Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-02
MCDONALD IS SEEN
REGA|N|NG FAVOR
Trade Union Heads Blamed
by Members for Split
With Premier.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, September 2.-The tide OF
opposition against Prime Minister Mac
Donald and his parliamentary economy
program was believe by some newspa-
pers today to be turning in his favor.
They noted increasing signs that
many who followed the premier with
devotion in years past are experiencing
heartburnings over the split in the
Labor party and what has been de-
scribed as the dictation Of trade union
ism to Socialism.
Macdonald receives daily letters OF
sympathy and encouragement from
many parts of the country, and some
of them are from Iaborites who 1ndl-
cate that. while they favor his action to
balance the budget, they are compelled
as trade unionists to follow the direc-
lions of their organizations.
Suggest New Party.
Some Lamorite candidates for the
next election have written to assure
him that he can count on their ao-
herence and suggesting the formation
of a new party to oppose the old Labor
machine. An unnamed Laborite mem
Der of Parliament was quoted by the
Daily Express as saying he had 1ouno
that nine-tentils of his local executive
agreed with MacDonald's program, out
could not openly support him.
The idea is current among FRIENDS
of the new government that when Par
lament meets number CT Laoorlte
members hitherto believed to be al
tached to Arthur Henderson's banner
will declare themselves supporters OF
the prime minister.
Local authorities are following the
governments lead in starting to revise
expenditures in the direction OF econ
omy. The London County Counch,
largest local authority IN Great brltaln'
is holding up projects involving the OUT
Law of public money and various other
London boroughs are deferring proposed
building schemes.
Such important provincial cities as
Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Nottingham
Portsmouth, Plymouth, Southampton
and Derby, as we'll as smaller towns, are
dropping or deferring costly plans 1or
expenditures on public buildings, parks
and other ventures.
Macdonald informed his Seaman
constituents today that he proposes 10
retain his parliamentary seat for that
constituency at least until he has con-
cluded his task of setting British
finances to rights.
Position Is Determined.
In the course of letter to the Sea-
ham Labor party which had demanded
his resignation Mr.. Macdonald said:
ANY action I may take in response
to any resolution passed will be only
after I have finished the duty which I
am now undertaking and not before.
Il regret very much that without
knowing any of the facts Seaman Har-
boris Deputies have passed the resolu-
ton which you have communicated.
However great the misunderstanding
may be and however much supernclal
observers may consider that my i'm
mediate colleagues and I have departed
from our principles, our position has
been dictated by the determination to
keep standards of living, unemployment
pay and such like at the maximum pos
sible.
IF you are discussing these things
new, free of collapse and panic, you
owe this solely to my colleagues and
myself who took the action which we
did last week.
I'VE are determined that the sacri-
flee which for the moment is necessary
shall be spread as eqWtably as human
ingenuity can dc it, and If we are COM
pelled to ask the unemployed to accept
conditions which are above their con-
ditions in 1929 it is because We wish to
protect them against a deterioration
which would be of real substance and
amount to truly tragic hardships.
1T may be difficult for you to recog-
rize that, but such is the case and be-
fore long you will know 1T.
Duty Held Imperative.
"The spirit of the letter which I
wrote you some days ago is still my
spirit, and I wish to repeat that + put
myself in your hands. In view Of one
part of your resolution, I desire to make
1t perfectly clear to you, however that
shall not under any circumstances
carry out the above intention. while it
involves assertion Of a duty which
&C nsider to be imperative to protect the
great mass of wage earners In this coun-
try from serious disaster"
Mr. MacDonald's letter, addressed to
william Ccxon. secretary Of the Sea-
ham Labor party, said he would like to
be present at Seaman Harbor on Septem-
Der IL, when the local Labor party
members act upon the resolution de-
manding his resignation, but doubted
whether the pressure Of his work would
&&E3A{&&ktn -. 4 IL.