The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-10
LRan,sayMacD Donald Dies On Board Liner
CCOntinued from Page D

this banquet, Q year ago last night, that MRcDonald collapsed in his chair while his successor in the prime ministry, the present Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, was speaking. Heart disease was blamed for his death.
 Death Nc Surprise
 The few scant details that came from the liner said that MacDorl- aids end was peaceful. It was not expected but 1t came as no great surprise. For many months Mac- Donald had been deeply depressed. After turning over his prime min- istxy to Baldwin in 1885, Mcdonald had served as Lord president of the council. Last May, when Baldwin retired, Macdonald left public life.
 His death was of no political inl- portance and 1t was as an elder statesman that he was mourned. He continued in . sort of shadow leadership of the National Labor party = . handful of right wing labor men who support the coalition government and are regarded as bitter enemies by labor party men generally. It was even predicted that this party would not long sur vive him and that his own son. Malcolm, who is minister for the dominions in the cabinet migh soon turn conservative.
 Eye Sight Was Bad
 AlacDonalds eyesight had been bad for some years. He had over- worked all his life. He was con- vinced himself that he was going blind, after several operations which partly because he resumed work too soon - were not entirely successful.
 At the time he left home, week ago. for his cruise, Macdonald was regarded by many of his friends aS broken hearted. That he was de- pressed was obvious. But many oi his friends thought he regarded his life a failure. They saw him a; mourning the loss of political influ- ence, his repudiations by his former colleagues in the labor party, anc his fear that Europe was headed for the new war which he hao worked to prevent. His medica advisers had strongly recommended the South American cruise in hope that new scenes would resore hi: happiness.
 Youngest Daughter There
 Macdonald was accompanied bJ his youngest daughter Sheila. Hif son, Malcolm, the dominions secre- tary, was in Brussels attending the Far Eastern conference. Another son, Akashair, is travelling in the north of England. The only one oi his children at MacDonald's home in the Hampstead district was his favorite daughter, Ishbel.
 lshbel Mcdonald, long closely associated with her father in hts work, said:
 We have lost the most loving and understanding of fathers Though he was so strong in pur- pose, he always urged us to follow our own purposes"
 George Lansbury, for decades a co-leader with Macdonald in labor work, end one of those who repudi- ated him in 1881 when Macdonald formed a coalition cabinet, was one of the few .:;ho could be reached for comment immediately because news of MacDonald's death arrived here about midnight.
 Opponent Praises Him
 T am most shocked to learn oi his death," he said. Nov that the end has come we all realize the mans good actions, and forget the things on which we disagreed. We will all remember him as he WaS and forget altogether the tre- mendous differences which had sep arated us since 1881"
 Macdonald was Il. He was born in the two-room cottage of his cob bier father at Lossiemouth. Largely self-educated, he became a schoo teacher, when clerk, but in hli youth he soon interested himself 1T socialism and labor work.
 III 40UO MdCAOLldlN Wdo AAoV SASSS ed to the House of Commons.
 It was on the fateful night oi August, 1914, that Macdonald made one of the great decisions of hi! life. London was war crazy. Grea' crowds were standing outside par lament and Buckingham Palace nearby, clamoring for war. Mac Donald thought that the war wal wrong. Tall, gaunt, he rose in the House of Commons, alone in hos tile chamber and pleaded for peace
 Mcdonald Ostracized
 The result was that Macdonald was ostracized. There was no elec' ton until 1918 when he was over whelmingly, humiliatingly, defeated for reelection. Four years latel he came back. Soon he was leader of his party again and when labol formed it's first government in Jan' uary 1924, he, naturally, became prime minister. He did not have a majority but ruled with the sup port of the liberals. In October 1924, he was defeated, largely be- cause of dissension over policy to- ward Soviet Russia. Then he was minority leader until the second labor government was formed 1T 1929.