A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK W HEN Christopher Addison, then unknown in the
political world, decided to run for Parliament in the first decade of the Century he went to R. C. Hawkin, secretary of the Eighty Club, and offered to take the most difficult seat in London and stick to it till he won it. He took Hoxton, a sticky enough spot. How long he nursed it I am not sure, but he won it for the Liberals in 1910 and held it for ten years. In the middle of the ten he was Minister of Munitions in Lloyd George's Coalition Govern- ment. While holding that office he had to deal with an awkward strike of munition-workers, and finally settled it after discussion with the men's leaders on a Saturday morning. He immediately rang up the Prime Minister at Downing Street to tell him the good news. "Splendid," said L. G., adding that he would like to shake hands with the men if they were still there. They ;were, and Dr. Addison took them across to No. 10. After a few minutes' conversation the men left, and L. G. said'he hoped the Minister was gOing to get a good week-end's rest. Yes, said the Minister, he was going right off as soon as he had got out a communiqué on the settlement. Oh, don't bother about that, said the P.M.; we'll see to it. With grateful thanks Addison departed for the country. The next morning he read the com- muniqué in the Sunday papers. It began: "After a conversation between the Prime Minister and the men's leaders at 10 Downing Street . . ." The Minister returned furious and demanded a correction ; the Prime Minister said of course it was a mistake, and a private notice question in the House was arranged to enable him to state the facts. •Such is the story as I heard it at the time. Lord Addison confirmed it in all essentials a year or two ago.
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