Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
Baldwin Wins Bout
With tEPress Lords
~ a. q. GARDINER.


| LONDON, March 21.-The event of
the week in England has been the sem
! sational by-electton Of the blue-Stock-
| ing of st. Georges district in West
] minister. which resulted Thursday in a
triumphant victory for Stanley Bald
win over the Beaverbrook- Rothermere
press.
This battle was the elimination OF a
prolonged vendetta against Baldwin
whose cardinal sin has been his refusal
to take the two press lords into his
counsels and make them unodicial die
tators Of the Conservative party.
y
Lords Beaverbrook and Rothermere,
who control by an overwhelming pre-
dominance the press Of the metropolis,
organized rival parties, with the view of
compelling the caucus OF the Conserva-
tive party TO denounce the leadership
Of Baldwin and adopt a nominee Of
their own choice. The Westminster
seat, which is one Of the most conserva-
| tive in the country, offered q perfect
stage for the trial by combat, In which,
behind the nominal candidates, the real
issue was whether Lord Beaverbrook.
with Lord Rothermere as faithful hot
tie holder, or Baldwin, as the nominee
OF the party machine, should lead the
Conservatives.
The election was fought by what is
called the "Beavermere" press with un-
exampled ferocity. AS the new states
man remarks, 1t Is no longer possible
for England to point the finger Of scorn
at the political methods Of Big Bill"
Thompson Of Chicago. The frenzied
| performances Of Lord Beaverbrook COM
PEELED Baldwin himself to take the field,
q proceeding In the case Of q former
premier unparalleled In q by-election.
His shattering exposure of the methods
OF the "Beavermere" press and his de-
nunciation Of the attempt to establish
q newspaper dictatorship effectuaIly
turned the tide Of the battle.
In the later stage Of the struggle the
press lords sought TO raise mob opinion
was helping the Labor government sur
render to India, and the press was
plastered with the slogan, "Gandhi Is
watching st. Georges" accompanied
by daily portraits Of Gandhi in atti-
tudes and attire calculated to appeal
to the passions Of the ignorant. This
introduction Of the indian issue into
party conflict was the more mis-
chievous because undoubtedly a large
element in the Conservative party is
hostile TO Baldwin'S statesmanlike in
dorsement OF the government policy in
regard TO India. But this strategy
failed to obscure the real issue of the
election, which was, as Baldwin said,
whether the press should have power
without responsibility, and the crush
ing defeat Of Lord Beaverbrook's cam
didate Is generally hailed as the final
blow to the attempted domination Of
the public life of the country by the
most illiterate and inf1ammatory sec
ton OF the British press. AL response
BILE opinion, regardless Of party, Is pro-
foundly relieved by the victory for the
eclipse Of the sinister influence of Lord
Beaverbrook In the press of the country.
X X
The incident has entirely rehabili-
tated Baldwin and consolidated the
Conservative party at q most critical
moment, for the government this week
sustained another defeat and on the
present basis its existence is regarded
as doomed Premier MacDonald's de-
feat was due In part TO disanection
within the LABOR party, but chiefly
to the increasing GOODNESS of q section
OF the Liberal party. This has brought
crisis Of that party-Lloyd George
with the majority standing for mainte-
nance Of the Labor government in
power and Sir John Simon's section
for forcing an appeal to the country:
for next Tuesday to decide.
It is rumored that Lloyd George IS
willing to. enter the government and
undoubtedly he Is now highly popular
with the Labor back benches, but the
writer questions the possibility that he
and Macdonald will run in harness.
A more probable solution Is an agree
ment by the Liberals to support the
government II Macdonald Is willing
to cease the introduction of legislation
which the Liberals are unable to In
dorse. II this Is practicable the gov
eminent may survive over the Sum-
ner, but Macdonald is impatient Of
restraints and whan highly wrought
up by d multitudinous opposition he is
disposed TO damn the consequences.
He brought the previous labor gov
eminent to an end in a ht of inn
patience, and symptoms are not want
ing that he, may repeat history now
hR declinin& to paR the price dnand-