Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-12

LABOR IS UNRESTFUL
Liberals Criticize Slow Ac-
ton of Government in
Getting Food.

LONDON, Feb. 1l.-C3:46 p. M D--
Replying in the house Of commons to-
day to a question concerning German
air and sea raids on undefendcd
towns, Premier AsQuith said:
Il am not prepared to make any
general statement Each case must
be dealt with ON its merits"
Admiral Beresford asked the gov
ornment to treat German raiders on
undefended places as pirates and after
a trial by courtmartial hang them i'm
public for the killing of women and
children.
Dealing with the future. Premier
Asquith said that Argentine wheat
soon would be available. Russia
would facilitate in every way the eN-
port Of wheat TO the allies. but it
would be some time before her sup
plies were available Steps had been
takes to get Indian supplies and there
was reason to believe that after June
there would be sufficient quantities
OF wheat available.
LabOrcrs on Battlefield.
Regarding shipping the prime min
lister said that nine vessels OF con-
siderable size now occupied by pris-
service and that the admiralty would
relinquish vessels i'm its service when
ever possible. The proceedings of the
prize court he added, would be accel-
Grated.
AS to the shortage Of transport la
Dor, Mr.. Asquith said that IL per cent
Of the railroad employees was serving
in the army and that six thousand
Liverpool dockers had enlisted.
The government" said the pre-
mier, has been invited to fix maxi
mum prices-which the German gov
ernment has done with such dis
astrous results and to buy up all the
available supplies i'm Europe, but |
don't think steps OF that kind would
facilitate the desired end. The gov
ernment desires to do everything pos
sible to guard the working classes
against hardships. A great war like
the present must, however, demand
sacrifices and the working classes are
not the last to recognize and aCknoWl-
edge this"
A. Bonar Law the leader Of the OPP
position, who followed Mr.. Asquith,
said he thought the government might
have done a little more than 1t has
and that it should especially when IT
knew that Turkey would enter the
war and that the Dardanelles would
be closed, have bought up large guam
titles of wheat.
Fixing mtXimum price, he said,
would be impracticable because If II
were fixed below the worlds price not
quarter OF wheat would be sent to
this country.
Regrets Slow Action.
The government should also have
acted earlier Mr. Bonar Law said, in
reducing the high cost of frelghts. 1t
was common knowledge, he said, that
many ships taken by the admiralty
aften lay idle for weeks and months.
The government, MIR. Bonar Law
said, had as much right to seize ship
ping organizations as it had to seize
individuals, but, he added, the time
for that had not yet come.
The opposition leader said there
was limit to the profits which
should be made out Of war. When that
limit was reached, he willingly would
consider proposals to prevent it being
exceeded.
John h. Clynes, speaking for the
labor party, said that the peace truce
in industry could not be continued
unless some relief were given. The
premier, he added, would have to give
some more practical undertaking than
he had done, as the workingmen
could not live on promises alone.