Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 02.djvu/479

LEFT CHAMBERLAIN 415 CHAMBEBS had by this time acquired considerable from the Cabinet in 1903 in order to ad- celebrity as a Radical politician. In 1868 vocate these proposals. He reorganized he was appointed a member of the Bir mingham town-council, was mayor of Birmingham from 1873 to 1876, and chairman of the Birmingham school the Liberal-Unionist party in 1904 as a tariff-reform party. The party was de- feated in 1906, but Chamberlain was re- elected to the House of Commons. Ill board from 1874 to 1876. After unsuc- health prevented active participation in cessfully contesting Sheffield against Mr. politics after 1906, but he continued as f> Roebuck in 1874, he was returned for member of the House until 1914, in whicl Birmingham without opposition in June, year he died. In 1888 he was married to 1876. He soon made his mark in Parlia- Mary, daughter of William C. Endicott, ment, and on the return of the Liberals to power in 1880 he was appointed presi- dent of the Board of Trade, with a seat in the cabinet. To Mr. Chamberlain's exertions was due the passing of the Bankruptcy Bill, but his efforts to amend the merchant shipping acts were unsuc- cessful. Meanwhile his influence was increasing rapidly outside the House; he came to be regarded as the leader of the extreme Radical party. During the last hours of Mr. Gladstone's government he was understood to be opposed to the re- newal of the Irish Crimes Act; and dur- ing the general election of 1886 he was most severe in his strictures on the mod- erate Liberals, and produced an "unau- thorized" program (in opposition to that of Mr. Gladstone), which included the re- adjustment of taxation, free schools, and the creation of allotments by compulsory purchase. He was returned by the west- ern division of Birmingham. On Feb. 1, Secretary of War in President Cleve- land's first administration. CHAMBERLAIlSr, JOSHUA LAW- RENCE, an American army officer and educator. He was born in Brewer, Me., Sept. 8, 1828; gi-aduated at Bowdoin Col- lege in 1852, and entered the volunteer service of the Union in 1862, was pro- moted to the rank of Brigadier-General by General Grant, for bravery at Peters- burg, 1864; became a Major-General in 1865, and received the colors of Lee's army on its surrender. He was six times wounded. After the war he re- turned to the professorship at Bowdoin College which he had previously held. In 1867-1871 was governor of Maine, and in 1871-1883 was president of Bow- doin, resigning to engage in business in Portland, Me. He died in 1914. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES, an organization 1886, he became president of the Local formed in 1912 for the purpose of en- Government Board, but resigned on couraging trade and commercial inter- March 26, because of his strong objec- course between the States, Territories, tions to Mr. Gladstone's Home Rule meas- and insular possessions of the United ures for Ireland, and after the "Round Table" conference had failed to reunite the Liberal party he assumed an atti tude of uncompromising hostility to his States, and with foreign nations. Its aim is to coordinate into an effective national body the various civic, commer- cial, and trade organizations of the coun- old leader's new policy, and was bitterly try, and to increase their efficiency and assailed by Home Rulers as a renegade. He became leader of the Liberal-Union- ists when the Duke of Devonshire went to the Upper House. Lord Salisbury sent him to Washington as commissioner on the Canadian fishery dispute, and in 1895 he was made Colonial minister in the, ^ , ^ Unionist Cabinet. As such he had, besides Brazil, Belgium, Mexico', and Spain" Ma- sharing the responsibilities of his col- tional headquarters are maintained in leagues, to face the troubles in South Washington. Its departments include Africa, and to cherish closer fellow-feel- the Research Department, Organization ing with the Colonies, as by welcoming Service Department, and Field Depart- the colonial ministers and colonial troops ment. An official organ, entitled "The to London at the queen's "Diamond Jubi- Nation's Business," is published monthly, lee" (1897), and by concessions to Cana- extend their usefulness. Its member- ship includes business men and commer- cial associations in all States of the Unio: and the possessions of the United States, and includes also American Chambers of Commerce in Great Brit- ain, Germany, France, Turkey, China, dian commercial autonomy. He carried the Australian Federation measure in Parliament (1900), and later had to face opposition from within the Liberal party. In 1903 he brought forward proposals for a system of preferential tariffs with the Colonies and advocated the imposition of a tax on foreign goods. He resigned CHAMBERS, (CHARLES) HADDON, an English playwright, born at Stan- more, New South Wales, in 1860. He was educated in the public schools of Sydney, Australia, and privately. He was engaged for several years in the Civil Service of New South Wales and was later a stockrider. In 1882 he re- moved to England and engaged in jour-