B Y THE S A M E A U THOR . SS S OF B K - R CONF E ION A OO LOVE . — The Boo k m an says As a bo o k-lo ve r h e is He d li h th e enu n e thi . is e tfull eu g i ng . g y th usmstic and hi s e nth usi asm is c o nta io u , g s . THE G OF EN E R Y LOVE . A M O EM IR . — The British Weekly says A bo o k o f s ta ndard m e ri t written with e r ec a , p f t t ste and true literar ki ll y s . THE S THE B OULS O F RAV E . The Christi a n A dvocate says - Much h as be e n writte n abo ut th e law o f sacrifi ce in co n n ectio n with th e war but we hi nk no thi n , , t , g so im a inati v c e t so s iri al and cri ural g , y p tu S pt as th s DAV ID D H n . O G G C Th e Rt. o O P. LL Y E R E, , THE ‘ N EW ' LLOYD GEORGE AN D THE OL D . W W E . ALTERS % A T O T S O L o r m e AV THE G Y O F U H R HE U S BR E , ENER C I O A O O K- LOV Erc L OV O F O F . E , N ESS NS B ER , M a ny perso ns hold lka t the so -called new Lloyd George s the old o d Ge r i a w r c a - ~ 1LY P . i simply Ll y o ge n a lo k . DA RESS - r t m o t S MOLL TT. True p at io i s is f no p ar y . E LO NDON % O S E P H O H N S O N J J , HO ORN HAL L LB , no . AT RY PREF O NOTE . I A M indebted in many directions . To the Authors of books , articles , etc . , touching the life and personality of the Subject of this little I volume should like to convey special thanks , and would mention in particular Mr . Herbert Du Parcq , Mr . Beriah Evans , Dr . Charles lea . Saro . , Mr A G Gardiner , Mr J F Mar c o ssan . , Mr Lewis R Freeman , and Mr Frank il t D no . I am also indebted to various kind friends , who , a by the spoken word and other means , h ve helped in the writing of these pa ges . ‘ ’ As r t The w L lo Geor e egards the itle , yd g , it is interesting to recall Robert Louis Steven son ’ s playful remark Man is a creature who lives not upon bread alone , but principally by ” - arte rs catch words . In certain u much has ‘ ’ TO been heard of the New loyd George . what extent the title is justified , as applied in a critical sense , rests with the judgment of the reader . It should be a dded that pen wa s fir st put to o r 1 1 n these pages early in Oct b e , 9 5 . S i ce then s many fresh fears and uSpicio n s have arisen . The reader who would be just in his j udgment t on he e . should rea d to la st page , and b y d E. W . W . 44 2065 2 CONTENTS . PACE Introductory Between the Mountainsand the Sea m Approaching Maiih o o d Advocate Early Battles fOr Freedom Matters Political The Orator Marriage and First Election ” Westminster Stormy Sessions A Free Church for a Free People The Cold Shades of Opposition The South African Wa r Little Brother of the Poor Home Life Wide Authority The Great European War Minister of Munitions The Highest Interests of Labour Through Terror to Triumph % A Story of Progress Adverse Criticism The Unseen Future INTRODUCTORY. CHAPTER I . INTRODUCTORY . You would play upo n m e you would seem to know my stops yo u wou ld pluck o ut the heart of my mystery you wou ld r m st n o te to the to o m m s sound m e f o the lo we p f y co pas . S K l P . Ham et Act I I I . 2 HA ES EARE , , , C l v v - FOR IBLE , lively, rea istic , i id, that was our first impression of David Lloyd George . The impression was made some years before he - became world famous . He was showing two friends over the House at the time , and impressed all who witnessed the scene with his remarkable enthusiasm . It seemed , indeed , as though to him at the moment the House of Commons was the whole world and the two friends the only inhabitants , so thoroughly did he enter into his task . A thorough man And to thoroughness must be added unusual gifts of hi courage and tenacity . On s first entry into Parliament it was clear to men of discernment that a great future awaited him . ” Yes , here , Mr . A . G . Gardiner wrote some years back in the Daily Na e s here was the it s ro potentiality of politics , and here , too , mance . My mind turned to that little se a village between the mountains and the . - I saw the kindly old uncle , boot maker and local ( U ) % ” G rz THE N EW LLOYD GEOR E . preacher, worrying out the declensions and the irregu lar verbs of a strange tongue in order to saw pave the path of the boy to the law . I the - ualifi ed hi s boy of twenty one a Solicitor , with % htin foot on the ladder , g g the battle of the village folk against the tyranny of the parson , who refused the dying wish of a Dissenter to be ’ buried in his child s grave . Bury him where ’ he wished to be , said young Lloyd George , strong in the law , but if the gate is locked , ’ Old break down the gate . And the man was l ’ buried in his chi d s grave , and solemn Judges in London pronounced a solemn verdict in saw support of the young Hampden . I him , still little more than a lad , leaping into the ring and challenging the s quire of the village for the — possession of the Carnarvon Boroughs chal i lenging him and beating him . I saw him , w th nothing but his native wit and hi s high soaring courage to help him , flashing into the great world of politics , risking his fortune and even hi s e s life in support of an unpopular cause , caping from Birmingham Town Hall in the clothes of a policeman , his name the symbol of fierce enthusiasms and fierce hates . And then saw I him , transformed from the brilliant free lance into the serious statesman , the head of a great department , handling large problems of government with easy mastery , moving great - merchant princes like pawns on a chess board , winning golden opinions from all sides , his name always on the lips of the world , but no longer in — ” hate but rather with wonder and admiration . The secret of his power is obvious to all . I INTRODUCTORY . 3 Indeed , it is said that he wears his heart upon his . sleeve Above all , is he hopeful and coura % eo us . g The bigger the task , the better he i likes it the h gher the stakes , the more heroic his play . He never fears to put his fate to the all . touch , and will cheerfully risk his on a throw He has not only the eye for the big occasion and the courage that rises to it % he has the ” instinct for the big foe . But , there is surely, his a rich store of discretion at the back of valour . Were it otherwise he would have failed many Has he a le % times , and failed deplorably . f i d Rather has he the valour that springs from sound j udgm a i t and a sure consciousness of the power to carry every task he undertakes to a successful end . He is at the bottom , as Mr . Gardiner writes , the most subtle , the most resolute , and the . has most wilful force in politics He passion , but it is controlled . It does not burn with the deep spiritual fire of Gladstone . It flashes and sparkles . It is an instrument that is used , not an O bsession of the soul . You feel that it can ” be put aside as adroitly as it is taken up . That he is a steadfast man goes without saying . Having once put his hand to the . hi s plough , he does not look back Knowing ability to cut a straight furrow , he goes straight ahead , sure of eye and hand . And the fire within him , whether or no it be of the nature r that burnt in the g eat soul of Gladstone , is certainly an undying fire . Sparks may shoot u — forth , flames may leap p the heat and force may lead some men to imagine that the fire % ” 1 4 THE NEW LLOYD GEORGE . must burn to ashes , but the warmth and the glow remain . % Again , it has been said that he has the swiftest mind in p o litics It is a mind that carries no impedimenta .