MR. BONAR LAW

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3106, 9 June 1917, Page 7

MR. BONAR LAW

AN AMERICAN "APPRECIATION." The. United Press of America has published throughout the United States and Canada an article -written, by its special correspondent, Mr. Lowell.Mellett, from which .the following are extracts-.—' If you wanted to borrow.a dollar, you wouldn't pick out your bashfullest friend to do the job for you, would you? That's just the difference between you and the British Prime Minister. Lloyd George wanted to borrow for the nation all he could get. So lie chose the most diffident, most unassuming man in English public life to turn tho trick for him. Nest time you try to borrow a dollar, meet Mr. Andrew Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Great Britain. (You'll have to do most of the talking at. first, for he's a bit shy.. But you'll like him.) There's a Scottish grin tucked behind that ragged and drooping moustache; and a Scottish- chuckle located somewhere in that Ion?, lean' waist. He's really glad to be alive—in a reserved sort of way, to be_ sure—and he'll be interested in anything you have 'to say, provided your facts are on' straight. Don't muss them up when "you are talking to Mr. Law. He is too polite to give you away, but he'll put down a mark-against you for future reference. Supposing you. were a member of Parliament; he'd even-waive courtesy if you should twist your facts. He'd reach into one of his pistol-pockets, and 6hnot yon full of figures. That's part of his lone-distance memory. Ronar Law never forgets. In tho . far.? of a House filled with members waiting to trap him he'll make a twohour talk—without notes—packed with cumbersome figures and intricate facts, - and never score an error. Tho effect of this attribute has been to scare the Opposition, and Rive him a confidence that makes his diffidence merely a mask. No- . body is really more- sure of. himself than Bonar Law. Take that little matter of raisins five billion dollars! Humbly, as befitting a. mere Cabinet Minister, he went to the inner "circle of British finance.' He asked the great money experts how' the Victory War -Loan should be raised. Together they.worked on a scheme whereby it could-be floated at 6 per cent. 'He took the scheme back to the Treasury and studied it. -Then he decided there was only- one ..important change he could'suggest. - He lopped off 1 per c»nt. intnrest. "Can't ;be done," protested the experts, rather..- fancying (hat would'be the end of it. "Well, we'll try it." modestly observed the Chancellor. All the world.' including Germany, now knows how. well it was done. The change saved Britain '50,000,000 dollars a year.