Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-11
Change in Party Arguments
A Possibility in Great Britain

Discouraging problems are believed
by Americans TO be ahead Of the Labor
administration in Great Britain, as q
new Parliament session is opened. Sig
nifacance is seen in the statement from
the throne, representing Premier Mac
Donaid's position, in favor of "a meas
ure of electoral reform" This is in
terpreted as Offering the possibility of
proportional representation. with an
opportunity for the Liberals to increase
their strength. New alignmentS are
believed possible, while it is thought
by some observers that present difh-
culties are such that the individual par
ties may see no advantage in taking
control of the government.
ut may occur to LaboriteS," says the
New York Sun, that the position OF
embarrassment they occupy is not at
all an enviable one and that, for the
time being, Conservatives and Liberals
alike may prefer to mark time rather
than risk a general election that would
vote them into unwanted power. For
the Conservatives, in particular, with
the greater likelihood OF winning, a
general election might prove particu-
larly embarrassing.
"Once more the enemies Of the Labor
government are raising the battle cry
against the gray-haired Scot in Down.
ing street, and once more they are
afraid to push their advantage and GUST
the government" concludes the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer, with the suggestion
that "they are afraid because they
haven't anything better to Offer" and
the comment that meanwhile the King
opens Parliament with speech, the
keynote of which is, Cheer up, 1t might
be worse !"
address," according to the Kalamazoo
Gazette, "has led British political OBJ
servers to suspect that the Labor adj
miniStration would not be ayerse 10
a working alliance with the Liberals.
His statement was interpreted,
naturally enough, as hint OF pro-
portional representation, : Prime
Minister MacDonaId'% continues the
Gazette, "and his colleagues have usual
ly been contented with an attitude of
benevolent neutrality on the part OF
the Lloyd George group, although at
times they have found Liberal as
sistance extremely valuable. 1t Is nat
ural that under the stress of present
difficulties, with the Conservatives bent
upon topping them from power at the
first good opportunity, the Laborites
should welcome any aid which the
Liberals may be ready to lend. un-
employment, tariff problems and strain
ed relations between Great Britain and
India have added to the Labor admins
tration's troubles"
a -
"For the sake of a fairer representa-
ton" declares the Syracuse Herald, "the
Labor government has now given favor
able heed TO the long-continued demand
of LLOYD George and his followers for q
reform of the electoral process, or rather
Of the legislative apportionment that will
correct or diminish what they call a
glaring discrimination. The principal
plan urged by the Liberals Is already
familiar In continental countries and in
some cities of our own country, as pro-
portional representation. When
ever the proportional system has been
applied in this country, 1t has revealed
some strange and confusing results
Whether It is suited to the British tenn
per remains to be seen. For one thing, 1t
would be likely to encourageean addition
to party groupings, after the fashion Of
the electoral complications on the con-
tinent. Again, It would give the Com
rnunists and other mischievous Cults a
parliamentary representation denied to
them under the present simple system of
plurality election"
1.-THE Liberal strategy" thinks the
Richmond Newsletter, "has been cau-
tsously to bring the Labor party TO con-
sent to proportional representation in
parliamentary elections In return for a
pledge Of support on certain legislation
in the present Parliament. Lloyd George
has been nnaneuvering in this direction,
but he has tailed 70 win any promise
from Macponaid."