At Loughborough last Saturday Sir Maurice Levy referred again to
the message which he telephoned to Leicester in support of the Liberal candidate at the by-election, and which was repudiated by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. He explained that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald had asked him whether he bad described the message as having been "issued by the executive of the Labour Party," and had said that a simple answer would settle the whole question. He had given a simple answer—" No," yet Mr. MacDonald had now shifted his position and attacked him again on the ground that he had betrayed confidences. "This also is a lie," said Sir Maurice Levy, 'sand Mr. Ramsay MacDonald knows it is a lie." One of the Labour members, after a conference with Mr. MacDonald at the House of Commons, had actually sought him (Sir M. Levy) out, and had drawn up the message for him to send to Leicester, discussing with him whether it should be telegraphed or telephoned. Sir M. Levy added : "There has been despicable trickery and contemptible tactics, but I am willing to leave my constituents in the Loughborough Division, who have known me for thirteen years, and my fellow-townsmen in Leicester, who have known me all my life, to decide at whose door the dishonour lies." Surely Mr. Ramsay MacDonald will not sit down under this, and make no attempt to show that the charges of mendacity thus brought against him are false. Sir M. Levy has not made his charges under the privilege of Parliament, but openly, and where be can be called on to substantiate them. If be cannot substantiate them lie should be made to pay the penalty. Whatever may be the final outcome no one can accuse him of any want of candour or of being afraid of saying what he thinks without fear or favour.
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