Evening star., 1922-10-22
SEES NO RETURN
FOR LLOYD GEORGE
Conservative Triumph Ger
tain at General Election,
Declares Gardiner.
By A. G. GARDINER.
Britain's Greatest Liberal Editor.


Special Cable Dispatch to The Star.
LONDON, October 21.-England to-
day is seething with the greatest
political sensation that has happened
in nearly forty years. The declara-
ton of the enormous majority of the
conservatives, at the Carlton CLUB
Thursday. to break up the coalition
was totally unexpected. This de-
cision was arrived at in the face OF
the advice of the party leaders, BAL
four and Chamberlain. No sucn ORA
matte revolt of the rank and hie OF
a political party against its officers
ever before was recorded in English
politics.
1t was expected there would only
be substantial minority aSainst
Lloyd George. No one predicted tnls
astounding tidal wave. 1t is the most
smashing blow any public man ever
received from his supporters IN the
now have turned to rend LLOYD
George were elected four years ago
on his own ticket, signed by his own
hand. They now cast him out, neck
and crop. They declare theS VIII
have no association and no dealings
own leaders who We're preparing 10
back him and make new compact
with him.
Startling and Significant.
What explanation is there for this
startling political bolshevism! II
represents much more than a mere
parliamentary revolt. The momentum
comes from the country in when re-
sentiment and distrust have long been
smoldering anger over the sudden
reversal of the policy toward Ire
land in part. caused the revolt. His
recent handling of the Turkish STU
alton also was crownlng bio" 10
LLOYD Georges prestige. The feeling
had spread that he was playing with
grave issues for the popular cry anu
couuetting with war for politlcai
ends.
But the main cause of his over
throw was the deep. universal, us
uuieting distrust of the premier
methods and policies. For six years
he has been to all intents and pur- :
noses the absolute dictator OF the
country He has broken down every
parliamentary tradition. lie mas
made waste paper of constitutlonal
practice. He has ruled the country
through skillful manipulation of the
press. upon which he showered rain
of honors. Not since Oliver Crom
well has the exercise OF personai
power been carried to such lenstns.
If success had attended his die,
tatorship it might have continued
longer, but the failure was so hagrant
that it wholly discredited his admin
istration. The conviction prevails
that all standards of public life nave
been outraged by his audacious op-
nortunism: snatchins at any mob pas
sion and motived by a single OBJECT
maintenance of personal power.
A sudden burst of wind has no"
blown his laborious structure OF cIG-
tatorship into a heap of dust. he
knew that the revolt in the conserVa- :
tive ranks was serious. but he hoped
that by attaching the leaders to MN
he would be able to smash the party
as he had smashed the liberal party
and retain the main body and macnlne
on his side. That illusion Is gone.
The conservative executives knew the
solidarity of their party was at stake
and they killed Lloyd George to pre-
vent him killing them. With this re-
suit his personal power vanished.
Four Parties in Battle.
What follows? A general election:
Of course. With coalition DESTROYED
four parties will go to the polls-the
conservatives. the labor independents.
the Asouith liberals and the Lloyd
George liberals. In the present MOOD
of the country the outcome likely vii!
be a conservative majority over all
NY calculations are that the next
commons will comprise $50 conserva-
tives. $50 laborites. 60 liberal indie
pendents and 40 Lloyd George lib
erals. 1t is possible labor and the
independent liberals may do better,
but 1t is extremely unlikely they will
question of their combining, there
fore is not likely to arise.
Assuming this conservative major
fly. who will be the prime minister
after the elections? Balfour. Cham
berlain and Birkenhead are out of the
association with Lloyd Georges plans.
Leadership seems to lie between Bonar
Law. Lord Derby and Salisbury. My
own fancy is Lord Derby. What OF
George? He will fight like a tiger,
but for whom? The election cannot
hoped to return. If not as leader. then
holding the balance of power in the
house. That is unlikely to happen.
1t Is more probable that he will head
a small party of personal adherents.
without power to make or break gov
ernments.
Iexpect to see him try to return to
the liberal party and restore the or
ganization he has wrecked. but !
doubt the success Of this move. One
thing is certain, he is down and out
and will make a desperate fight to
recover his dominion. But all the
kings horses and all the kings men
will not put humpty dumpty together
again later.
Bonar Laws acceptance of office
was natural. 1t was his sword that
gave Lloyd George his death blow at
the Carlton meeting. His action was
doubtful up to the last moment. The
late conservative leaders resigned
with George. leaving the party in
Laws control. 1t is expected the. cleo
tion will be delayed until after Christ
mas, but the battle will begin imme-
diately-the strangest battle in the
history of English politics.
lCnnyricht 1922