Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-19
Former Premier Opposed
Because Many Soldiers
Will Be Unable to'Vote
ASKS CLEAR STATEMENT
Calls on Liberals to Support
Any Government With Good
Reconstruction Policy
By the Associated Press

London, Nov. 10.
Herbert H. Asquth, former premier
In delivering an election speech at Car.
ton Hall, Westminster, last night, said
that when the whole future international
development of the world was in the cru
cible II was beth blunder and a ca
lamity that the country should be plung-
ed into the tumult of a general election.
He said his case against holding an
election was greatly strengthened by the
fact that the men most entitled to ex-
press an opinion on the reconstruction
of affairs-the soldiers in the field
would be unable to vote. The House
of Commons, which will be brought into
existence. he said, will be of such a
nature as to lack the right authority.
He said that he was prepared to give
fullest support to any government which
grappled with the problems of recon-
struction on progressive lines, but, he
added
when the lion and the lamb lie down
together, it sometimes is found that the
lion has not lost its taste for live NUT
ton."
, Mr. Asquith contended that the coun-
try was as much agreed on peace aims
as IL had previously been in accord on
war aims and that the international
council chamber would act with the in
disputable mandate of a united people.
Moreover, he said, there was not vital
divergence about needful transitional
measures at home necesstating i'm
mediate elections.
Urges End of Restraint
al : acf, inf
in criticism and in debate which has pre-
vailed. Mr.. Asquith continued:
We must get back as soon as nos
a,hIe to the old atmosphere of freedom.
There is no Government and no Parlia-
ment but will benefit thereby. I ad-
wise the liberals TO take straightfor-
ward course; to keep their eyes open
and their hands clean.
Mr.. Asuuith declared that the value
Of free trade had been proved by the
war because it had enabled Great
Britain to bear virtually the whole
heavy burden of the alliance. referring
to the numerous points of policy advo-
Gated by Premier Lloyd George, which
the Liberals can fully support he deprc-
Gated in the strongest language rontiicts
between members of the Liberal party
He said he would refuse to counte-
date who had been true to his pledges to
the party. He said that the abnormal
conditions under which the country has
been living for the last four years must
be ended He referred. not merely to
restrictions on personal liberty and free
dom of speech, but said even compulsory
military service must be ended.
In normal times the country would
be in fever Of excitement over the
election. Interest in politics. however.
is now submerged under the greater
interest in the closing events of the
war
The political situation is peculiar be-
cause there is onSS one man in the field
and there dis no concentrated opposition
to him. All factions approve of Premier
Lloyd Georges re construction plans. as
far as they go What opposition exists
Is divided into two sections.
The first is the old Liberal organiza-
tion. led by former Premier Asquth,
which opposes the election as untmely,
principally because only 40 per cent of
the soldiers according to their estimates,
will be able to vote. They say the sol
diers have the greatest claim to a voice
in the settlement of the var.
The other section is the Labor party.
which has its own program. including
the naturalization of railways, mines
and other public works, with compensa-
ton to the owners.
Lord Northclffe's papers and the lead
ing Liberal organs invite the premier
to be more specific in the statements of
his plan and ask him to tell how he
proposes to secure land for the soldiers,
which is one of the chief planks in his
platform. They ask how he will pay
for this land and how he will finance
his proposal for the extensive building
OF workingmens houses. Mr.. Lloyd
George partially answered these ques-
tions last Saturday and says that the
cabinet has not had time yet to pre-
pare bills.