"Only Fundamental Question"

James Henry ("Jim") Thomas, one-time errand boy and engine cleaner, last week became the Right Honorable James Henry Thomas, Lord Privy Seal of Great Britain. By his new title the onetime errand boy legally takes precedence over all the dukes of Britain.*

James Henry Thomas's real duties will be to act as a Minister of Employment. To him the Prime Minister gave the mighty task of settling Britain's unemployment, gravest problem in England today.

"If I had been looking for a sinecure or a popular office this is certainly not the one I should have chosen," said Privy Seal Thomas. "We fought the election largely on unemployment, and we all believe it to be the only real fundamental question involved. I realize what I am up against."

Problem. What he is up against is an official figure of 1,132,300 men out of work as of May 27, 1929, an increase in a fortnight of more than 27,000 unemployed.

Plans. Privy Seal Thomas, newly installed, was ready with the following suggestions last week:

1) Immediate creation of an Economic General Staff, (a MacDonald idea) modeled on Conservatives' Committee of Imperial Defense, to consist of the Lord Privy Seal, Chancellor of the Exchequer, President of the Board of Trade, and Minister of Labor. This staff will coordinate the work of all industrial and economic departments.

2) Employment of government funds to reorganize and develop Britain's railways, by electrification, modernizing rolling stock, etc.

3) Wholesale adoption of Lloyd George's scheme for a program of public works: (Labor leaders still insist that this scheme was originally theirs, stolen by the Liberal Party.) A new arterial road from London to Aberdeen; a railway ring around London to avoid transporting goods through the city; development of harbors and waterways; extensive draining of marsh lands.

4) Larger pensions for workers, going into effect earlier, in order to allow young men a chance at jobs held by their elders.

"All this will cost money," said Privy Seal "Jim" Thomas, "but it is better to spend money productively than to give money to people for doing nothing."

Lord Privy Seal "Jim" Thomas, domestic, fun loving, is the most colorful character in the new Cabinet. Famed is his Welsh-plus-Cockney accent, his fondness for smoking room stories. Londoners chuckled last week recalling the occasion when as Colonial Secretary in 1924 he was anxiously interviewed by ultra Conservative, fussbudget Sir William ("Jix") Joynson-Hicks.

"Nah then Jix," said "Jim" Thomas, "I won't 'urt your bloody Hempire!"

* Exception: Such King's sons as are Royal Dukes.