Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-06
LONDON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Lord Asl1field, British-born but
| American trained, is the able and pop
ular head Of London's great system OF
bus, tram and underground transpor-
tation He learned the traction game
as a young man in Detroit, way back
in the gay eos, where a boyhood
friend was a lad named Edwin DENLY
Together they enlisted for service in
the United States Navy during the Span
ishAAmerican War as gunners' mates
aboard the U. S. S. Yosemite. Lord
Ashf1eld was plain Albert Stanley then
He returned to Great Britain some 20
years ago to embark upon career
which was destined TO carry him far
During the World War Stanley, who
had already been knighted for his or
ganiEation Of motor transport in France,
was made president of the board OF
trade in the Lloyd George coalition
cabinet, the post corresponding to our
Secretaryship OF Commerce. He ac-
Quilted himself so brilliantly in that
portfolio that the King elevated him to
the peerage in 1920. Lady Stanley was
Grace Lowry woodruff of New York.
The London General Omnibus Co. and
the various tube" subway lines which
stream beneath the great metropolitan
area in all directions are under one
central control, and the Yankee-bred
peer is their supreme directing chief.
Lord Ashfield still speaks the American
language.
Our naval conference delegates have
not confined their cofnimunings in Lon
don to the Macdonald government and
its leaders. They have seen much of
Mr.. Baldwin, the Conservative chief
and Of MIR. Lloyd George, the Liberal
boss, who, with his band of 40 or so
| followers in the House Of Commons,
ranks as the man who holds the des-
TIMES of the Labor regime in the palm
of his cunning hand. BY combination
with the Conservatives, the Liberals
have it in their power at almost any
time to turn out the Macdonaldites
Most politicians think that 81. c." will
move re1entlessly in that direction when
ever he thinks the going is good. At
the moment, it suits the Liberal book
to let Labor live. Secretary Stimson and
his colleagues find MessrS. Baldwin,
Lloyd George and prominent men and
women in all walks of political life as
keen" about a naval agreement with
the United States as Prime Minister
monkey wrenches into the conference
machinery and will not begrudge Mac
donald a successful outcome.
The Earl of Birkenhead, who once
upon q time was popularity known as
"F. E." his pre-peerage name having
been Frederick E. Smith, is the latest
noble of the realm to enter the once
despised field of trade. Though Birk-
enhead has not ranked as particularly
interchangeable, he lately accepted the
Craftsmanship of the board of a huge
British investment trust which Is domi-
mated by American capital. Lord Birk-
enhead was lord chancellor of Great
Britain in one of the postwar cabinets
He is one of the acknowledged legal
best minds in the country. Did tradi
ton not forbid an ex-chancellor from
resuming law practice after sitting on
the woolsack, Birkenhead might COM
mand an income akin to those which
the foremost American corporation law
yers earn. A lord chancellor retireS on
life pension Of $4,000 a year. He
never goes back to private practice, but,
as Birkenhead has just exemplif1ed,
there seems to be no objection to his
going into non-legal business.
\ \ n X
Not long ago there was offered for
probate in the English law courts what
Is said to be the shortest will in the
English language. It consisted of three
words, "All for mother" The question
arose as to whether so simple a tesla
ment, which was a deathbed produc-
ton, outranked an earlier will made by
the testator. The courts ruled that It
did and an estate of over $4,000 was
probated under it.. The will was proved
and defended by well known London
solicitor, Harvey Clifton, who specializeS
in guiding American clients through
the mazes of British law.
= 4 \
Our Britain cousins are making Q