LABOUR LEADERS IN HUMOROUS VEIN

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 98, 24 January 1928, Page 8

LABOUR LEADERS IN HUMOROUS VEIN

MR. RAMSAY , MACDONALD AND LORD HALDANE

Dominion Special Service.

London, December 1. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald revealed at a gathering of the London Scots' La-

bour Club this I week, that on I occasion he can I be as witty and j amusing as Mr. I J. H. Thomas. I Lord Haldane, I the chief guest, I gave the cue to I Mr. MacDonald I for a couple of I stories. “Lawyers I in my part of 1 the country,” he I said, “are always I looked down’l upon. . If a young

son has not moral courage . enough to become a minister, and he has not the adventuresome spirit to become a schoolmaster, then he is generally sent to the law.” , Mr. MacDonald’s first story concerned a character in a Scottish town,, who was one day noticed to be swelling with pride. When asked the reason, lie replied that his son Jock had just into a lawyer’s office. “I dare say, came the retort, “vou are making preparations so that the money to be spent on vour defence will be kept in the family!” His second story concerned a hawker of rags and skins, who, by frequently reading books while going round with his barrow, had given evidence of education. “How did l ou come to this?” he was asked one day. “Come to this!” he retorted. Its an honest way of making a living- 1 Co "‘‘J have been a lawver if I had liked, but I chose this in preference.” For all his 71 years, Lord Haldane snoke with the vision and the outlook of a voung man.

To-day the exLord Chancellor is white and bent, but he is obviously looking forward to the day when Labour shall be victorious at the polls. “If we could only avoid controversies over details,” he said, “and keep to the broad doctrines X.. T 1 ATTA WF

that distinguish our party, I believe we could sweep the country.” ~ An interesting figure at the dinner was Miss Ishbel MacDonald, who since the death of her mother, her father’s constant companion.. Miss Mac Donald is one of the few .girls of the present day who still resist the prevailing fashion of the shingle.