Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-23
LLOYD GEORGE DOWNFALL
GREATEST SENSATION IN
4 DECADES Of POLITICS
Election After Christmas Considered Certain;
Gardiner Thinks Lord Derby Will Be Minister
After New Parliament Convenes; Conserva-
tives Expected to Have $50 Members.

e $50 Members.
smashing blow any public man ever re-
ceived from his supporters in the house
of commons. Men who now have
turned to rend Lloyd George were
elected four years ago on his own
ticket signed by his OWE hands. They
now cast him out neck and crop. Ihey
declare they will have no association
and no dealings with him. They even
humiliate their own leaders who are
preparing to back him and make a new
compact with him.
DIstrust Long Gathering
What explanation is there for this
startling political bolshevism? 1t rep
resents much more than a mere par
liamentary revolt. The momentum
comes from the country in which re-
sentiment and distrust has long been
gathering. There is no doubt that
smouldering anger over the, reversal
Of the policy toward ireland in part
ding of the Turkish situation also was
a browning blow to Lloyd Georges
prestige. The feeling had spread that
he was playing with grave issues for
the popular cry and coQuetting with
war for political ends.
But the main cause of his overthrow
was the deep, universal, disquieting
distrust Of the premier's methods and
policies. For six years he has been to
all lntents n purposes the absolute
dictator of the country. He has
broken down every parliam entary ira
dition. He has made waste paper of
constitutional practice. He has ruled
the country through skillful manipu-
lation of the press, upon which he
showered q rain of honors. Not since
Oliver Cromwell had the exercise OF
personal power been carried to such
lengths.
IL success had attended his dictator
ship it might have continued longer.
but the failure was so fragrant that it
wholly discredited his administration.
The conviction prevails that all stand
ards of public life have been outraged
by his audacious opportunism; snatch
ing at any mob passion and motivated
by a single objeot-maintenance of per-
sonal power.
Personal Power Vanishes.
A sudden burst of wind has now
blown his laborious structure of dicta-
torship into q heap of dust. He knew
that the revolt in the conservative
ranks was serious but he hoped that
by attaching the leaders TO him he
would be able to smash the party as
he had smashed the liberal party and
retain the main body and machine on
his side. That illusion is gone. The
conservative executives knew the sol
iiarity of their party was at stake
and they killed Lloyd George to pre-
zen his killing them. With this re-
suit his personal power vanished.
What follows? A general election.
Of course. With coalition destroyed
four parties will go TO the polls: The
conservatives, the labor independents,
the Asauith liberals and the Lloyd
George liberals. In the present good
Of the country the outcome likely will
be a conservative majority over all
parties.
My calculations are that the next
commons will comprise $50 conserva-
fives, $50 Iaborites; 60 liberal indie
pendents and 40 Lloyd George lib
erals.
1t is possible labor and the liberal
Independents may do better. but it is
extremely unlikely they will have a
| majority of the house. The question
of their combining, therefore. is not
likely to arise.
Assuming this conservative majority.
who will be the prime minister after
the election? Balfour, Chamberlain
| and Birkenhead are out of the ques-
ISOLATION with Lloyd Georges plans
Fahciss Lord Derby
Leadership seems TO lie between
Bonar Law, Lord Derby and Lort
Salisbury. My own fancy is Lore
Derby. What of Lloyd George? HI
will fight like a tiger, but for whom
The election to complete his downfall
| He hoped to return. if not as leader
then holding the balance Of power il
| the house of commons. That is un
likely to happen. It is more probabl,
that he will head O small party Of per
sonal adherents without power Il
make or break governments.
/ expect to see him try to return tt
| the liberal party and restore the or,
ganization he has wrecked, but | doubr
the success of this move. One thing
is certain, he is down and out ant
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 assertion was natural
IT was his sword that gave Lloyt
George his death blow az the Carlton
meeting. His action was doubtful VI
to the last moment. The late conserv
alive leaders resigned with Lloyt
George, leaving the party in Law
control. 1t is expected the election
will be delayed until after Christmas
but the battle will begin Immediately
The %strangest battle in the history o.
English politics.
| z