The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-12-30
RISE OF LLOYD GEORGE
Logical Choice for Successor to LORD
Kitchener

once llttle country lawyer OF Llanl
stymdwy. in North Wales, to the
British premiership, was as romatic
an adventure in politics ms ever befell
any famous American who, as the
biographies say come up from the
log cabin to the presidency"
He was a personality strong and
courageous, willing TO fight for the
right against great odds. A nan OF
passionate interest in humcaity; of
uncomfortable will. A statesman OF
iireproachable character. who, be-
cause of his advocacy of the peoples
rights, up to the very beginning of
the war was denounced by the Tories
as the veil genius of England; the
man who was leading the country to
run.
II was David Lloyd George, how.
ever, when England was looking into
the future with foreboding, her gal
liant army yielding inch by inch to the
German hordes, her people fearful of
barbarian invasion, who arose as the
sweet singer of Isrealn to cheer their
fainting hears and who, like David of
old, launched forth to STAY the Col
iath
He turned the industries of Great
Britain into a munition factory, raised
an army of 100000 soldiers and
100000 war workers. provided for
the building of 100000 tons of ship
ping. transformed the big estates into
truck gardens. and enforced conscrip-
ton on proud and free people. He
broke the spell of compromise cast by
Lord Lansdowne, followed up the col
lapse of Russia and the Italian de-
bacle at Caporetto by rushing British
troops TO Siberia and Italy and made
il possible for the United States to
ship 100000 troops to the western
front and help bring to a speedier end
four years OF fire and sword, blood
shed and death
Lloyd George was born in Manches-
ter, England, on January II, 1863
His father, William George, was Il
Unitarian schoolmaster who died
while the son was an infant He was
adopted by an uncle, Richard Lloyd,
a Welsh shoemaker and lay preacher
OF the disciples of Christ. From this
uncle, Lloyd George imblbed the spirit
OF non-comformity and Welsh nation
alism. His education was limited
when he became student with law
firm in the little town in North Wales
where his uncle lived. He was mar
ried In 1883 TO Miss Margaret Owen OF
Mynyddednyfed, Criccieth, Wales.
Four children were born of this union
two sons and two daughters Both OF
the sons were soldiers in the British
army.
Lloyd Georges constructive career
really began in 1905 when Asquith
became Prime Minister Of England
and the little Welshman, who had
been Liberal member OF Parliament
representing Carnavon for Is years.
entered the cabinet as Chancellor OF
the Exchequer. The great budget
battles" of 1909 in which he utterly
routed, confounded and rendered for
ever impotent the once powerful
House of Lords has been termed
"the first victory against the privi-
legged citadel Of wealth in the modern
world"
The British government was facing
deficit OF $4,000, 900 to meet which
Lloyd George convulsed the country
by introducing drastic reforms in tax
alton, put new burdens on the wealthy
classes. He called it war budget
against poverty. which, he hoped
would become as remote to the peo
pie of England as the wolves which
once infested the forest II was this
remarkable finance bill with its heavy
supertaxes and with its confscatior
OF part of the unearned increment Of
land that precipitated his fight on The
veto power OF the House OF Lords
an institution which Lloyd George de
clared should be thrown into tn,
scrap heap The commoner proved
himself master of the peers and a new
day for democracy dawned upon Eng
land
The Chancellor for years had beer
classed among the pacidsts He wa
pro.BOer in 1901 when England wa
fighting in South Africa He depre
Gated the Boer war for all OF whicl
he was bitterly criticised, but he al
ways demanded that the United Kline
dom should have a strong navy. HI
was an inveterate precedent maker
never hesitat.ng to break enslavin
chains, smash shibboleths or &
counter to conventions.
When in 1915 the British coalition
cabinet was formed as a necessit
growing out of dark hours for the A
lies in the early days OF the war wit
Germany, Lloyd George became Mir
lister of Munitions. Previous TO thi
had come the expose as to shortag
Of high explosive shells for the BIRTHS
army It was shown that Kitchener
troops were in danger of being hopI
lessly outgunned by the enemy. Mul
itions must be provided for the rapiI
~ growing and once contemplate
legions of Tommy Atkins. To whol
could Great Britain turn in her e,
tremity but to the man who alread
had raised billions OF pounds sterin
for her defense2 ....,,. ...,.,
Lord Fisher. at the outbreak OF III
great war, was quoted as having sal
to a friend: You mark my word
All successful wars are conducted /
one man. II we are to win this wa
we shall have to find man to lea
us"
The prophecy was fulfilled At Il
grave crisis for the British army
1916, with England in turmoil as
result of threatened strikers and &c
many following up her successes in Il
west that doughty little lawyer fro