New Britain herald., 1928-02-15

of his warmest admirers once ob, served that Asquith's modesty verg' ed on deformity.
 In 1888. as a London school boy of l6. Asquith Is said to have told his schoolmates that one day he would be lord chancellor or prime minister. and constantly he asked edge of parliamentary procedure. Ii the story is true. it appears to be the only evidence that Asquith ever boasted of his knowledge or ability, or voiced his ambition.
 Served Half Century
 After a service of approximately half a century to his country. Lord Oxford virtually retired from public life late in 1926. his retirement hav- ing been brought about with a series of events beginning with the sweep ing conservative victory in the gen. eral elections of 1924. From that battle at the polls the liberals. of which Lord Oxford had been leader since 1908. emerged as a. broken party, temporarily at least.
 There followed dissensions In the ranks of the party that eliminated in the bitter controversy between Lord Oxford and David Lloyd George over the latter's attitude dur ing the general strike in 1926. A few months later Lord Oxford re- signed as party leader,
 Beginning of the End Previously. in January. 1925, the earl's acceptance of his title general ly was regarded as the beginning of the end of d great political career. The honor of an earldom vas offer ed by the king on the advice of Prime Minister Baldwin "in recog- milton of his great services to the nation" He chose the title Earl of Oxford and Asquith. Several times before he had refused honors. prefering 10 follow the traditions of the great prime ministers of Eng land to be known in history by his own name.
 Created Sensation
 A profound political sensation vas created in May 1926. with the pub lication of a letter from Lord OK ford to Lloyd George censuring the latter for his attitude In favor of the miners during the general strike. Lloyd Georges reply. published at the same time, characterized the Oxford letter as "a provocation document" At the time the exchange of letter was interpreted as mean ing that Lloyd George must resign as parliamentary leader of the liber- al party. or that Lord Oxford. Wis count Grey and other prominent members would cut loose from the party.
 This first clash between the two party leaders was followed by a more serious one month later when the Earl of Oxford and a ma jority of his colleagues adopted what was considered the sentence of ex. communication Of Lloyd George from the liberal party. The decision was contained in a letter written by Lord Oxford to Sir Godfrey Collins chief liberal whip of the party. and was regarded as making complete the breach in the party so far as the leaders were concerned.
 Following this action the national liberal federation at Us annual ses- sion adopted a resolution expressing unabated confidence in Lord Oxford Supporters of Lloyd George demand ed the resolution be made clear that it meant no reflection upon their chieftain and won their point by be. ing assured that it did not. Rcpudiates His Authority The adherents of Lloyd George then took the initiative in July by deciding to repudiate the authority of Lord Oxford and his so-called