The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-05-05
MRS. ASQU|TH AND
LADY Halo ACTIVE
Husbands Elevation to High
Positions ACGr IDIOT TO Them.
HAVE GREAT INFLUENCE.

Great Britain Prime Minister'S Wife
of Material Assistance to Him, and
She Is Probably Most influential Wo-
man In English Politics-Lady Hais
Also Powerful.
London. Two women, Mrs. Asquith
and Lady uaig, are playing an active
part in Great Britain's politics. To
their work is accredited the elevation
of their hus. ands to high positions.
The action brought by Mrs. Asquith,
the wife of he prime minister, against
the London Globe to restrain its editor
from publishing any more letters from
its readers Indirectly referring to her
as a friend Of German prisoners of
war informed in bennington Hall had
much more behind Il than the extreme
ly courageous action of an independent
and fearless woman
The prime minister's wife is probably
the most influential woman in English
politics in modern days. The late
Duchess of Dcvonshrc. the Double
Duchess" as she was called because
she captured two ducal titles in success
sion. that of the seventh holder of the
Manchester title and the eighth of
Devonshire, could perhaps have had
greater political power If she could
have persuaded the indolent Duke of
Devonshtre to accept the office of prime
minister. Mrs. Asquith, on the other
hand, Is commonly believed to have
materially assisted her husband to this
high office. His enemies have always
been legion and his friends not numer-
Gus, his character being that of the
serious Scotsman who forms emotional
ties with difficulty.
Mrs. Asquith, brilliant, witty, tenn
peramental and intellectual and in
variably entertaining, has supplied this
deficiency and by her tact and charm
she has kept unimpaired many politi-
cal friendships useful to her husband.
The withdrawal Of the British forces
from the Gallipoli peninsula is credited
to Mrs. Asquith's advice coupled with
the recommendation of Major General
Sir Ian Hamilton as commander at the
Dardanelles, which was made public in
the house of lords by Lord Ribbesdale.
Mrs. Asquith's brother-in-law.
Lady Haig, the wife of General Sir
Douglas Haig, who has taken over the
command of the British troops In
France as the successor of Field Mar
oh
having eXerted great influence toward
her husbands advancement in the
army. She was the Hon. Maud Vivian.
one of the "Vivian twins" who were
famous as maids of honor to Queen
Victoria and Queen Alexandra. Before
his marriage to Miss Vivian ten years
ago Haig was favorite with General
French, having served under French
at Aldershot and then accompanying
him to South Africa during the Boer
war. Whatever French has been able
to do for Haig has been done, but his
present high command is the result
more of the influence at court of Lady
Haig. and Lord Kitchener has been
persuaded by royalty's desires to ad
vance the man most favored by his
old enemy. General French. Sir Doug
las Haig was promoted to be a full
general only year ago. although he
had held the post as chief Of staff in
India for some years. having won it
through the influence of King Edward
and Queen Alexandra.
Sir Douglas and Lady Haig have not
taken any particular pains to assume
any leadership in London society since
their marriage and have not kept up
London residence during visits home
from India, spending their time at Al
dershot, where Haig earned the nick
name of "Von Haig" on account of his
Prussian rhoroughness in military mat
tiers and his stern way of handling sub
ordinates. He and Lady Haig have
two children. daughters. named after
the two queens whom Lady Haig
served-AleXandra Henrietta Louise.
born in 1907. and Victoria Doris Ra-
chel. born In 1908.