South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-15
BY FLOYD MGRTFF.

on his record of having led the Brit
Ssh empire to victory in the greatest
war the world has ever known.
David Lloyd George. coalition pre-
mier of England, IS making his bid
today TO retain power Tor direction
Of British affairs during the recon
strucuon period. Beyond a shadow
Of doubt he Will be returned to pow
or as a coalition" premier
While the machinery Of the labor
party and the right wing OF the lib
eral party directed by former Pre-
mier Asquith are in opposition to the
premier, the unionists and the left
wing of the liberal party are as
sured of control of the next parlia-
ment TO be chosen today. And they
viii give Lloyd George a new lease
OF power.
Herbert IT. Asquith, who controls
the financial machinery of the lib
eral party and who was forced to
step aside in 1916 by Lord North
clihe and Lloyd George, is making
but a very weak fight against the
coalition and is practically without
influential newspaper support AS
quith has charged that the soldiers
will not be able properly TO register
their votes and that an election now
is a calamity" An election was de-
cided upon by the premier because
the present parliament's tenure Of
power legally expired more than
10
that a new mandate should be had
from the people before reforms
made necessary by the war are car
ried out.
Best Brains are Needed.
The machinery of the labor party.
which is controlled by Arthur Hen
dersOn, has been put into opposition
by mandate of the unrepresentative
system of a bloc" caucus vote, to
coalition. or compromise" govern
ment. But the labor party leaders
do not control the votes Of the work
ingmen. and at least a third of the
labor party vote is expected 20 be
for men who support the coalition.
The premier believes that for the
work Of reconstruction the best
brains Of all parties are. necessary
for the country's welfare That is
the system and theory upon which
he worked to win the war. For tho
critical postwar period Lloyd
George believes the same policy
should be followed. IF the country
thinks otherwise it should say so to-
day. he has told the nation.
never before present in any British
general election. Several millions o.
men are in Khaki and they are sup
posed to have some very determined
opinions on how things should be
revamped after the war. Having
fought for king and country" they
feel they deserve better working
and living conditions and opportuni-
ties for themselves and families.
Lloyd George feels the same way.
All thinking men in England do.
Women with Premier.
The other factor is the womens
vote. Some six million women Will
have the opportunity of voting for
members Of parliament for the first
rected by Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurs.
and her daughter Miss ChristobeI.
is solidly behind the premier. Miss
Christobel Pankhurst now is the &C
tive leader Of the women's party and
she is bitterly anti-Asquith, and all
policies which have wait and see"
as their guide sign
George Barnes. labor member of
the war cabinet, has several rela-
lions with the labor party because
Of its stand against coalition. He
Will run for parliament as an indie
pendent coalition candidate J. r
Clyues. labor leader who became
food controller. may run labor
party candidate. hut is expected 10
enter the coalition government 81
elected. other labor leaders who
have put policy above party are in
the same position.
Lloyd Georges Platform.
Lloyd Georges platform, which
will he Britain's reconstruction pol
icy for the next five years. follows
i'm brief:
Better housing wages maintained
az "A point 10 secure efficiency and
improved working conditions.
Preservation OF key" industries
industries essential to the nations
welfare
Maintenance Of national and i'm
perial unity.
Development of the empires re-
sources.
Reduced ornaments.
Reform Of hocse Of lords
League az Nations.
Removal Of existing inequalities
Of law rs between men and women.
Afforestation.
Land for the soldiers
Imperial preference. but no tax
on food
Development Of agriculture. party
by improved transport.
Prevention OF dumping
Increased home production In or
der that workers may live in greater
comfort.
Home rule for nationalist ireland
when that country settles down and
behaves
so coercion Of Ulster
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