niht, and among those on tho platform were Mr.

Wignall, Mr. Hilton, of the United Carters' Association, and Mr. Walsh, of tho Seamoii's and Firemen's Union. Mr. Wignall was tho chief speaker, and he strongly advised tho men to fro back to work oven if they' had to do it without any new conditions.

Mr. Browning, ho said, had guaranteed thnt tho three men through whose action the trouble began should be reinstated, and, although that guarantee was given without the authorisation of the Canal directors, there was no doubt it would be fulfilled. There was, in fact, to bo no victimisation of any kind. Mr. Wignall spoke highly of tho courtesy with which the deputation had been met by Mr.

Browning, and went on to say that he did not believe in forcing a fight unless they had something worth figlitinsr. for. As trado unionists they wero prepared to make a strong point of the Federation ticket, but the officials were of the opinion that the time was not opjortune for forcing a struggle on that matter. He was impressed very strongly by that idea, and as this strike was almost certain to involvo tho members of several unions tho officials felt it would bo unwise to begin such a struggle on the point raised 011 Friday. To members of his own Union he said the strike was unofficial; tho members, therefore, could receive no assist-niico from the funds.

Ho was against stoppages of that character; they broke the rules of tho Union, and did no good. If it were thought necessary to have a strike on the subject, tho matter could be discussed at a meeting of the Kxecutivo of the Transport Workers' Federation, which was to be held on Thursday week. At present it was open to tho men to close up the dispute without any loss of dignity and with advantage to idiemsclvcs. Other speeches of a conciliatory character followed, and little disposition "was shown by tho men to go against tho recommendation of tho officials. The resolution submitted was that tho men should resume work this (Monday) morning, and leave the settlement of the non-unionist grievance to be the subject of future negotiations between the Union officials and the employers.

This was carried unanimously, aud the strike was declared to be at an end. GENERAL RAILWAY WORKERS. VIEWS AT THE EXECUTIVE MEETING. So long as the dispute remained unsettled apprehensions w-ere felt as to the attitude which might be adopted by the carters who are members of the local branches of the General Railway Workers' Union. When the dockers refused to handle goods at the Ship Caiwil Docks a large proportion of them were taken to the Salford railway goods yards to be placed on the railway for carriage to Liverpool and elsewhere.

Within the last year a great increase has been made in the membership of the General Railway Workers' Union, the number having gone up front 7.000 to 23.000. In Salford there are two strong branches of the union, numbering in all eome 600 members, who are for the most part employed at the goods depots as warehousemen and in other capacities. These men handled tho good6 refused at the docks, so far as could be ascertained, without demur, but there was a widespread fear that there might be trouble if they were called upon to do the fame thing on Monday. The ordinary meeting of the Executive Council of the" Union was held last night in Manchester. The proceedings were, of course, conducted in private, but a rprtsntalive of the Manchester Guardian learned that the matteT of the dock dispute was mentioned, though it was not formally brought before the meeting.

The view held by leading members of the Union was that they deprecated anv action which would bring their members within the four corners of the dispute. They would, however, if necessary, be bound to protect their interests, as well as the interests of allied trade unionists. They will be glad to know that the trouble is at an end. CLYDE STRIKE SETTLED. The conference presided over by Sir George Askwith at Glasgow settled the Clyde dockers' strike at 4 a.m.

on Saturday. The men have accepted the conditions of employment, a little modified, which their repre sentatives assented to some weeks ago, and the shipowners have established their right to engage union or non-union labour at their discretion. The full terms of settlement will be found on page 9. ULSTER ROWDIES. LORD PIRRIE MOBBED.

A Press Association telegram says: On Saturday evening- when Lord Pirrie, who was crossing to London by way of Larne and Stranraer, reached Lame, he was met at the station by a hostile crowd, numbering about 600, who pelted him with rotten eggs, herrizgs, and small bags of flour, cheered lustily for Sir Edward Carson, and called his Lordship a Lundy," a traitor," and a "turncoat." Lord Pirrie got on board the steamer under police protection. Reuter's Calcutta correspondent telegraphed on Saturday that there was an improvement in the condition of Lord Alington, who is suffering from appendicitis. TOPICS FOR THE OPENING DEBATE. PRECEDENCE IN LEGISLATION, BEFORE AND AFTER EASTER. (From ottb Parliamentary Correspondent.) London, Sunday Night.

