Labor Travels

Onetime (Jan. Nov. 1924) Labor Premier James Ramsay Macdonald, now on pleasure bent in the U. S. (TiME, April 18) visited the scene of his honeymoon at Concord, Mass., last week; but received while there disturbing news that the radical "Clydeside" wing of British labor had begun a campaign in his absence to wrest from him leadership of the Labor party.

30 Years After. Apple-cheeked Ishbel Macdonald, 24, accompanied her father last week when he tried and failed to find by memory's aid alone the little house at No. 8 Lowell Road, Concord, Mass., where he honeymooned 30 years ago with Mrs. Macdonald, who died when Ishbel was 8. At last, Mr. Macdonald, who had concealed his destination from reporters as long as possible, was obliged to ask the way. With alacrity they told him, rushed ahead to plant the spiked tripods of their cinema cameras on the old Colonial porch of No. 8 Lowell Road.

To the door came Miss L. S. W. Perkins, who 30 years ago was 53, when she entertained "a little bride and groom." Last week Miss Perkins was so flustered at the bridegroom's return, that her physician expressed concern lest the excitement prove too great a strain on her 83-year-old constitution. When the onetime Premier approached, however, Miss Perkins rallied, greeted him warmly, pressed a dry kiss on Ishbel's wholesome cheek. Followed luncheon, newsgatherers excluded.

When swift motors carried the Macdonalds to Boston, Ishbel cried: "Oh, we must go down to the wharf where the Indians threw tea into the harbor--Boston Tea Party, you know, Dads." Soon they stood upon what purports to be the very wharf. Later, proceeding to Philadelphia, Mr. Macdonald contracted bronchitis, was taken to Jefferson Hospital.

Though his condition was not serious, last week, he sent Ishbel to substitute at several Manhattan gatherings which were to have been addressed by the onetime Premier. Miss MacDonald, sensibly clad, read out greetings from her father from platforms. . . .

Treasuryship Threatened. Since 1900, when the National Labor-Party was founded, James Ramsay Macdonald has repeatedly been elected its treasurer. But, last week, at a party conference in Leicester, opponents of Mr. Macdonald, defiant as mice when the cat is away, stampeded through a vote 312 to 118 striking his name from the roll of nominees for treasurer. The stroke was significant, revealed sharply that divergence between Labor radicals and Labor conservatives which Mr. Macdonald has many times prevented from becoming a party split by the force of his political generalship.

"Ramsay Macdonald is still treasurer of the party!" said his staunch supporter, Secretary of the party Arthur Henderson last week with emphasis. "Moreover I can promise his enemies that at the next actual party conference a way will be found to reelect him treasurer."