Mr. George

(BRITISH COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS)

Mr. George

The past week saw Mr. Lloyd George in Chicago, Springfield, St. Louis, Louisville, Indianapolis.

Chicago. After one luncheon speech (Chamber of Commerce), he became possessed of a fever, had to cancel the rest of his program.

At the luncheon was Count Apponyi, veteran Hungarian statesman now touring the U. S. Said he: "I do not know whether you remember me?" Retorted Mr. George: "Oh, hello, hello. Of course I do!"

In the afternoon Dame Lloyd George substituted for her husband by speaking at the Orchestra Hall instead of attending a tea. Said she: "I'm a very poor substitute, but we Welsh people are quick witted, so I know you'll adapt yourselves to this change and make the best of it." The audience, in the act of leaving when they heard of Mr. George's absence, cheered and resumed their seats. Continued Dame George:

"When we planned this trip, I knew that the American people would be kind, but I was afraid they would kill him with kindness. They won't do that, but he must take it easy. ... In a few weeks you women will be forwarded a declaration started by the women of Wales, asking all English-speaking women to unite to work for international peace. If we combine together in the interests of peace and brotherhood we women would be a great power. And we all want peace."

Springfield. Britain's War Premier visited the shrine of America's Civil War President. Upon the sarcophagus he laid a wreath bearing an inscription: "A humble and reverent homage to the memory of one of the world's greatest men.

"Lloyd George, Oct. 18, 1923."

This was written by the ex-Premier on a desk used by President Lincoln.

After some moments of silence Mr. George said:

"He was the greatest man that ever grew up on this American continent. He is growing, too. He grows. Yes, he grows. I have just been reading of the time he had. I read one of the most recent books on Lincoln two years ago. It was rather an account of the trouble he had with Generals and politicians during the war. They were worse than mine. They were."

At the old Lincoln home maintained by the State of Illinois, Mr. George, his wife and daughter were received by Miss Mary Edwards Brown, a grandniece of President Lincoln's wife and custodian of the home.

Miss Brown: "There stands the sofa upon which Mr. Lincoln courted his wife."

Dame Margaret and Miss Megan viewed it with apparent interest, but Mr. George turned to a glass case where several Lincoln relics reposed.

Miss Brown: "They lived in the best hotel in town and paid $4 a week for room and board."

L. G.: "How extravagant for a young man just married!"

Miss Brown: "Sit down at Lincoln's desk and sign."

Before leaving the Lincoln home, Dame Lloyd George was presented with her favorite picture of the famous President, the frame of which was made of wood taken from the floor of his bedroom.

According to Springfieldites Mr. George received a greater welcome there than did King Albert of Belgium, Clemenceau, Foch, Pershing.

St. Louis. It came to Mr. George's notice that Colonel Dupont, French Military Attache, who was in St. Louis on a tour, had said at a meeting of the Reserve Officers' Association:

"May the Lord protect us from our friends. . . . Tomorrow you are going to hear from one of our friends."

Mr. George "with fire flashing in his eye," read a clipping from a St. Louis newspaper in which the remarks of the French officer were reported. He declared that he and his party were friendly to France and that he had proved in four years of labor, during which he had used every gift that God had given him, that he was a sincere friend of France. Continuing, he said:

"I sincerely wish that the gallant officer had not used that phrase. I never heard that prayer between 1914 and 1918. But I shall never forget the agonized prayer of the French Ambassador to his friends in England to come to the help of France. We went within 24 or 48 hours. Why, 900,000 dead from the British Empire are scattered widely through military graveyards all over France and Flanders in evidence of England's friendship for France, and 1,300,000 of our best working men are now eating the bread of charity in England because we went to the aid of France in her hour of agony."

Referring to a passage in Colonel Dupont's speech in which he declared he had proof that Germany possessed hoarded resources hidden away from the French, Mr. George said:

"It is no use talking like that. If Germany is capable of paying she ought to pay--to pay to the limit of her ability. There can be no doubt regarding that on any principle of civilized jurisprudence But are we going to use bayonets to rip open purses or prod haystacks with sabres to find gold? There are better means of finding out than that."

Louisville. Here Mr. George and his party were the guests of Judge Bingham. Most of his time was taken up playing golf when he was not resting. To newspaper correspondents he blamed Premier Poincare for the present condition of Germany--a condition which he believed would lead to the disintegration of the Reich.

Indianapolis. Governor McCray and the Hoosier Senators (Watson and Ralston) headed Indiana's receiving line. Governor Neff of Texas assisted. Remembering he was at the national headquarters of the American Legion, Mr. George sounded martial notes in his speech.

Cleveland was the next stop.

Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson extended an invitation for the Georges' Washington stay.