Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-07
THOMAS IN CHARGE
OF WORK PROBLEM
British Laborite Sacrifices
Foreign SecretaryShip for
Arduous Post.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY Cable &c. The Star and the Chicago Daily
News. Copyright. 1929.
LONDON. June Jimmy" Thomas
most popular of all the labor ministers
with the leaders of all political par
ties in the United Kingdom, sacrificed
his personal ambition to be foreign sec
rotary and accepted the less brilliant
but far more important position of lord
privy seal. with the special assignment
of handling the unemployment question.
He let Arthur Henderson rub elbows
with kings, ambassadors and such like"
and started right away drafting bills
which he hopes will bring relief to the
100000 unemployed.
Thomas has more practical expert
ence and knowledge of the actual causes
of unemployment than any living man
in Great Britain. and his program I'M
doubtedly will be Endorsed by the entire
opposition.
morning. but 1t is better to spend
money productivity than to give hun
dreds Of millions to people for doing
nothing"
Given Free Hand for Funds.
He had long conversation with
Philip Snowden, who has given him
a free hand to draw on the treasury
works which, according to Thomas, will
employ within the next six months at
least 600 900 men who are at present
taxpayer pensioners"
BY revival of the trade facilities act
he will be able to assist the railway
companies to proceed with electrifica-
ton schemes and the construction of a
railway ring around London to avoid
delay in the road transport OF goods
across the city.
He will push national drainage
schemes and is planning to build a
new arterial road from London to Aberr-
deem. Thomas is contemplating spend
ing on road building alone $50000,000.
The development of harbors and
waterways will be taken in hand al
most Immediately.
The new Labor cabinet will come be-
fore the new House of Commons June
IS, with complete scheme OF national
work and expects no opposition from
Liberals and Conservatives. For few
months the new Labor administration
will run smoothly. AS only constructive
EMPLOYMENT bills and none OF the Ia
nous decentralization" measures advo-
Gated by the independent Labor party
will be brought before Parliament,
Ramsay Macdonald is certain to have
no trouble obtaining support from the
opposition.
Liberals Are Powerless.
The Liberals. for the time being, will
be powerless. The entire legislation for
employment formed part of the Liberal
electoral platform during the elections
and Lloyd George will be compelled 10
support all such measures.
The Conservatives are on the oe-
fensive. They know that Labor plans
for solving unemployment are better
than those suggested by Stanley Bad
win during the general election. Con-
seouently the Tory leader must con.
tinue in the role of the watch dog OF
public interests" and prevent the pass
ing of some wild radical legislation.
The Tory opposition is bound TO De
platonic and Baldwin hopes that Labor
will remain in office for at least 10
months. so that he can have time to
complete the reorganization OF his own
party. III
Baldwin is in full agreement with
MacDonalds foreign policy. There VIII
be slight opposition TO the Labor plan
to resume diplomatic relations with
Russia. as the Tories would have done
this themselves had they been returned
TO power. -. A.
It is also beyond doubt that the
House will give whole-hearted support
to any Anglo American naval agree
ment Macdonald may reach within tne
next few months.