The sun., 1919-09-07
=. SIR JOHN FOSTER FRASER.

x1sUALIZE a short, stiff set
~ man, with an inclination to
stoutness, but nervously vital
~ avery action, broad. deep fore
had with rather unkempt gray hair,
,oca mobile but with lines Of merri-
ut in It; notice above all the eyes
hrght. darting, occasionally grave but
SsnsraIly twinlxling humorously-ssch
= ,ha Prime Minister of Great Britain
to the glance.
Rut hear him speak in the House
=, commons. as I have heard him
sneal for a quarter Of a century, and
-,ore The House Is small and dim In
.snect and the green leather benches
are packed-packed to overlooking,
With men squatting in the gangways
and clustered behind what is known
as the bar.
And standing at the table before the
Ministerial bench is David Lloyd
George answering his critics casually,
almost conversationslly, evidently with
m preparation, certainly with no
attempt at oratory. There is. at first,
little raggedness of manner, even
sloyenliness in phrase. AS, however,
he aets into his stride" this disap-
pears. With earnestness comes lucid
ity in diction. The personality of the
man asserts itself. You are gradually
conscious that he is exercising a fas-,
cination over his audience. He speaks
clearly, explaining a situation in deft,
Illuminating language. turning aside
for a moment to drive q shaft of ridi-
Guile at one opponent, delivering
sarcasm which makes another oppo-
nent blush uncomfortably, suddenly
slipping into brilliant smile which
could only be begotten in a poets
Imagination and then, pale. quivering
with intenseness Of feeling, his voice
low, rhythmic, with the soft Cymric
cadence Of his native Welsh hills,
holding the brain and captivating the
heart, he achieves his triumph.
have seen the House of Commons.
restless, turbulent, shouting angry
things, ready to tear the Prime Min
ister in twain. But Lloyd George faces
bis enemies with a smiling determina-
ton, and he wins. He believes in his
own star.
II has been my lot to have heard
many Of the great statesmen of the
world, Gladstone, impressive and pro-
found Woodrow Wilson, austere and
idealistic; Balfour, the great master
Of dialectical finesse; Roosevelt,
blunt and domineering; Chamberlain,
shrewd and as clean cut as a crystal
in eloquence; Clemenceau, all fire:
Parnell, reserved, slow hammered but
clear seeing; the great Salisbury.
sonorous but sane in the world out
look; the whirlwind Hughes of Aus
tralia' most OF the famous preachers.
But with thirty-f1ve years experience
OF public men l can recall no one with
more magnetic power, not only over
crowds, but over individuals, which is
more important thing, than Mr..
Lloyd George, who in his time has
been the best hated and best loved
man in the British empire.
There is a well nursed belief in the
United States that no one can make
progress in English public life unless
ne has influence or is related to the
nobility. There never was a greater
mistake. Mr. Lloyd George springs
rom what the story book would call
humble parents; he was brought up
by an uncle; he was first a clerk and
men lawyer-and to-day he is the
urst citizen in the whole British
empire and he reached that position
because 1t was the will Of the English
democracy.
rhe leader of the House Of Com
mons. Mr.. Bonar Law, was a Glas-
gov iron merchant before he took TO
ponucs Mr.. Asquith is the son of
qulte middle class people in York
snire. Sir Eric Geddes was a railway
employee; George Barnes, Minister of