Picture Pow-Wow

Certain M.P.'s were astonished to find a portait of Lady Astor by the renowned artist, Sims, hanging on the wall by the House of Commons staircase. This picture shows the first lady M.P. being introduced into Parliament by ex-Premiers Arthur Balfour (now Lord Balfour) and David L. George. In the Distinguished Stangers' Gallery are seated, with appreciative smiles, Lord Astor and John W. Davis, erstwhile U. S. Ambassador to Britain, now Democratic nominee for the Presidency of the U. S. Strange murmurs were heard among the masculine members of the House. One hundred M.P.'s, male, signed a petition to Premier MacDonald asking that pictures of living subjects of His Majesty should not be hung in the Houses of Parliament without Parliament's consent. In the Chamber of the House, the joft murmurs grew to audible agitation. Thomas Johnston, Laborite, asked by whose authority the picture had been hung. The Right Hon. F. W. Jowett, First Commissioner of Works, answered that permission to hang the picture was given by his Conservative predecessor, Sir John Baird. He assured the House that its present position could not be regarded as permanent and that members would be given an opportunity to express their approval or 'disapproval before a final decision was reached. Considerable commotion was provoked by these statements--some M.P.'s championing Lady Astor, others openly against her. Finally, the discussion was ended by Premier MacDonald, who said: " Obviously, this is a matter which ought to be dealt with in the most decent and proper way possible. We will do our best to do that." The press was divided in its sentiments. The most pertinent comment came from "Londoner," who conducts a column, known as "Daily Causerie," in The Evening Standard. Said he: " Why not have Lloyd George introducing the people's budget in 1909 or Lord Birkenhead's first speech in Commons in 1906? Surely Miss Margaret Bondfield taking her seat on the front bench as the first woman member of the Government would-be an even better subject for painting. . . . "The whole business strikes me as a piece of preposterous vanity. On looking at the picture, I perceive some strange details in it. Lord Astor is portrayed sitting in the gallery. Is it not very unfair to leave out the children from this apotheosis of the House of Astor? They would have been just as much interested as their father. The American Ambassador also beams on the scene--alone. Why omit the rest of the diplomatic corps?" At her home in Plymouth, Lady Astor, formerly Nancy Langhorne, made the following statment: "It is a matter of indifference to me whether they decide to keep my portrait in Parliament or not. I did not ask that it be put there. My husband consulted with the Speaker of the House of Commons and they arranged the matter before I had thought of it. I believe the women of England would like a portrait of me to be there. It is a pity that the matter has been raised at a moment when the members of the American bar are here and they expressed pleasure at seeing the picture there. I don't give 'tuppence' whether it is put up or not. The House can 'do exactly as it likes." Her spouse in London declared that he had made no attempt to " slip" the picture into the House of Commons. He had enquired of those responsible if the proposed picture would be acceptable, considering that other historic scenes connected with the growth of Parliament had been recorded on the walls of the House. The proposed picture was accepted and he commissioned Sims, executor of a recent regal atrocity (TIME, July 14, ART) to paint the scene. He stated, moreover, that Lady Astor had had nothing to do with the matter, had even opposed it.