Mr. Lloyd George in Leeds last Saturday addressed a large
and enthusiastic audience, speaking with pride, and not unjustifiable self-satisfaction, on the second anniversary of his summons to serve as Prime Minister, as " the only Minister in Europe who has been a Minister from the first day of the war to this hour." He reviewed
the grave military and political anxieties of December, 1916, and the reorganization of the Government, in which process there was "no scramble for the chief place " ; the reinforcing of the Govern- ment by business men, making "a very good mixture " ; the collaring and gradual suppression of the submarine menace ; the working up of our food supplies ; the gallantry and patient en- durance of all naval ranks and ratings ; the justification of our "side-shows," lacking which the war" would not yet be over." Then he claimed credit for the social reforms guaranteed by the Women's Franchise Act, the Education Acts, and the betterment of the wages paid to agricultural workers, before summarizing the new tasks ahead—land settlement and improved transport. His most vivid phrase (referring to the European cataclysm) seemed to be drawn from Isaiah and Lord Northcliffe "Do you think God does things of that kind to fill the columns of the evening papers ? "
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