Evening star., 1926-10-26

The retirement Of the Earl of Ok
ford and Asquith from leadership of
the Liberal party is of interest to
Americans chiefly because of it's pos.
sible bearing on the future alignment
of parties in British politics. There is
much speculation as to whether the
new condition will offer an opportu-
nifty to Lloyd George for return to
real power.
The Syracuse Herald believes that
"the Liberal feud will now be revived
in an aggravated form by the struggle
for the leadership centering in Lloyd
George and Oxford's legatee, simon,
who Is not only a lawyer of first rank
but a resourceful campaigner and ag
gressive fighter" The Herald adds
that the Liberals present thirdparty
status Is discouraging enough without
serious internal division" but 1t holds
that nevertheless, 1t would be rash
to assume that the Liberal party is
hopelessly decadent as a factor in
British politics."
THE party Is being crushed be-
tween two extremes" in the opinion
of the New Orleans Item, land most
of it's members realize their predica-
nent Thousands went over to Labor
last election. Other thousands, who
had more to gain the other way. went
over to the Conservatives. The little
remnant convened. talked, fought,
cried for an issue, and found nothing
more interesting than foreign policy
of Cancellation and a domestic policy
Of agricultural relief. 1t has done
much good in the past, and could do
much good in the future, If the pres
ent acrimonious. economic struggle in
England, as it likely will, becomes
more bitter if not more violent. When
those days come, party of concilia-
ton should be at hand, but 1t is doubt
ed, most Of all by the Liberals them
selves, that a party can be kept in ex-
istence on such a weak appeal"
"The future Of the party, with its
tendency toward the Left accentuat-
ed" according to the New York
World, SIS problematical, but 1t may
be an important future, for, though
it holds only some twoscore seats in
the House. 1t has 100000 workers
and a crisis may give it many more.
It enrolls able leaders 49, Sir John
Simon, Comdr. Kenworthy, Josiah
Wedgwood, Walter Runciman, Hilton
Young. Much will depend on the
skill with which the party presents
It's claim as the sole alternative be-
tween Toryism on the one hand and
Socialism on the other" The Sche-
nectady Gazette, while stating that
the battle between the Asquith. and
Lloyd George factions weakened the
organization" already forced into
third place." suggests that with the
former out, the latter may be able to
rebuild his Organization and to re-
store 1t to it's former strength"
Lord oxford, seeing the futility of
further fighting" in the opinion of
the Atlanta Journal, has resigned as
leader. but will continue the great
spokesman for the party in the. House
of Lords. and doubtless will give Eng
land much wise counsel out of the wis
dom Of his IS years. The aggressive
role in Liberal politics, however, will
be played by the Welsh wizard how
successfully remains to be seen. These
are uncertain days in England; her
own ablest observers do not forecast
what the throws Of party dice will
turn forth"
The Vancouver Star offers the view:
That Lord oxford will be succeeded
by Mr.. Lloyd George may be regarded
as certain. The choice of any other
statesman would but widen the split
between the two wings, which 1t is
doubtless Lord Oxford's intention to
terminate by this act Of self-abnega-
ton. The Liberal party will achieve
a unity which it has not known for
nearly a dozen years. It will also
have a pohcy-the land policy of one
OF the most dynamic leaders British
politics has ever known. 1t is not
unlikely. therefore, that it will ex-
perience a revival throughout the
country which may go a long way
toward restoring it to something ap-
preaching it's ancient power and
prestige"
On the other hand, the Louisville
Herald-Post believes that Lloyd
George, while assuming the mantle OF
leadership for the Liberals. will prob
ably remain on the outside looking
in." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle feels