EXPRESSING OUR CONDOLENCES

A good many Americans, settling back after one of the most confusing elections in history, will find time to cast a casual glance "over across" to see how things measure up in today's elections in Great Britain.

America is in a state of feverish excitement over the coming elections--the elections, of course, which are being held in England. Anyway thee is to be a general election in England, and there ought to be some interest in its results among the serious minded voters of America. There will be scant interest in the question of whether the "Die Hards" will control the Conservative party, nor yet over the Labor program. The average American knows little or nothing of the various British political parties and issues. He will notice only one thing--whether Lloyd George is to return to power, or not. Even in England that is the all-important question--will the Old Man of Wales again be perched on England's shoulders? Most Americans would like to see him back in his old place.

A careful study of the British situation reveals three, or possibly four parties in the field; the Conservatives, the Lloyd-George Liberals, the Independent Liberals, and the Labor Party. The Conservatives advocate a protective tariff, and a conciliatory foreign policy Labor stands for Government control of railroads and mines, and a more steeply-graduated income tax. Both branches of Liberals are betwixt and between. From these parties the British press is unanimous in predicting a greater return of Conservatives and Laborites, than of Lloyd-Georgians; and with this forecast the ex-premier agrees. He has been shaping his policy accordingly. He thinks--and he is usually right--that the Conservatives will fail to secure a majority, and that they will need the votes of this won minority party. Then Lloyd-George will be the power behind the premier; and later, of course, he may even be premier again, if he is sufficiently urged.

In any event Lloyd George will have a hard fight ahead of him. Most Americans will offer hearty condolences--not because he has a hard fight, for such a thing he has always loved--Americans will condole with him because he could not have been born in the United States. In the case he would probably have had more fights, and even more exciting ones.

If the writer of the communication attributing the University's recent defeat in football to weakness in the coaching staff will send his name and address to this office we shall be glad to print his letter. The CRIMSON makes it a rule never to publish anonymous communications.