The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-25
LLOYD GEORGE
STRONG AS EVER
13 Queen Anne's Gate, London.
Relayed by Kansas City Office.
By K. WALTER.

London, Feb. 23.-Will the LLOYD
George government fail? VIII it be
succeeded by a pacihst or defeatist
government? These questions have
probably been suggested by reports
OF the outbreak of party hoStilitieS
in parliament and malicious accusa-
tions OF the party press on both
sides. Pro-Gcrmans and a1ti-Brit-
ish-the same thing today-could
make much of the situation and even
lead you to wonder whether Eng
land was going to give in before
America could strike blow for de-
mocracy.
Lloyd Georges position in the
country, if not in parliament, is as
strong as ever. Probably he and his
advisers do not realize how strong
it is. The country would be glad to
give him as complete authority as
you are giving the president, if he
demanded it. But he is embarrassed
by the ardor of some of his noisest
supporters, particularly that of the
Northcliffe press. The mass of the
public, who do not know the real
relationship between press and pre-
mier, would not stand for a dictator
even unjustly subject to a charge of
shameful press intrigue which Lord
Hugh Cecil and other critics OF
Lloyd George have brought against
him.
The charge can be best answered
by explaining how it arises. There
can be no exact parallel in Amcri-
can polite The presidents position
is constitution3lly assailable, but
supposing that it were not and that
the yellow press successfully as
sumed to itself the chief credit for
his election and support, backing it
up with occasional scoops of semi
official nature and daring escqpades
apparently behind the ccnsors back.
with MIR. Hearst in Colonel Houses
position of confidence, his brother
head of a government department
and, say, s. S. Mcclure in George
Crecls place, and you might expect
some disturbing political and edi-
torlaI reactions. Yet Lloyd George
is not as his enemies insinu2te, the
servant, but, if anything, the victim
of Lord Northcliffe's friendship.
The situation is aggravated in this
way: the Daily Mail starts a ma
llcious and unmerited campaign
against Mr.. Asquith, who, whatever
he may be, is not a paciist nor yet a
defeatist. Unfortunately, the day
before, Lloyd George, suffering from
a touch of grip, had answered Mr..
ASquith in debate not in the best of
taste or temper. Mr.. Asquith's
frie" ds put the two things together
and see conspiracy where Ameri-
cans would see only the cheapest
and most obvious bit of yellow Jour
nalism. Then the government de
cideS to prosecute Colonel Reping-
ton, until few weeks ago military
correspondent of The Times, and
members of parliament ask why he
was not prosecuted before he left
the Northcliffe fold, ignoring the
fact that the colonel left precisely
because the editor would not print
the coloncl's alleged revelations.
But | do not want to make too
much of these wranglcs at such a
time as this; only want to answer
as convincingly as possible the ques-
tionS that may arise in your minds.
Lloyd George is not weakening IN
policy or position. Even should his
government fall before the elections
it would be succeeded by a parifst
or defeatist administration. Eng