Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-03
LLOYD GEORGE IN
final MESSAGE TO
AMERICAN PEOPLE


David Lloyd George tonight faced
his last audience in America.
Returning to New York after a
months tour of the United States
and Canada, the war time premier
of Great Britain prepared with care
his final word to the new world be-
fore sailing for home tomorrow on
the Majestic.
Every one of the 1900 seats, in
the Metropolitan Opera House was
taken and for each seat there were
100 applicants. s.- .
/! Many of those who were unable
to crowd into the, vast auditorium.
camped at home around the radio
to hear his words brought to them
through the ether.
More than an hour before the
doors were thrown open for the
meeting, held under the auspices of
the Citizens Committee of New
York, crowds were massed on
Broadway in front of the main
doors. p NJ -
Remembering the attempt of the
irish Republicans to fiaunt insult
ing banners in the face of the for
eign visitor on the day of his arrival.
the police threw a great Gordon OF
1907 and horse around all four, sides
or the opera house. AS the audience
pressed into the hall. each ticket
was strictly inspected to prevent the
entrance of any possible disturbers
The house blazed with color. The
proscenium bore the standards of
Great Britain and the United States.
woven into a billowing knot over
the speakers head.
The rostrum was banked with
great clusters of chrysanthemum
and autumn leaves.
Shortly after 7:3O o'clock. the
doors were opened and the crowd
streamed into boxes, pit and balco-
MES.
In introducing Mr.. Lloyd George.
Mr. Bush said he would make no
speech. but adopt the easy-going
american philosophy of Getting
George do it," Nevertheless. he de-
voted few minutes to describing the
ex-premier's rise to power.
The meeting came to a brief halt.
while the radio apparatus that was
TO flash Lloyd Georges voice across
the country was set up.
Mr.. Bush referred to the fact that
even while Mr.. Lloyd George was
speaking there was trembling in the
balance "a new accord between the
English-speaking people and the great
people of France whom we all love-
an accord to which. Mr. Bush asserted,
Mr.. Lloyd George had contributed
more than any single agency. despite
whatever criticism he might have
voiced.
Never, perhaps, since the time of
the war, when former President Will
son was scheduled for an address. was
the opera house as heavily guarded as
tonight.
In addition to the scores of blue
coats massed outside. police in uni
form and plain clothes thronged the
interior. They mingled with the
crowds pouring into the lobby and
lined the rear of the house, standing
behind the orchestra stalls, the two
tiers of boxes, and the three balco-
MES.
Moreover, plainclothes men were
scattered here and there throughout
the seating space. The house was vir-
tually filled at $40 o'clock. There was
buzz of conversation from roof to
pit as the audience waited for the
British statesman. Seated in a first
tier box was Secretary of Labor Da-
Wis. On the platform were men high
in the financial and civil life Of the
country.
Mr.. Lloyd George entered the house
by the seth Street stage door at s.45
o'clock.
Ushered into the house to the strains
of Men of Harlech.'' sung by a solo
list. the doughty little Welshman
stepped upon the stage shortly before
. o'clock and walked slowly to his
seat. The audience rose and cheered.
With the former premier We're Irv-
ing T. Bush, chairman Of the meeting:
John w. Davis. former ambassadors to
Great Britain; Sir William Sutherland
of England, and r. A. C. Smith of New
York.
The audience. at the request of
the chairman, rose and sang God
Save the Kink", and then the Star
haired statesman joined vigorously
in both airs.
Chairman Bush then read a let
ter from Chauncey NJ. Depew, who
had been announced as q speaker,
expressing his regret at his inabil-
ity to be present. and in referring
to the presence of Mr.. Lloyd George.
declared that the salvation OF civili-
cation depends largely upon the CO.
operation OF the English speaking
peoples.
Toying with his eyeglasses. the
man who guided Brain through
wartime stress sat squarely in his
chair during the Introductory re-
marks. his eyes rising from pit to
ceiling with its great cluster Of
lights. His was a small figure, seat