In Smethwick

Lady Cynthia Mosely, daughter and heiress of the late famed Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, continued her stump speaking at Smethwick near Birmingham (TIME, Dec. 20) in behalf of her husband, Oswald Mosely, who is seeking election to the Commons as a Laborite. Since both Oswald Mosely and his wife Lady Cynthia are regarded as dilettante Laborites, the jeers of the press were loud last week when Mr. Mosely's father, Sir Oswald Mosely, a peppery Conservative, attacked his son's candidacy as follows:

"I never could understand the line Oswald has taken. He was born with a gold spoon in his mouth--it cost a -L-100 doctor fee to bring him into the world. He has lived on the fat of the land and never did a day's labor in his life. He had the best education and money was spent on him galore. If he and his wife want to go in for labor why don't they do a bit of work themselves or why doesn't Lady Cynthia sell her pearls for the Smethwick poor?"

Next day Oswald Mosely retorted upon his father: "I was removed from the care of Sir Oswald when five years of age by an order of court and placed in the care of my mother, who was legally separated from him. Since that date my father has known nothing of my life and has seldom seen me. So far as I am aware he never contributed to my education or upbringing except in the form of the alimony he was compelled to pay."

During the week the furor created by this exalted spat was augmented when Betty Baldwin, daughter of the Prime Minister, arrived at Smethwick to electioneer for Mr. Mosely's Conservative opponent, one M. J. Pike. That same day Betty's brother, Oliver Baldwin, like Oswald Mosely a Socialist son of a Tory sire, hurried from London to champion Socialist Mosely. Finally the Mosely cohorts were swelled by onetime Premier Ramsay Macdonald (Laborite). Smethwick bums and paupers cheered with loud good humor the stump speeches of this galaxy. Smethwick brats were soundly kissed by apple--cheeked Betty Baldwin and peftte Lady Cynthia Mosely. Betty Baldwin taunted Oswald Mosely with stooping to call Lady Cynthia "the Missus" for campaign purposes. That lady, indefatigable, harangued a Communist meeting; with a red flag in her hand, led the singing of the International, walked to the edge of the Smethwick slums, was whisked to her hotel in a Curzon-bought Rolls-Royce.