MR LLOYD GEORGE

Evening Star, Issue 17313, 29 March 1920, Page 6

MR LLOYD GEORGE

ON LABOR AND MR ASQUITH. Press Association—Bv Telegraph—Copyright Imperial News ServiceLONDON, March 25. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at the National Liberal Club, said he did not desire to misrepresent the Labor Party, which represented clean, emphatic, mid sincere convictions. He declared that common ownership was the essential part j of the Labor Party's programme. It had had been said that this plank was only inserted to conciliate a section of the party. That was a very dangerous doctrine in these tropical days, when seed sown Yenquickly fruited. They could not put such doctrines in the forefront of the programme of a powerful partv and say that it meant nothing. If the Labor Party won the Genera] Election moderate men like Messrs Clynes, Henderson, and Thomas would be compelled to cavrv out the programme. Were we to risk* the industrial life of the country upon the mere chance that they would betray their supporters? Mociety could not talce anv chances in these _ revolutionary days. " The Labor Party's programme was' to end capitalism and cre-ite a co-operative commonwealth. Before Labor snatched a victorv let the nation realise the meaning of the Labor programme, and then choose deliberately' with its eyes open. deferring to Mr Asquith's description of him as a demagogue, the Prime Minister said that some of the greatest men in history had b?cn called demagogues. The epithet was always applied by "dull, pompous people against anyone 'having i greater power of appealing to the masses i than they. The Prime Minister concluded j by deprecating party strife in the present i situation, and appealing for patience, forbearance, and jrood humor, which was absolutely essential to enable us to solve the problems of Europe and of the world. I IN FINE FETTLE. j PREMIER HITS HARD. ! r LONDON, March 26. | There was a piquant situation when Mr ; Lloyd George was entertained by'the leading Radical Club in the same room as Mr Asqnith on Wednesday. There was a large gathering. Some active supporters of the Coalition and others who were present, expecting a "lively rejoinder to Mr Asquith, were not disappointed. Mr Lloyd j ! George was in a most combative mood.aiid j | administered hard hits ag 'hist his liberal I and Labor opponent?. He again aroused | j loud laughter and cheers, and p-oved that ! i the Premier is no way afr.rd to ta';e up I j the Liberal challenge." He -=aid it was j I cheap, sloppy, common-place talk to sav | j " attack class." Tho working class were 1 not responsible for the Socialist programme j I at all The vast majority of workmen re- ! pudiated it. " j I lie warned Mr Asquith. as an old friend, not to walk too far along the towing path I with Lord Xorthclifie and L-ord Rother- ! mere Mx Lloyd George paused. And j added) "Unless lie can swim." (Loud I blighter.) In another effective passage | he twitted Mr Asquith and Mr Runciman I with abandoning the Paris resolutions, which professed to protect the kev ini dustrics, and to prevent dumping. '-'Thev j don't like to talk about the Paris rcsoiuI tbns now,'' he said, " Thev were fine j babies once, but now Mr Asquith is abanj doning the wax babies, while Mr Runci- I 1 man Bays lie v. ill kill and strangle them ] the. (ir-st chance he gets." I