Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-06
SUCCESSOR IN
TRAINING FOR
PREMIERSHIP
'GaIlope1' Smith Slated to Fill
Shoes of Lloyd
George.
WORKS HIS WAY TO TOP

LONDON, Feb. Gust as assuredly
rs Lloyd George Is the present Prime
Minister OF England, so Lord Birken-
head, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain,
will be his successor. Nobody on this
side of the Atlantic has the slightest
doubt on the point
Frederick Edwin Smith, now known as
Lord Birkenhead has had the most me-
teoric career that Britain has ever known.
Never before, not even in the instance
Of Pitt, has a man taken the reins Of
government with so short a bound.
It was in February, 1906 that London
first heard of this young man. There
had been a Parliamentary election. The
Tories, after eleven years of power, had
been wiped out. Just a faded remnant
had been returned to the House Of
Commons The benches opposite were
crowded with triumphant Liberals.
ASTONISHED
COMMONS.
And then, second day of the session.
an unknown. Immediately dressed youth,
with smooth hair and Liverpool accent,
arose to address the house and the hos
tile IegiOns opposite.
He had no feelings of defeat. He made
no apologies. With silken voice and
brutal invective he hayed the life from
the victorious foe. Arthur James Bal
four leader Of hopelessly defeated
party, looked around and asked; In
Heavens name, who is this boy 2"
All England next day was ringing with
the name of f. E. Smith. He became
Familiarity known as "GallOper" Smith.
This was really the third stage in
"Freddy" Smiths career. At the begin
ming he was the son of very poor and
unsuccessful lawyer. His ability brought
him prizes enabling him to 30 to a good
school at Liverpool From there ne won
his way to Oxford University, support
Ing himself all the time.
WAS LEADER
AT OXFORD.
At Oxford he quickly made himself
the man of the day. A great football
player, president Of the Union, triple
frst-class degree, this handsome boy
without a cent-dominated the ancient
purlieus Of the venerable city. And all
the people who counted asked: "Whal
will he become?"
For the time being he had no money
TO become anything. So for several years
ne was a famous professor and teacher.
Then he went to the bar. And one day
there was most extraordinary forgery
case. The prisoner was conspicuOusly
guilty, but the defense put up was one
that drew the excited attention Of all
England f E. Smith was the defend
Ing counsel.
After that Liverpool, his native city.
could not make enough of him. He had
the pick Of all the big legal causes that
happened. He lived in tremendous style
in a huge house keeping a string of
hunters, entertaining in elaborate style
and making the entire community won,
der how he did it. His fame spread
daily until men gasped.
HERO IN HIS
HOME TOWN.
The famous Judge, Lord Mersey, was
In Liverpool at that time. One day,
driving around, a legal friend asked him
who owned a huge skyscraper just con-
structed.
I don't know" said Lord Mersey, "but
| should imagine Freddy" Smith is tax
Ing new Offices
He nearly threw away everything in
the Ulster cause wnen he became Gal
loper Smith," ia the Orange Army, in
1914. 1t was touch and 20 whether he
and Carson would not be indicted for
big treason. But the war came, and
these things were put aside
Lord Birkenhead went to France in
1914, as a major in the OXfordshire Light
Infantry. He served in the trenches for
nearly a twelve-month, and then the gov
eminent ordered his recall. He was need
ed as attorney general. And he came
back with some regret
His extraordinary industry, rapid
grasp Of fact and AIMING rapidity of
work made him invaluable to Lloyd
George. At the next reconstruction of
the Ministry he was made Lord Chancel-
Tor and head of the entire British jul
dicial system, with enormous plenary
powers and unqualified prestige.
He wired the fact TO his wife, and the
signature was, Your impoverished hus-
band" He had sacrificed half his in
come by taking on the job
The old-fashioned judges Of England
were askance at the appointment. Never
before had a man Of forty five been
given such office. After he had delivered
his first judicial opinion they altered
their view Just a month ago, after one
Of his judgments, three famous ex-Lord
Chancellors-Lord Haidane, Lord FinIay
and Lord MISUNDERSTANDING arose
IN turn and paid tribute to what they
termed the finest contribution to the law
of England they had ever known.
And so this academic athlete, this po-
Itical adventurer and learned philoso-
pher just coming to the summit. Of his
career. His powers of speech turn great
audiences dizzy. His considered judg>
ments make musty old lawyers enthusi-
Bstic. He can still play tennis all the
morning, work all the afternoon ana
evening and dance all night He has
lately been the main figure in the set
Element of the Irish quarrel
Only one thing remains to him, and
that is the premiership. He wants that,
and it may come to him earlier than
most people believe.