Evening star., 1940-03-29
Lloyd George Begins
51st Year in
Commons tuesday.
Elderly Stotesmon's
Capacity for Work
As Greet as Ever .
BY DREW MIDDLETON,

AAsoc1ateo fEesS ForelSn Correspondent.
LoNDoN.-rfty years ago March
a. stocky, young Wekhman
stamped briskly into Parliament
and took his seat for the first time.
He was David Lloyd George. Apart
from his Liberal constituents In
Caernarvon, Wales, few knew the
man or the name.
When Parliament comes back from
its Easter recess Tuesday, the wiz
ard Of Wales, white named but still
brisk, will march into Parliament
to start his 51st year in Commons.
Between the ambitious youngster OF
1890 and 1940's polished politician
lie so years Of conflict and labor,
years in which he guided an empire
through the cruelest years Of a cruel
war, in which, with Clemenceau,
Wilson and Orlando, he made the
peace that failed.
The men who ruled the British
Empire on that far-off day when
Lloyd George at % entered Com
mons are names in history now.
William Ewart Gladstone was
shortly to become Prime Minister
for the third time. Lord Randolph
Churchill. brilliant father of pre-
cocious 16-year-old Winston, was
CVhancellor of the Exchequer This
was mighty empire, unrivaled, un-
challenged in the SD year Of VIC
torias reign.
Speeches Get Close Attention.
Neville Chamberlain had been q
nine days before. His family, al
ready famous for brains and bril-
lance. was sending him to the
Bahamas to start business career.
Franklin Roosevelt was 8. Adolf
Hitler was not year old. Mussolini
was I.
Today when Lloyd George at 70
rises to speak in Commons, there is
an expectant hush, a turning of
heads that pays tribute not alone
to his past but to his present posi-
ton as the most severe, outspoken
and potent critic in the govern
ment's opposition.
Even the continuous coughing of
Commons dies when he starts to
speak. Not even Churchill has so
rapt an audience. The white head
jerks back and forth to emphasize
his words. The outstretched arm
with its pointing figure chastises
a government minister, points out
weak spots of governmental pro-
grams. The voice is full and strong.
the mind penetrating and full of
blunt Welsh wit.
The government listens with con-
slderation. For Lloyd George is far
more than the member for Caernar-
Won. He represents now, in the
twilight Of a distinguished career,
the great tradition of England; the
England that fought through the
first World War and brought it to a
victorious conclusion. In this
doughty old fighter is some of the
salt stuff of the Elizabethans, much
OF the vigor and grand proportions
of Victoria's era.
Talking to him recently I noticed
he kept saying we" asked what
we" stood for.
Young man." he. said, mo man
who has ever been Prime Minister
OF England ever means anything
but Britain when he says we"
vigor Still Unabated.
The years have failed to abate his
vigor. He still stumps across the
craggy Welsh hills with his shep-
herds crook in his hand and his
shepherds plaid over his shoulders.
He loves as dearly as ever the rough
and tumble of British politics. He
still likes good food and-like
Churchill-the sound of his own
voice in good conversation. His
capacity for work is as high as ever.
He rises, as always, at g. Only last
year he completed the last volume
Of his World War memoirs.
His Eden" Homburg tilted on his
still abundant locks, he can be seen
daily marching along Whitehall,
nodding to friends and enemies.
The outbreak of war found Lloyd
George, Prime Minister and First
Lord of the Treasury from 1916 to
1922, Secretary of State for War
Q9l6), Minister Of Munitions Q9l5-
1916, Chancellor of the Exchequer
and president of the Board of Trade
simple M. P.
Says Criticism Won War.
There were widespread demands
that he be included In the cabinet.
Even the conservative Times gently
spoke on his behalf. But from his