Next "Wednesday we are to -witness -what has become almost the novelty of the opening a session of Parliament under normal con ditions. Three years have passed since this last happened, for both last year and in 1910 what wo saw was the opening not merely a new session hut of a freshly elected Par-i anient, delayed, therefore, in getting to by the tedious process of as wi-il as by tho ceremonies attached the election of Speaker. This year, as in VJi'X the time-table is unencumbered by any obstacles. At two o'clock on tho open-dnv King George will bo declaring tho f. hfiiun, and two hours later the Houso of Cuiniiior-'! should be settling down to its or eight days' debate on His Speech.

Eight days, it may bo noiiyl, have, been the maximum allowance in years fur tho exercise of this privilege, seven, six, or even five days sin'ii one speaks, of course, of quite iMi'iem tunes, since not many vears ago a flii'jl'f 'lay often saw tho Address through. A period than is now customary exported to bo spent on the Address tl.i.-. vcar but far tho avowed intention of tho "iTi-i resist progress on everything one thing, Parliament has been out of nil otiiy two months. Exhaustive discus- smus on various topics of public interest raited as recently as last December, Finro when tliere can obviously have been no very groat accumulation of new ad- ativo or political issues calling review. Nevertheless tho debate will probably bo carried on till the end next week.

Foreign affairs aro certain i 1 discussed, not necessarily on a sneeifin A amendment, but either on that basis or in f-ort of general discussion with which tho two days are usually occupied. Afterwards will como amendments on particular subjects, comprising at least one from the Labour benches and possibly two from tho litlieinl Opposition. Despite Mr. Bonar Law's Albert Hall speech it is not expected especially after Mr. Lloyd George's rejoinder ir.

that, performance that tho Government will bi? directly challenged by way of amendment to tho Address on the score either of political, corruption, incompetence in its army administration, or insolvency in finance. A more general as well as a more familiar, and perhaps more prudent, line of lark i.s in the Homo Rule issue, which indeed in one form or another has be tho subject of a Unionist amendment iii almost every successive year since the Liberals came into power. Certainly it has not been tho fault of the Opposition if the country has been allowed to forget that the Liberal party is pledged to Home Rule. In 1't! tho late Colonel Saunderson by an to tho Address invited the to denounce a policy, attributed Liberal Government, "which will mlansrer the liberties and property of Ivai minority, promote discord a.i.i civil strife, and impair the integrity 1 I'aited Kingdom," and in most sub-f years Ireland has been tho text of ion amendments conceived in a spirit. Doubtless some such amendment will again bo proposed within the next ion- 1 la vs.

If so, it will necessarily dwarf subject likely to be raised from same quarter unless, to be sure, Mr. should prefer to put his strategical nifts to the test by an attempt to ilr.r.v the Government on the twin issues of reform and women's suffrage. In c.i-e. the chosen lender of the Pro-x he must table what lias now party's annual fiscal amendment, the challenge should involve, th- embarrassment either, on the one it" to define his attitude to- nis Mr. I iai four's Referendum pledge, or, the 1: Iter, of having to shirk that obliga- Net ico of tho chief bills of the session, in-' ''d ic; the Homo lttdo Bill, the Keform i' and 1 ho Welsh Disestablishment Bill, will iiven through tho mouths of the Ministers in charge them at the opening 1.

Alterwards itjis quite possible that of legislation may drop out of i-r fur six or seven weeks. First, as has shown, there is the debate on the Ad-' which will swallow up nearly a fort-and then will come a prolonged inter- .0 liewied to ilia remaining financial 1-:" tho year. Possibly, toe, we may Budget before Eastor. At all Mr. Asquith has promised to revert to a normal Budget procedure, v' moans not only that the Budget itself be introduced about Easter, but that 1 I Bill should bo put through all not later than August.

Looking the tune available up to Easter and the in be done between now and then, it doubtful whether the first reading of II c.r.e Rule Bill can bo reached till after In tho case of so important a stv.eTr.p some days would have to be given even to ihe fire reading, whereas one sitting suffice for the same stage say, the Tl i tv- Disestablishment Bill. Jrom con-s ceratioiis such as these the inference is being that the Disestablishment Bill may be brought in before Easter, the Home Rule Bi'J immediately afterwards, and the Reform at. a considerably later period. On the suffrage question, it may be noted, the among Liberal members is that the Minister will adhere scrupulously to 'be course which he has himself laid down, l.xperience has taught Mr. Asquith's followers that, barring unforeseen contingencies, Jt is best on all subjects to accept his words to their strictest literal sense.

