The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-13
Opposition to Conscription In House of Commons
 MeIts To a Handful
LABOR LEADER TO
 REMAIN IN CABINET
Asquith's Ability to Conciliate Used With Telling Effect-Will Modi- fly Measure to Prevent In-
 dustrial Conscription

London, January 12.-Amid scenes o1 uproarious enthusiasm, the House oi Commons at Il o'clock tonight defeated motion to reject the military service afterward the House acceeded to the premier's request by passing the second reading of the bill without division.
 The vote was chiefly interesting on ac- count of the changed attitude of many of the 105 members who opposed it on the first reading.
 The debate was closed by Arthur Hen- derson. president of the board of educa- ton, in a much applauded speech. He said it was great satisfaction to him that because of definite assurances given his friends and himself by the premier in the name of the whole cabinet, he was able to remain for the present in the coalition ministry This fact would be regarded at home aad abroad as symbol of the nations unity. He closed witt the statement:
 ALL MEN NEEDED
 S'1 have the authority of Earl Kitchener and the general staff that we require at once not only the unmarried men en rolled under the Derby scheme, not only the married men who are waiting to b, called. but also the whole available par of the 650,000 men with whom this meas ure deals.'
 The opposition in the House of Com
 
 tonight to few conscientious objectors A fortnight ago the anti-compulsionist! claimed 200 votes but on the first read ing they were able to muster only 1O5 of whom more than one-half are Irisf nationalists.
 When it came to the second reading O the bill tonight the Irish nationalists hat withdrawn from the opposition Preme Asquith had placated majority of th labor members who had voted no ol the first reading, and only a compara tive handful remained irreconcilabIe. The result appears ito have been du Ispaftly to eyiqencesy that the co,ilitr.v fav ors the nfea3.ire and p.I.tis, to Mir. As quith's often displayed facility at con ciliation. The premier conferred with tn labor l'arty executive committee and la bor members of the House of Common this afternoon and induced the three la Dor members of the ministry to withdraw their resignations temporarily.
 The labor men asked for assurance that the bill should not be used as step towards general conscription or in dustrial conscription.
 WILL BE MODIFIED
 MT. Asquith promised that the bil would be modified to safeguard it iron any suspicion that it could be used fo such purposes. After an appeal for Ia bors support he withdrew to permit tn, representatives to discuss their policy.
 The nationalist members, after votins against the bill on the first reading, nov take the attitude that it does not con cern them, since it applies only to tn, larger island. John Dillon, who was it. strongest opponent among the national ists, agreed to the party's decision
 Todays debate was tame. Sir Johr simon, the former home secretary, urged the government to make another tria of the Derby enrollments before putting the act on the books.
 Premier Asquith characterized hi! speech as academic thoughts on the evil of compulsion and the superiority of tn, voluntary system, but declared that tn, country was engaged in war, in whicf vital principles were at stake, and tn, bill was a specific, limited measure fo the winning of the war.
 Ellis Jones Griffith. liberal member fo Anglesy. made one of the most tellin speeches. He said that while perhaps al the men against the bill were not agains the war. all the men against the wa were against the bill. He pointed out tha 22 of those voting against the first read ing formed part of deputation to tn premier in 1913 asking him to limit tn navy.
 The weakening of the opposition to linn ited conscription in the House of Com mons does not necessarily indicate change of front by organized labo throughout the country. The labor con gress of last week boiled large major ity against the government plans. al though the critics claim that it did no represent the mass of the membershil of the unions. The miners federation was not represented in that congress but will hold convention next week All the local miners associations whicl
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