South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-30
Former Poor Liverpool Boy
Now Looms as Rival to
LLOYD George.

man. There had been a parliament
/ tary election. The Tories, after II
years OF power, had been wiped out
Just a faded remnant had been re-
| turned 10 the house Of commons
The benches opposite were crowded
with triumphant Liberals.
Z He AstOnishcd Commons.
And then, second day OF the ses-
/ sion. an unknown, Immediately
dressed youth, with smooth hair and
I Liverpool accent. arose TO address
I the house and the hostile legions OPP
posite.
He had no feelings OF defeat. He
made no apologies. With silken
voice and brutal invective he fiayed
/ the life from the victorious foe. Ar
thur James Balfour, leader OF a
/ hopelessly defeated party. looked
around and asked: 'In Heavens
name, who is this boy?"
| All England next day was ringing
with the name Of F. r. Smith. He
\ became familiarly known as Gal
/ loper' Smith.
This was really the third stage n
! Freddy" Smiths career. At the be-
\ ginning he was the son Of a very
poor and unsuccessful lawyer. Hi:
ability brought him prizes enabling
him to go 10 a good school at Liver
pool From there he won his way tc
oxford university, supporting him
self all the time.
Was Leader at Oxford.
At Oxford he quickly made him
self the man Of the day. A great
football player, president Of the
| Union. triple first-class degree, this
| handsome boy-without cent
dominated the ancient purliens OF
/ the venera BILE city. And all the peo-
pie who counted asked: What vii
he become?"
For tho time being he had NJ
money 10 become anything. So fol
! several years he was a famous Fro
feSsor and teacher. Then he went &c
the bar. And one day there was q
/ most extra ordinary forgery case
| The prisoner was conspicuOuSly
/ guilty. but the defense put up was
one that drew the excited attention
OF all England. +. f. Smith was the
defending counsel.
After that Liverpool, his nativ'
city. could not make enough Of him
He had the pick OF all the big lega
causes that happened. He lived Fl
tremendous style in a huge house
keeping a string Of hunters, enter
tanning I'm elaborate style and max
ing tho entire community wonde
how he did it. His fame spread dali,
until men gasped.
\ Hero I'm His Home Town.
The famous Judge, Lord Heersey
was in Liverpool at that time. on
day. driving around. n legal frien'
asked him who owned a huge sky
| scrapcr just constructed.
"I don't know" said Lord Mersey
but 7 should imagine Freddy Smitl
is taking new offices"
The rapid ascent continued. With
i'm two years "F. T." as he was al
ways known, became the third MAJ
at the English bar. His two su
periors were Rufus Isaacs. nov
! Lord Reading, and Sir Edward Car
son. Tie worked in the courts unit
! 4 o'clock every day, just over
whelmcd with business, at any fe
ho liked TO charge. At 8 o'clock h
was in the house Of commons. I'm
til 4 o'clock in the morning he at
tended society functions. and 4
mn. found him again at his desk
fresh as paint His income was IS
| timated at 10000 pounds a year
ON Ere-War rates.
Took Up listers Cause
He nearly threw away everything
i'm tho Ulster cause when he becam,
| "Galloper Smith" IN the Orang
army, in 1914. It was touch and e
whether he and Carson would no
be indicated for high treason. Blu
the war came, and these thing
were put aside.
Lord Birkenhesd went 10 Franc
i'm 1914 as a major IN the oxford
shire Light Infantry. He served 81
the trenches for nearly n twelve
month, and then tho government or
dered his recall. lie was needed a
/ attorney general. Aud nc came bacl
with some regret.
Ills extraordinary industry, rapi,
/ grasp Of fact and amazing rapidit
Of work made him invaluable L
LLOYD George At the next recon
struction of the ministry he va
made Lord Chancellor and head o
the entire British Judicial system
with enormous rlensry powers an,
unqualified prestige.
He wired the fact to his face
and the signature was. Your IN
proverished husband" He had sac
riiced half his income by taking OF
the Job.
judiciary Backs Tim.
The old-fashioned judges OF Eng
land were askance at the appoint
ment. Never before had a man o
40 been given such office After h
had delivered his first judicial opin
ion they altered their view Just
month ago after one Of his judg
ments, three famous ex-Lord chan
cellors Haldane. Lord Finla,
and Lord Buckmaste solemnI
! arose in turn and paid tribute 4
what they termed the finest contri
button 20 the law OF England the
had ever known.
And SO this academic athlete, thi
| political adventurer and Learned
philosopher is just coming 70 tn
summit OF his career. His powers o
speech turn great audiences dizzy
/ His considered. judgments max
musty old lawyers enthusiastic. II
can still play tennis all the morning
work all the afternoon and eveninl
and dance all night He has latel,
been the main figure IN the settle
ment OF the Irish quarrel.
Only one thing remains 10 him
and that q che v-rv-sa-grf- II