Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-06
WEALTHY BRITISH BREWER
BIC FIGURE IN POLITICS
Sir George Younger Succeeded to
Fathers Business Mt Age
OF Seventeen.
WHIP OF UNIoN.sT PARTY
COntrived to Freeze Out Liberals in
Recent Elections as Representa-
tives OF Coalition Government.
Speeches Short and Pointed.
nr HAYDEN CHURCH.

speeches Short and Pointed.
BT HAYDEN CHURCH.
LONDON. January 5.-"Sir George
don's leading newspapers. which is n
firm supporter of Lloyd Georges gov
eminent frankly describes the great
electoral struggle in this country
which will decide whether the present
Prime Minister and his political lieu
tenants shall remain in power, or if|
with the task OF putting this nation
back on peace basis and OF recon
struction generally.
Who is Sir George Younecr7 Ameri-
cans may we'll ask since it is probably
true that many intelligent Britons who
WI, east their votes to-day would be
why should this election. the result
of which will not be known until
December rs, and possibly even later,
eecion is " an s t ehea be ,h sht
| Of David Lloyd George. who. as Prime
Minister, .decreed that it should be
held held And yet more than ono political
transpired behind tho scenes, has de-
serlbed It as Sir George Younger's
Sir George Younger is wealthy
brewer and member of Parliament,
who: since 1916. has been chairman Of
the the. unionist party organization, other
lister. though a Liberal, is. of course,
head OF a coalition government. After
,D5 general era election election had been decided
whip, and Captain Frederick Guest.
| who is chief whip of the Liberals, got
! together for the purpose OF "coalesc-
ing in the matter OF the selection OF
candidates who should stand" as rep
| resenting the present government in
which Unionists bulk largely.
LIBERALS GET SMALL
END OF DEAL.
One would have expected that, as a
result. a fairly equal number of Union
lists and Liberals would have been
selected as coalition candidates, but
this Is what happened: AS supporters
&c! Unionists were selected and 1lS
Liberals! So now. perhaps, you will
understand why this is described as Sir
George iounger's election. He and
| marks cynical writer. but the coali-
tion has been on the lines of the young
lady or Riga who went for a ride on
lady. is inside
Now acknowledged as the god In
the machine" OF this historic election,
nlzed as. likely to be one Of the most
potent forces In English politics In
this the most discussed politician OF
Sir GteGsEe is well worth studying:
qualities and the surprising career
that has been his are exceptionally In
toe ,s he has been a considerable
Of century. but not until now has
he emerged as one of tho men who
count" most.
BREWER THAN PARLIAMENTARY
Until now. although he has sat In
the House of Commons as member for
Ayr Bnrghs. Scottish constituency.
Nxsn
has been Infinitely better known as
the head OF one OF the biggest firms
of brewers in this. country and as an
acknowledged authority on all that
concerns the liquor traffic than RS
Rarliamentarian, The explanation is
that t,,,s h II; pr,ogrsss to POSITION OF great
which he is firmly convinced is the
party of the future, has been so grad
Seaom anat IL has failed sd until
street" And even now, as has been
remarked, Sir George is not as we'll
known to the public in these islands as
Now sixty-,seven. he. is Smooth
term. urbanity. personified. he has a
genius for saying the most pointed
things II a humorous and inoffensive
are invariably short and to the point.
in fact, he is rarely on his feet for
more than fifteen minutes.
EARLY MEMBER OF
LICENSING COMMISSION
Sir George. who comes from n long
line OF brewers at Alloa. the Burton
of Scotland. was only seventeen when,
owing to the death Of his father, he
great firm of George Younger & Son.
Limited: The business training he thus
obtained was invaluable. and when
royal commission was appointed in
he was one Of the nrst to be appointed
,neiudn adg Sna
OF the National Bank OF Scotland and
Of the North British and Mercantile
orsanisations. f He got o0 his baronetsy
in 1911. He lives at LeclSie, Gargun-
mock. Stirlingshlre., y. B.
| before he entered politics, it was only
after eleven years of stiff lighting that
| he succeeded In getting elected to Par
lament. 1t was in 1895 that he started
operations by contestinp the counties
OF Clackmnnnan and Kinross In the
Unonist interest Gnionst candidates
land and Sir George went down in de-
feat. He returned to the onslaught
in 1899 and again in 1900. and though
unsuccessful each time made .repu-
candidate In 1904 he stood for Ayr
Burghs and came very near success. !
and In 1903. to the surprise even Of his
admirers. he won the seat in the gem
eral election that spelt rout for the |
party of which he Is n member.
CONSTITUENCY CONSISTS
LARGELY OF FISHERMEN |
His constituency IL q scattered and
difficult one, and includes the hardy |
fishermen on the Null OF Cantire. he !
latter respect SIR George as II tough |
sailor who. In order to keep appoint
mcnts with them, has often hired
tug when more pretentious vessels
have refused to face the VIGOROUSLY
rough crossing of the Firth. a frank
more than one audience by outspoken
defiance. Regarding him friend re-
marked to me: He has always said
Damn when he thought the occasion
needed it."
Although. az one or Eneland's great
est brewers, he speaks from the stand
point OF the trade" whSn licensing
questions are before Parliament sir
George Younger is invariably listened