The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-05

hope to secure the majority which is
essential to stable government? No
party has a majority of its own. That
is the uuandary in which the new
House of Commons will find itself on
the fifteenth of January
There seems to be no doubt in the
minds of any political observer that
the present government is doomed.
Mr.. Asquiths recent speech at the
National Liberal Club settled their
fate. There is as little doubt that
Mr. Ramsay Macdonald will be called
upon to form an administration and
that he viii succeed in doing so.
Hence the signals of distress that are
hurting through the air in many
quarters. At the prospect of Labor
government, panic reignS in Mayfair
and is being assiduously spread in the
city and in suburbia by busy mission
aries of terror in and around Fleet
ST.
Skies Are Black
The Western skies are already black
with the flight of capital seeking safe
ty beyond the Atlantic. The fright is
real. There has been nothing like it
since the horror that filed the streets
of Rome at the approach Of Attila.
There is a loud wall for coalition
once more. Mr.. Asquith is implored
TO save the nation by coalescing with
Mr.. Baldwin to protect our threatened
riches from the hands Of the pillager.
But the very men who are screening
for coalition today have made it i'm
possible by their action OF yesterday.
1t was only a year ago that they
taught the nation to believe that
united action by two parties OF diff
ferent principles for the good Of the
nation was insincere and dishonest
and therefore, in the interests Of ma
tional morality, ought to be discontin-
ued. Any government based on com
promise could not be an honest gov
eminent The nation accepted the
view so insistently urged upon it and
it is not going to change ini a hurry
How About a Tea Party
AS will happen when people lose
their heads, all kinds Of ridiculous
proposals are forthcoming.
Discussions as to limitations of the
Kings prerogative of dissolution are
all beside the mark. The new labor
Government is not likely to be so
stupid as to ask for dissolution the
moment it is formed. 1t will surely
not make the mistake of putting it's
most contentious proposals in the
forefront of its program. They have
nothing to do with the immediate and
urgent problems of government-set-
Ting the peace of Europe and finding
work for the unemployed. At best
the methods Of a capital levy will take
a long time to work out and could
not be undertaken this year.
On all pressing questions-the for
eign situation, housing, utilization Of
credit to provide useful work for the
workless-there is substantial agree
ment between the parties. on all
these questions liberalism would go
just as far as Labor. And so will
many of the more go-ahead Conserv-
atives. I cannot imagine therefore
any measure being introduced this
year which will raise the direct issue
between the existing economic sys-
tenn and national ownership. When it
is raised why should it be sllirked?
Is it in the interest of champions Of
private enterprise to appeal to the
prerogative to prevent 4 decision be-
ing taken? II a Labor cabinet is
rushed by its fanatical tail into mad
cap schemes that neither Liberals nor
Conservatives can support and If it
then wishes to have the opinion of
the nation on those schemes, by ali
means let them have it. The people
1t
themselves without seeking shelter
behind debatable applications of the
royal prerogative.
For sheer naivete there is nothing
to beat the resolution passed by city
of London Conservatives. Mr.. Bald
win is to be asked to approach Mr.
Asquith with the following PROPOSE
ton: Either Mr.. Baldwin is to go on
governing with Mr.. Asquith's support
on the distinct understanding that no
contentious legislation is to be intro
duced or Mr. Asquith is to form a
government with the support of Mr.
Baldwin given on the same terms.
The Liberals are to agree that there
shall be no liberal legislation for four
years-or until such time as it suited
the Conservatives to turn them out.
Even the coalition government carried
home rule and many other measures
not in the Tory repertoire. This is
perhaps the coolest of all suggestions
put forward.
A worthy dean had an in
spiration and communicated it
to the press in the form Of
a Christmas message. He would
meet the situation by arranging a
pleasant little tea party, consisting OF
Mr.. Baldwin. Lord Grey and Mr.
Ramsay Macdonald, to run the
Empire on dainty. blue china priu-
ciples. There can be nothing in such
1estivity TO brighten or offend the
most timid spinster in his congrega-
ten. The presence of Mr.. Ramsay
Macdonald, of course, requires some
soothing explanation. Here comes
the wise audacity Of the dean. With
the constant example OF two sucn
well-behaved men as Lord Grey and
Mr.. Stanley Baldwin always before
his eyes, the labor leader would
surely not steal the spoons. He might
be taught not to spill tea on the table
cloth, or even pour it into his saucer.
A Simple Suggestion
Mr.. Jacks, the principal of Man
chester University. also has his
thought for the season. His sugges-
ton is simple. He only asks for an
assurance that the labor party attach
ciples than do certain ecclesiastics