The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-18
PREMIER OF
BRITAIN TO
QUIT POST?
Lloyd George May Resign
if Unionists Desert
Chamberlain.

AOuuUu, OCl. 1o.-\6y Tue ASSN
ciated Press.)-The British 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 it
will take, but the answer is as yet
unrevealed and the future remains
obscure pending tomorrow's union
ist meeting at the Carlton club
which is expected to give the key
to the problem.
One anti-coalition newspaper, the
Daily Mail, today attributes to
Prime Minister Lloyd George the
statement that he will resign Office
if the unionist meeting declares
against Austen Chamberlain, whose
outspoken adhesion to the premier
has aroused strong opposition in
the party ranks.
Would Mean New Cabinet.
Whether the premier made the
declaration attributed to him, some
of the best informed political cor
respondents believe he will resign
if Mr.. Chamberlain is voted down
at the Carlton club. It would then
be up to the king, in accordance
with political precedents in this
country, to invite the conservative
party to try its hand at forming
cabinet.
Among other reports published
by the morning papers is one to
the effect that the ministers started
new efforts yesterday to insure
postponement of the general cleo
tions until January, prompted, it is
said. by fear OF complete split in
the conservative party. Such a
contingency, however, seems al
most inevitable to the disinterest-
eessehansseys ne cf the surest
prospects Of the present ferment
seems to be a new alignment of
parties which will obliterate some
Of Britain's oldest political land
marks.
Labor Party Is Strong.
To a foreigner suddenly taking
his initial survey Of the situation
perhaps one of the strangest fea-
lures Of the British crisis would be
the comparative absence from the
columns of the principal daily
newspapers Of reports on the activ-
tiles of the labor party, notwith-
standing the announced intention
Of that party to put more than four
hundred candidates into the cleo
toral field.
Labor is mentioned. but the
space given the labor movement is
trifling compared to that devoted
to the doings Of the two older par
ties. There is no reason to sup
pose, however, that this reflects
the amount of importance attach
ing ito the industrial attack on the
various constituencies. The fact is
that the labor leaders thus far have
been less vocal than their rivals,
but they are known to be conduct
ing an energetic campaign.
Show Strength Today.
Some Of the political principles
for which labor is fighting were
put succinctly by the moderate la
Dor leader, Arthur Henderson, in a
speech yesterday at Newport, Mon
mouthshire, where there is a bye
election today in which labor will
have the opportunity of showing
its strength.
In his address Mr.. Henderson
said labor seeks national financial
reform on the principal Of ability
to pay and would tighten the ma
tional debt by war debt redemp-
/ ton fund through a levy on accum-
ulated wealth. beginning with all
fortunes exceeding 5000 pounds
sterling.
What Labor Wants,
Labor also declares war against
private industrial enterprises and
advocates greater extension of COL
lective responsibility. This especi-
ally applies to such national serv-
ices as the mines and railroads.
The workers must have q meas
ure OF control over industry and
there must be an elevation in their
status, full employment or mainte-
nance, and the humanizing Of all
working condidtins.
Demonstration Of political in
stitutions, placing Of the foreign
policy of the nation under the con-
troll Of popularly elected assemblies
and international arbitration were
among the other aims set forth by
| tho lah0r sn0koSman