Next Monday Mr. Lowther will resign the office of Speaker,
which he has held with rare distinction since June, 1905. He has guided the House through very troublous times, and has maintained the dignity and power of the Chair without making a single enemy. His successor is to be elected next Wednesday. The Government, departing from the customary practice by which the members were left free to choose their Speaker, have nominated Mr. Whitley for the Chair, and have made it clear that they intend to enforce their decision by officially appointing Mr. James Hope to succeed Mr. Whitley as Chairman of Com- mittees. Many Coalition members have rightly taken exception to this high-handed procedure, and have nominated Sir Frederick Banbury as their candidate for the Speakership. It would be a bad break with tradition if the Speaker were to become a mere Government nominee. We can quite believe that Mr. Whitley is the best candidate, but he should be freely elected.
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