Prom certain hints, or rather from certain pUin' intimations given last session it may be The Central Xewa is informed, that the first part of the funeral service for the late Lord Lister will be held in Westminster Abbey next Friday and the interment will take place subsequently at the West Hampstead Cemetery. THE RUSSIAN REPRISALS AT TABRIZ. PERSIAN DEPUTY'S CHARGES, A former deputy of tho Mejliss writes to the French Socialist paper Humanitc describing tfio horrors perpetrated by tho Russians at Tabriz. A large number of houses were burnt down, together with their inmates, among them many women, children, i anu innocent persons. in ono ianuiy, that of tho lvhitais, ten women and children wero killed.

Three bazaars, those of KJiiyaban, Mehnh-Mehin, and Darb-Baghmishe, were pillaged, and a large number of public buildings, including the old Citadel, were blown UP 3" dynamite. Tho Sikat-ul-Islam, tho famous and venerable theologian, was beaten and taken with a cord round his neck to the gallows because ho had refused to issue a public statement approving of Lhe Russian invasion. He was hanged with others. Among thoso hanged wero two sons of Ali Mtihsin, the leader of the Fidais, of whom ono was IS and the other only 12 years of age. They both died heroically.

Among the other persons executed were the president of the local court of appeal, the deputy for Urtunia, the editor only 20 years of ago of the local paper "Shfifak," Sadik-ul-Mulk, an officer, and two nephews of Sattar Khan. THE COMING ANGLO-RUSSIAN LOAN TO PERSIA. Tho St. Petersburg correspondent of the "Temps" states on high authority that though the immediate advance to the Persian Government may; amount to a small sum, the negotiations at present carried on between London and St. Petersburg involve an amount of many million francs.

Ho adtls that the acceptance of the loan by tho Persian Government proves that it agrees to re-cogniso an Anglo-Russian control over its finances. A REBEL DEFEATED. (RkUTKr'S CORRKSrOXDF.XT.) Tkhkrax, Saturday. Mr. Cairns, who was chief assistant to Mr.

Morgan Sinister, the late Treasurer General, and some of the other American Treasury officials left yesterday. Their Belgian successors have not yet arrived. A telegram from Kermanshah announces a victory by the Government forces over Salar ed-Dowleh, tho ox-Shah's brother, who i.s reported to havo been deserted by his Kurdish allies and to have fled. BOYCOTT AT SHIRAZ. Times Cokrespoxden-t.) Tr.HEnA.s-, Sunday.

There is a renewed British boycott at Shiraz, tho chief sufferers being Messrs. KiegWr and a well-known Manchester firm, whose premises are temporarily owing to the boycott. Tin? Mullah -Mirza Ibrahim, when remonstrated with for preaching a boycott, declared that he was onlv carrying out sacred orders received from the clergy at Xedjef. Mohammed Ali Kashgali declares that tho authors of the attack on the British troops sit Kazerun have been arrested, and that he is sending them to Shiraz. THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO The Washington State Department has refused General Madcro permission to transport Mexican troops through American territory in order to reach points in Chihuahua.

The general is cut off from the usual routes through the destruction of the railways. This decision of the State Department is a consequence of objections from the Texan authorities, who fear that a battle might take place on the border when the Mexican forces re-entered Mexico, relating the experiences of last year at Juarez. A battalion of the lfeth Infantry lias been ordered from the barracks at Whipple (Arizona) to El Paso owing to the restless mood reported among the rebels at Juarez. THE BAGDAD RAILWAY. ALEPPO-BAGDAD SECTION BEGUN.

A telegram from Aleppo to Berlin states that the work of laying the rails for the section of the Bagdad Railway eastward of Aleppo began on Saturday. THE 1913 INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN MANCHESTER. It is stated that arrangements aTe in progress for holding the International Industrial Exhibition of 1913 in Manchester. The ground to be occupied consists of the open fields (intended ultimately for building purposes) lying between Upper Chorlton Road and Ayrea Boad and some fields at Seymour Grove adjacent to the railway at Old Trafloid. A temporary bridge over Seymour Grove Boad will connect the two azeas.

The -work of preparing the site is expected to begin next month. The Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union has decided to hold the next meeting on Sep tember 17, probably at Geneva. stricted bo as to prevent tne moving of widening amendments, which, it was feared, might wreck it: this title was "A Bill to extend the Parliamentary Franchise to Women Occupiers." This bill wae introduced by Mr. Shackleton (Labour member for Clitheroe) on 14th June, 1910, and passed its second reading on July 12 by a majority of 110. Time for the second reading was given by the Government in response to a memorial signed by 196 members of Paruament, because, as Mr.

Asquith said in -the House on June 23, they recognise that the circumstances of the are exceptional, from' the fact' that under the..