Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23

BY the Associated Press.
The second Laborite ministry In
British history, which came into power
after the general election in 1929, has
had life of almost continual crises.
Frequently it has succeeded in OBJ
tanning support In the House OF Com
mons with only the narrowest of mar
gins. Its tenure was made the more
uneasy by the fact that 1t never has
had majority, but had been forced TO
continue under suffrance by the Lib
erals, who sided with the Laborites
rather than go over to the Conservative
side.
Ramsay MacDonalds second Labor
lite government came into power June 4,
1923, with 287 supporters In the House
Of Commons against go for the Con-
sentative and SO for the Liberals.
On December 2, 1929, the ministry
had its first narrow escape from de-
feat, slipping through with a majority
Of Is in a vote on the widows pension
bill. February 81, $780, the coal mines
bill was pushed through with only 8
votes to spare. Two weeks later the
government was defeated by votes but
did not resign. Similar crises were
averted in April, July, December and
June of 1881.
Premier's Parents Were Poor.
Despite this history OF narrow escapes
the Labor cabinet had assumed power
under considerably more promising con-
ditions than those which faced Prime
Minister Macdonald when he first
headed the government in 1924. At
that tine there we're numerous predic-
tons the empire would topple under
the weight of Socialism, but Great
GfcraVaroI 7 81.
ment was much like any other and
the traditions of the empire were prop
erly maintained
Mr.. Macdonald, born of poor parents
in the little fishing village of Lossie-
mouth, Scotland, entered his second
ministry with program of social and
political reforms. He was determined
to deal with the problem of unemploy-
ment, to reduce armanents, to evacuate
the Rhineland and to effect closer CO.
operation with the League of Nations.
In the international field the prime
minister carried out many OF mis- prof.
ects. Trade relations with Soviet Rus
STA were renewed. The last British
soldier left Germany. The London five
power conference early in 1890 at
tackled the problem of disarmament.
In domestic and empire matters Mr.
Macdonald has had his hands full
with such problems as unemployment
and the dole, mine strikes, the trouble
some economic relations between Eng
land and the dominions, and India
While the present crisis was develop
ing the Indian difficulties again came to
head with the refusal of Mahatna
Gandhi to attend the impending second
round table conference in London.
Went to Parliament in 1905.
The Scottish statesman who has had
to deal with these various problems
has been Socialist all his political
career. He received an elementary edu-
cation, and at the age of Is went to
London, where he got a Job as a clerk.
Nights he studied
He was elected to Parliament in 1906.
and five years later was leader of the
Labor party in the House of Commons.
He opposed Englands participation in
the war and became so unpopular that
he resigned his leadership In 1918 he
lost his House of Commons seat. Four
years later he returned to head the |
opposition. and in 1924 he formed the
first Labor cabinet, which lasted less
than 10 months.
Stanley Baldwin headed a Conserva- /
tive cabinet which was in power be-
tween the two Macdonald administra-
tions, and 1t is to him the King will |
turn in the event the present difficulties |