After dealing somewhat superficially with a few of the difficulties
in the Bill, Mr. Lloyd George made some observa- tions as to its opponents. He complained especially of the attitude of Mr. Balfour, who "would not lift a finger to help it along, but would not accept the responsibility of killing it." Mr. Lloyd George added that, although his measure was an honest attempt to call on the working classes for a fair share of contributions, " the people who are always flaunting the honesty of their opinions were the first to join with the extremist Socialists" to embarrass and hinder him. Tut in spite of this opposition, declared Mr. Lloyd George, amid the greatest enthusiasm, "the Bill is going through this year. I will fight it through or I will fall." People had appealed to him to wait. " Wait for whom P Wait for what P Why are we to wait ? Are we to tarry because the Daily Mail and the Spectator and Mr. Philip Snowden are in no particular hurry P" Although the Bill had been under discussion for six months, he had not yet received a practical suggestion from any of the three. We have dealt with the speech elsewhere, but must say here that it strikes us as the utterance of a frightened man—a man who is in deadly fear that he may be going to fail. People do not have resort to such over-emphasis and screaming exaggeration unless they feel their position is precarious.
Previous page
