Evening star., 1924-03-02

would still gain anything from sixty to ninety
seats and would be finally established as the
opposition: this would mean that ultimately
labor would come back to power on It's own.
Labors most valuable asset at the present
hour Is Enthusiastically its leader, the actual
prime minister. He Is vastly stronger than his
party, while still the strongest OF party
leaders. He has patiently the respect and con-
fldence, in degree the affection OF a
surprising number Of people outside of his own
party. His health. however has become mat
ter of public anxiety. He has taken burdens
which no other prime minister has shouldered
for at least a century and quarter. II his
health should break. labor would hardly sur
vIve in power briefly.
Considering that the present governmental
party IS on the whole the least homogeneous
of the three, the task of leadership the ne
cessity of keeping together extremists. moder
ates. socialists and real cOnservatves-for
there many in the labor party-must be
ending toll.
Personally had very interesting fndica-,
tion Of the strangely inharmonious character
Of the labor group when / attended a debate
in the house of commons over the question of
air defense The front bench-that is to say,
the responsible ministers Of the labor party,
were accepting without real qualification the
program of the outgoing ministry. Between
the official spokesman and those of the oppo-
sition there was discoverable difference
Of declared policy-although there OF
spirit. Criticism Of the opposition was thus
directed at the tone, not the content of the
governments statement, but suddenly there
arose from the labor seats back of the min
listers a storm Of disapproval. The essential
pacifism Of the rank and file of the party
suddenly flew to arms against the apparent
militarism of party leadership. After a furi-
Gus debate the house rocked with laughter
the not inexact Characterization of the
tory critic who called attention to the "reac-
tionary front bench leading the radical party"
Main Problems for Labor.
I.abor's main problems those OF the ma
ton itself - unemployment, housing 1t Is
probable that labor has among its cabinet
members men and women better calculated to
deal with these questions than any other
party. but the main difficulty is to find the
money. They cannot advocate heavier tax
alton; unless it undertakes sweeping reduc-
tions in military expenditure 1t hardly
find the cash it needs. Given the present state
of Europe. very general national apprehension
was aroused by the French air strength:
moreover 1t hardly go far in reducing
national armament without inviting liberal
and tory attack alike.
After all. then, even to accomplish anything
in the domestic field the labor party will be
compelled to concentrate Its best energies
upon finding a solution for foreign questions
above ALL for bringing about some general
European adjustment That Is why Macdon-
aid has kept foreign affairs In his own hands:
that is why up to date his most conspicuous
gestures and utterances have been directed
abroad, particularly toward France, If he
contribute materially to European settlement
he may stay in power a good while and in the
end accomplish much at home: but his fate.
like that of his predecessors, turns on foreign
affairs rather than domestic
Baldwin May Lose Power.
If Macdonald faces a difficult problem Of
party leadership his situation is not peculiar
for the tory party is also in uncomfortable
situation. Its present chief, Stanley Baldwin,
not a shining success in office; his blum
der, which brought about the recent election:
the utter blindness of prediction calcula-
tions. have certainly lowered his prestige. He
has been continued in party leadership but
it still remains fully possible that eventually
he will be replaced by Austen Chamberlain
or even Sir Robert Horne. familiar to Ameri-
by reason Of his recent visit to the
United States. chancellor of the exchequer in
the coalition government. AS for the liberal
party 1t has a great tradition and consid-
cradle number of able members, but the real
question seems to be whether 1t will split up