New-York tribune., 1920-03-27
Doctrine
Menacing, Says
Lloyd George
advocating Communism Not
Denied by Henderson and
Clynes, Charges Premier:
Asquisl1 Is Answered
leadership Fight Renewed
Former Prime Minister to
Have Turn at Dinner
Next; Breach Widens

foNpON, March 26.-Premier Lloyd
,.eorge and Herbert H. Asquith, former
PREMIER and member of the House
!, Ccmomns for Paisley, are con-
aaeting an informal debate over
he right to claim the leadership
!: the Liberal party. Incidentally,
ne question who will be the predomi-
psnt figure in the National Liberal
Club. the party's headquarters, is in
rolved. Mr.. Asquith's supporters ar
ranged luncheon in his honor at the
club last Wednesday and the Premier's
LIBERAL followers organized a luncheon
in honor of Mr.. Lloyd George to-day.
In his speech at to-day's luncheon
Premier Lloyd George defended his at
tack Of last week on the Labor party,
for which ne has been condemned by
both the Labor party and the party of
Nr. Asquith.
"The program of the Labor party is
10 put an end to the capitalistic system
and create cooperative common
wealth. he declared. Il have read care
fully everything said by Mr.. Clynes
John Robert Clynes, the Laborite) /,
and Mr.. Henderson (Arthur Henderson,
Laborite), and all the apologies of the
Labor party. Not one of them denies
that the doctrine of the Labor party is
doctrine of communism.
Dangerous Practices
at is said by some that the doctrine
Is not sincere, that common ownership
is put into the labor program only to
eOnciliate Section of IT, party. That
is dangerous thing in these days.
These are tropical days, when seed put
into the ground spreads. sprouts and
brings forth fruit with startling rapid
iiy. You must not put doctrines of that
kind in the forefront Of the program
Of a powerful party and then say they
mean nothing.
Suppose the LABOR party won a gen.
tral election and formed a government.
You may say Mr.. Clynes and Mr.. Hen
derson are moderate men who would
not do these things, but they would
hive to do them or break faith with
the people VINO put them in power. We
cannot take any chances in these revo-
lutionary days. The nation must real
ize what the L-.bor program means,
then make its choice With it's eyes
open
"The Labor program is not a move
ment started among the working
classes. 1t comes from group of men
who have received a lop-sided educa-
tion who have had no experience of
fairs or of work in factory, shop or
o.iice, and who call themselves intel
cctuals. A vast majority of the work
Eg classes have repudiated that pro-
gsam, and the common sense of the
Forking classes will save them right
% the end"
Greatest Men "Demagogues"
Replying to Mr.. Asquith's reference
o him as "demagogue," Mr.. Lloyd
leorge said the term had been applied
to some OF the greatest men in his
tory.
ut is an epithet which has always
been hurled by the dull and pompous
against any man who has a greater
power OF appealing to the masses than
they have" he declared.
The next event at the Liberal Club
Is dinner in honor of Mr.. Asouith,
his election to the
Aousa Of Commons, at which the pres
dent OF the club, Lord Lincolnshire,
VIII preside. This function was ar
ranged before the split between Mr..
asqulth and Premier Lloyd George be-
came acute, and some of the Premier's
followers are now removing their
names from the list of subscribers.