Evening star., 1929-10-04
MACDONALD'SR|SE
CREDITED TO BOOK
Writings of Obscure Printer
Gave Incentive to HumbIy-
Born Scotchman.
By LEMUEL F. PARTON.
Special Correspondent Of The Star.

NEW YORK, october 4-If a GER
tain obscure San Francisco printer
hadn't written book, two United States
cruisers might not be escorting a for
mer Scotch farm laborer into New York
Harbor today. According to the Right
Hon. j. Ramsay Macdonald, himself, it
was Henry Georges Progress and Pow
erty" which, more than any other in
fluence, started him. like Dick Whit
tington, on the road to London and
eventual participation in world affairs.
The long lane that ended at Downing
street began at two-room cottage
thatched with straw-the British po-
litical careerist's equivalent of the ira
ditional American log cabin.
This is probably the first time that
great government ever broke out the
battleships, the bands and the gold
braid to honor a visiting controversial
ist who won his name and fame in
academic tits against militarism. For
1t is true that Premier Macdonald
climbed to power on stairway of books,
some of which he wrote and some of
which he read.
Tribute to Printed Word.
The leader of the British Labor par
ty, he never worked with his hands
after he left the village of Lossiemouth.
His career is a tribute 10 the power of
the printed word. Meeting President
Hoover, he will have a chance to sum
Marie for select and influential au-
dience the disarmament views witch
he has been expounding in British lit
erary and political forums for 30 wears
Ramsay Macdonald was % years old
when he went to London. His first
job was addressing envelopes. He pro-
gressed quickly from this to writing
books and soon afterward to writing
checks. for he was diligent and thrifty
and soon acquired means sufIicient to
enable him to carry on his literary
and political car''.e. Although he was
deeply preoccu:igti with socialism. he
never fully accepted the MARKHAM
dogma. In fact, on one occasion, he
characterized the teachings of Karl
Marx as "of doubtful validity"
Early Labor Association.
Beatrice end Sydney Webb, in the
earlier years Of MacDonald's career,
were laying the broad foundations of
the British Labor party program. He
was associated with them and with
kier Hardie, H. M. Hyndman and other
pioneers OF this phase of the labor
movement.
He was profoundly interested in Robert
Owen, founder of British trade union
when he established his New Har-
mony" colony in Indiana. Perhaps the
phrase stuck In Mr. MacDonald's mind.
for 1t is an apostle of new harmony that
he arrives in the United States today
Mr.. Macdonald became editor of the
Socialist Library in 1905. His first book.
Socialism and Society,"" was written
while he was chairman of the Indepen-
dent Labor party. 1t was followed dur
Cl1Rrnadfnn 6yy iaI3
Socialism and Government" THE
Socialist Movement" THE Awakening
of India" and Parliament and "Revo-
lution.'
A Large Literary Output.
These books constitute only a small
portion of his literary output, as he is
the author Of almost innumerable
treastises and pamphletS-all in the
field OF the lifetime devotion.
An American journalist asked one of
Mr.. MacDonaldS confreres in the Labor
party whether Mr.. Macdonald really
believed in socialism.
"Yes, CT course" was the reply. But
you see he's Scotch and he's afraid 1t
won't work" Whether this accurately
characteriZes Mr.. MacDonald's attitude,
his generalized views have been salted
with keen sense of practical realities
and, with all his deep absorption in eco
nomic theory, he has proved himself an
adroit and masterful political strategist.
When he disagreed with Lord Grey as
to the necessity and eXpediency of Great
Britain entering the war, he was buried
deep in oblivion for the next six years.
Then the returning British soldier.
whiting out a wooden leg for himself
as his share of victory, began to re-
member Ramsay Macdonald He moved
out again on the main highway to
power, being eclipsed for while by the
fraudulent Zinovief letters. but return
ing to more assured position.
(Copyright, 1929