The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-31

George does not belong and never has
belonged to the indtr!dualist!c Liberal
type which was represented by the old
school lIa never has PROGRESSED any
liking for Gladstone. and always inn
mense admiration for Joseph Chamber
lain--tleteSted by most Liberals as ono
of the greatest rencgades in history
from democratic ideals. Lloyd George
also has n great admiration for Bis
marck. and when he was on q tour in
Germany some years ago the subject
which most Interested him was Bis
marck's insurance laws and other laws
that wCr" really state socialism.
LLOYD George is state Socialist. and
oil the proposals which he hopes Ia
carry through during the next few
years arc state socialism. The building
Of vast number Of houses. largely At
the expense Of the public and not Of the
individual: the measures for establish
ing n minimum wage and compulsory
shortening OF thu hours VI labor--all
those are state socialism. And this IL
ths mental Justification l am sure he
makes to himself for remaining N
power with the aid of political Oppo-
nents. and for the destruction Of the
old Liberal party. of which he was tho
creation.
Reached Dizzy Heights
But that. or course. It not IN" only
reason why Lloyd George sticks TO the
Tories and will do nothing that may
them. When l saw him a few weeks
ago getting up 10 speak on the foreign
policy Of the British empire and on the
future rcShapinc. OF the map or tho
world. I could nos help realizing what
Il dazzling height he has reached. He
knew as we'll as | did that tn" whole
world was standing on tIp-toc Ia catch
every syllable he uttered. for every
syllable was frauSht with the future
fate Of nation and a race,
That little man. horn and reared IN
poverty and obscurity, stood there with
the l!mcligEt OF the whole world upon
him and nobody 10 dispute his central
place and his chief role IN the greatest
Of human dramas. Lot me add that he
proved equal e. the great argument: that
his speech was state sinunllk". Discreet.
adroit. quite worthy 81 IN" topic and in
nnitcly taCiful IN its aVuilInr" ur 4
single phrase that might net as a match
to tho powder magazine Of racial, rcligi-
Gus and social passions into which
Europe has hCcn transformed since tho
d"c"ptiN" and apparently glorious dawn
that came with the arniStic" and with
President Wilson'S great dream OF a
league Of nations.
I could not h"lp saving to myself thu,
I could understand how man Ike
Lloyd George should hesitate before
taking any step that might imperil that
great position. believe he never will.
ana th9l Wndt VIC nave 10 expect IN
anything In which Lloyd George now is
concerned f. that he will do nothing
which could even menace tn" rurta!I-
ment by one hour Of his premiership.
To see Arthur Ralfour--fur wears the
omnipotent master Of the HOUSE e Com
mons. an aristocrat. n great university
man. who ono" used to tramplc on IIovd
George amid tho Shocking cheers ur the
then majority OF tho House Of Commons
to see him smuggling up Ia Ilnyd
George with his hack half turned to him
was 10 mo revelation of the extra
ordinary changes in the fortunes of tho
two men. That is the poisonous incense
that mas got into Lloyd Georges brain.
so Ireland need expect nothing from
him.