Evening star., 1922-10-18
PREMIER
READY TO RESIGN
Daily Mail Says Action De-
pends on Support Of
Chamberlain.
QUOTES "LLoYo GEORGE"
England's Political Fever High on
Eve of Unionist Meet
ing.
QUOTES "LLoyD GEORGE"
By the Associated Press.

AONOOENp OctODeE 1o.-1He oIIIl6fI
political fever has now reached its
height. and there is every Indication
that the maximum temperature will
be maintained for some days. Every
body Is guessing as to when the
crisis will pass and what turn 1t will
take, but the answer is as yet un-
revealed. and the future remains OBJ
scure pending tomorrow's unionist
meeting at the Carlton Club. which is
expected to give the key to the prob
lem. ,
One anti-coalition newspaper. the
Daily Mail, today attributes to Prime
Minister Lloyd George the definite
statement that he will resign office II
the unionist meeting declares against
Austin Chamberlain, whose outspoken
adhesion to the premier has aroused
strong opposition in the party ranks.
Mr.. Lloyd Georges statement Is said
ing last night Of the liberal minis
ters and undersecretaries. None Of
the papers nearest the premier, or
any other, confirms this or processes
to know exactly what passed at the
meeting, although all agree. that
dial support Should the premier re-
sign, 1t would be up to the king, In
accordance with political precedents
in this country, to invite the con-
servative party to try its hand at FORM
ing cabinet.
Premier's Alternative.
If, on the contrary. the meeting
gives Mr.. Chamberlain anything .ap-
preaching strong support, the pre-
mier, it IL reiterated. will advise the
king to dissolve parliament. and. thls
being done, will appeal to the coun-
try on q coalition ticket.
Thus, if these prophets be correct.
the dissolution Of parliament seems
imminent In either case. as 1t is not
supposed the conservatives could
carry on without the prominent and
tried leaders who would quit the
government with Chamberlain II he
resigns.
Among the other reports published
by the morning papers Is one to the
effect that the ministers started new
efforts yesterday to insure postpone
ment of the general elections until
January, prompted, 1t Is said, by fear
of a complete split in the conserva-
tive party.
Such a contingency, however. seems
almost inevitable to the disinterested
observer, and one of the surest pros
poets of the present ferment seems
TO be new alisnemnt OF parties
which will obliterate some OF Brit
ain OlueSL
To n foreigner suddenly taking
his initial survey of the situation per-
haps one of the strangest features
of the British crisis would be the
comparative absence from the COL
umns of the principal daily newspa-
the labor party. notwithstanding the
announced intention Of that party to
put more than 400 candidates into the
electoral field.
Labor Leaders Quieter.
Labor certainly Is mentioned, but
the space given the labor movement
is trif1ing compared to that devoted
to the doings Of the two older parties.
There is no reason to suppose, how
ever, that this reflects the amount
Of Importance attaching to the in
dustrial attack on the various con-
stituencies. The fact is that the
labor leaders thus far have been less
vocal than their rivals, but they
are known to be conducting an ener-
some Of the political principles
for which labor is fighting are al
ready well known. Theey are put sue
cinctly by the moderate labor leader.
terday at Newport. Monmouthshlre,
where there is a bye election today,
in which labor will have the oppor-
tunity Of showing its strength. The
seat IN TINS CONSTITUENCY hIkuSl " n0S
been held by a coalition liberal. but
the coalition is not contesting to-day
and the fight will be between the
laborite and conservative liberal
candidates.
labor seeks national financial reform
on the principle of ability to pay. and
would tighten the national debt by a
war debt redemption fund through a
levy on accumulated wealth. begin
ming with all fortunes exceeding
War on Private Enterprise.
Labor also declares war against
private industrial enterprise and ad-
vocates greater extension Of collective
responsibility. This especially ap-
plies to such national services as the
mines and railroads.
The workers must have measure
of control oyer industry and there
must be an elevation in their status.
full employment or maintenance, and
the humanizing of all working condi-
tions.
Demonstration of political insti-
tutions, placing of the foreign policy
Of the nation under the control of
popularly elected assemblies, and in
ternational arbitration, were among
the other aims set forth by the labor
spokesman.
Allied closely to the ministerial
crisis here and that impending in
Italy is the question of the general