Word: geers
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Last week 69-year-old Jonkheer Dirk Jan de Geer, leader of The Netherlands' Christian Historical Party, talked like a Dutch uncle to his parliamentary colleagues. They had just turned in a vote of no confidence in old Dr. Hendrikus Colijn, thereby throwing out a Ministry that had lasted two days. Basic issue was unemployment relief: Catholics and Socialists wanted to know why, if the Government could spend $165,000,000 on three new cruisers, it could not spend $17,000,000 on Holland's 350,000 unemployed...
Catholics and Socialists could combine to put conservative Dr. Colijn out, but neither was strong enough to put anyone else in. Traditional parliamentary behavior for such conservatives as Jonkheer de Geer would have been to watch Catholic and Socialist leaders flounder through the attempt, gleefully call attention to each failure, assuming that the increasing confusion would in the long run mean more votes for the Christian Historical Party. Instead, Jonkheer de Geer, who voted against the motion of no confidence, was asked by Queen Wilhelmina to form a Cabinet. Thin, mustached, respected, severe, a shade less conservative than Dr. Colijn...
...defeat of Dr. Colijn's hoary oldsters was a victory for democratic theory which asserts that governments should represent majority opinion. Unfortunately the Dutch Parliament is so split among minor parties that not one of them can command a sure majority. Last week Dr. D. J. de Geer, leader of the Christian Historical Party, smaller but a shade less conservative than the Anti-Revolutionaries, formed a new Cabinet. Now that they are rid of stiff-necked Dr. Colijn, the Socialists and Catholics may well be ready to support a compromise policy...
...supporting cast is, on the whole, excellent, especially Will Geer and Jeanne Dante as an Iowa J.P. and daughter respectively. Mary Wilsey as the outspoken housemaid is adequate. One wishes the Eva Condon, as a veteran actress, would put more vitality into her part, since it is a good...
From a candid camers photograph, taken by a drama-conscious customer, Colonel Apted had suspected Geer of being related to a salesman jailed for similar activities several years ago. He declined to state whether or not his suspicions were confirmed...