The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-02
IA. y
ENGLISH APATHY
SEEMS ABSOLUTE
People Generally Care Nothing
for What Goes On
Politically.
EFFORT AT AWAKENING
Leaders Hope to Arouse More
Active Interest Among
Young Men.


Especial Cable to Tho Times -Dispn tch.]
London, November 1.--Thero Is no
more alarming sign OF the decadence
OF tho British people. which contrasts
SO strongly with the national awaken
Ing In France, than tho absolute apathy
of the average individual In regard to
I'LL political and national questions.
number OF papers and magazines
during the recent silly season took up
the question of what ought TO be done
In order to awaken tho people. but
Without a single valuable suggestion
forthcoming.
Tho leaders OF tho Liberal party.
headed by Mr.. Asquith. however, arc
now going TO take tho matter up, and,
sion that the older generation is be-
yond any hope of salvation, they are
going to start vigorous national
campaign among tho young.
On Wednesday next, November s, an
appeal Is to be made to the public
school and university men throughout
the country, with the object OF i'm
pressing upon them their duties and
responsibilities as citizens in tho mat
ter of national, civic md social ser
vice.
Twelve OF the greatest cities in the
country have been asked to cooperate.
and great meeting Is to DO held In
Queens Hall. in London. under the
auspices Of tho Cavendish Club
The speakers will include tho Arch
bishops of Canterbury and York, the
Prime Minister. the Duke OF Devon
shire, Duke of Portland. Lord Sails
bury Lord Selbourne. Sir e. Grey. Sir
r. BadenPcwell.
The club was opened In January,
1912. and now consists of 400 mem
bers. Although otherwise n social
club, Its main objects are to encour-
age Its members to devote their leisure
tirne to some form OF service. and TO
boar witness to tho Christian spirit
as the motive force and object of all
service.
Still Potent Factor.
While tho whole Conservative press
have been dining II into our ears
that Lloyd-Georges star is sinking,
that no has lost his grip on the masses
and that his recent speech at Bedford
with which he opened his land cam
palgn. was an absolute fasco and n
great disappointment TO his Liberal
and radical followers, they have not
succeeded In convincing anybody, not
even themselves: and the best proof
that the Chancellor of the Exchcquer
liz still the most potent personality in
English politics to-day. and that tho
Tories are far from believing that his
land policy Is dead, is TO be found In
the fact that a Land Defense League
Is about TO be formed to fight the
plans OF tho Chancellor
Nobody knows yet what forms the
campaign OF this new league arc to
inke, but Its appearance In tho politi-
cal arena Is being anticipated with
perfect eQuaririty by the supporters
OF Lloyd -George. who are fully aware
that no amount OF speeches or po-
litical pamphlets can wipe out the
fact that England. which possesses far
better agricultural soil than Denmark.
which feeds IL. has seen more than half
OF its rural population wiped out of
existence during the last decades that
Its remaining rural laborers arc paid
less in wages than 1t costs to main
tain person In the workhouse and
are living In novels little better than
those Inhabited by tho people of the
stone age.
The trust OF the downtrodden part
OF the British people, who form the
majority OF voters. In Lloyd George is
Greater than ever. He has so far
through anything he has taken up. and
his personal magnetism Is marvelous
Sest hope OF }he fn no o.Mes aay
general election is that IT Is physically
Impossible for Lloyd George 10 address
all the electors personally before that
date; His power resides in the per-
sonal touch.'
Criticizes Ellis Island.
The recent detention of Miss Marie
Lloyd by the Ellis Island authorities
calls to mind the fact that recently the
German and Scandinavian papers have
been printing Il good many Complaints
against tho American immigration au-
thorities on Ellis Island.
Some OF tho Scandinavian immigrants
particularly. many of whom arc evil
IDENTIFY. we'll educated people. though
compelled by lack of means to travel
steerage. say that conditions on Ellis
Island are an absolute disgrace to
America. Not only is the ignorant and