Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-12-21

London, Dec. 19:David Lloyd
George, NJ. r., spoke in birmingham
town hall last night The majority of
the audience were enraged by his pro-
Bocr and anti-Chamhcrlain uttcrances.
They rushed the police Gordon guarding
the platform. In the meanwhile the
building was besieged from the outside
by Il mob, who smashed windows AMI
tried TO force the doors, which had been
barricaded. They fusilladrd the au-
dience with stones through the VIII
dowS. The police reserves were turned
out and succeeded in dispensing he mob
after repeated charges n number of
persons were injured and the town hall
was wrecked. Not Il single window
WAS left whole.
The students of Birmingham univcr-
silly. which was founded by the efforts
of Mr.. Chamberlain. held Il meeting of
protest yesterday and crowds were
awaiting admission to the building long
before the doors of the town hall were
opened. The building filled quickly and
ii was Immediately seen that trcIl'lc
was coming. While the OrgaList was
playing the diSsentiPntS began singing
"Rrtons Never Will BE Slaves" until
the orgnniSt was compelled TO desist.
Then cheers were raised for "lu"y"
and II white flag was unfurle1 amid
deufrning shouts of 'rlaitor" us
Lloyd-George and friends appeared On
the platform.
All attempts ut speech-makng were
futile. owing to the continuous dim of
kissing. hooing and singing. The
speakers had to, perforcc content tilem-
selves with debating Il few Sentences
in The ears of he reporters. These were
mainly Of protest against the agitation
stirred up by the lingo" press.
In the meantime the enormous crowd
utSdc the building had become mere
noisy and more menacing. Presently Il
stone came through Il window. tbs
caused Il stampede among the occupants
of the gallery. From this dine for
ward pandemonium reign'l in the
building and ugly ruShcs were made for
the platform.
The police were soon ovprrowcrcd.
Lloyd-Georgc and hS friends were COM
PEELED to retreat to an inner room for
safety. They were unable to leave the
building for fear of mob violence and
We're kept prisoners until n late hour.
when Lloyd George. disguised as Il
chief constable. left the town hall with
posse of policemen.
Many constables We're seriously in
jured in their attempts to clear the
doing until a heavy downfall of RAIN and
slcct came to their assistance.
1t is rllmOrcd that on" civilian las
died of injuries received. Several az
rests for resisting the police have been
made. At n meeting held outside the
town hall resolutions of confidence in
the government were carried. This
meeting sent the following telegram to
Mr.. Chambcrlain:
''Lloyd-George. the traitor. was not
allowed to say a word. Thc citizens
have passed q resolution expressing
confidence in the government and I! cir
admiration of your unique ar.a fear
l'SS StlN lCtS loT hlHS anu 'DUlIlIl.
Estimates of the numbers Of the
demonstrators vary from 1909 to 50,-
coo persons.
The Birmingham riot is considered 4
curious illustration Of th" Narigated
career of Joseph Chamberlain. the CO.
loniHn secretary. The Aston Park riots
of 1891. it is pointed out. We're demon
strntions on the part of The Chamber
lainteS against the so-callrd Tory in,
trudcr, Lord Randolph Churchill. while
that of yesterday was against an cX-
tremc radical The feeling against
Lloyd-George has been so strong dur
ing the past week that even tickets
were forged to enable the 'iingOrs" to
gain admission to the town hall. This
compelled the Liberal association to
print different tickets. but their efforts
to exclude their opponents were quite
vain