THE LIONS' DEN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 83, 5 October 1931, Page 7

THE LIONS' DEN

MACDONALD AT SEAHANI

CREED AND THE CRISIS

LONDON, 3rd October. ' Though Mr. Bamsay Mac Donald subsequently testified to his pleasure at his reception in Seaham, Mr. W. Or. Coxon, the local Labour Party secretary, who had received a reminder from headquarters that nobody expelled from the -party could be nominated for election, announced after, the meeting that the party adhered to its decision to secure another representative.,' Mr. Mac Donald, who'wore a red carnation buttonhole, smilingly stepped out oi' a motor-car to face an assemblage of 100 delegates, over whom presided Mr. Thomas Nelson, a working miner. ■■■-■■-. Police reinforcements, whose pre-1 aence was due to rumour* of a! Com-.

munist demonstration, which did not! materialise, placed a cordon round the car. Threo thousand outside the hall applauded and hooted, Mr. Mac Donald raising his hat in response, this bringing further shouts of: "Good old Mac." Murmurs lapsed into silence as.tho Prime Minister shook hands with Mr; Nelson, nodded to Mr. Ooxon, and mounted the platform pale but determined to expound the causes of the crisis. He concluded by saying:— "I ha.ye been a lifelong Socialist, and shall always remain one. The national emergency compelled mo to. take the steps I did. The classes I represent would have boen the first to suffer.if the crisis had not l>een met." The walls of the building still bore the 1929 election placards: "Vote for Mac Donald." Mr. Mac Donald, who declined to say whether he would again contest the Seaham seat, had an audience with His Majesty this morning. He is spending the week-end quietly in the country.

Liberal meetings and consultations are continuing during the week-end.