Evening star., 1916-01-09
Present Week Will Be Critical
in Domestic Affairs
of England.
WORKMEN OF NATION
WILL HAVE. TAKEN STAND
Further designations From the
Cabinet May Force Premier to
Appeal to Nation in Election.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.


BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
In open defiance to, and in the face of.
ominous storm clouds appearing over
the horizon, the British government has
set forth in it's good ship Compulsion
on the sea of national prejudice, and its
decks are now being washed from Prov
to stern by the angry waves of labor
ism. Its determined commander.
Premier Asquith, shows no signs of
swerving from his well charted course,
and the world is eagerly watching the
fate of his craft.
Will it succeed in weathering the ter
rifle elements now threatening to en-
gulf it?
will mutiny aboard force the selec-
tion of new captain?
These are at least two of the ques-
tions which prevail in the minds of the
people throughout the British Isles and
the colonies.
The present week will be the most
critical in the domestic affairs of Eng
land since the war started. The trouble
which has been fomenting for the past
ten weeks crystallized during the week
just passed in the introduction into the
house of commons of the government s
bill forcing all single men between the
British army. and when the trades
unionist congress, too, passed resolu-
tions condemning the measure and
voiced its determination to resist the
abandonment of the old volunteer sys-
tenn.
Four members of the British cabinet
have resigned their portfolios. The
house of commons has passed the COM
pulsion bill to it's second reading. Those
unions not identified with the congress
reaching it's momentous decision in
London Thursday are yet to act, and
there is every indication that defiance
to the governments course will be
breathed in every word and action.
expected as the outcome of the present
domestic discord.
There is strong likelihood that
Premier Asquith will be forced to turn
to the people
General Election in general
May Be His Resort. his comnn,l
sion policy may be upheld. Notwith-
enemies it is declared such an election
generally believing that some sort of
conscription measure Is necessary to
the welfare of the nation in the pres
ent conflict. A general election, how
ever, would be sure to lead to several
cabinet changes, and it is declared even
by the anti i-conscriptionists that it
might bring about compulsion bill
stronger in its terms than the one now
pending in parliament o.-s ..-
The press of England is not at all en-
thusiastic' over a general election even
though it's .sharpest barbs have been
hurled at Premier ASquith'S conduct OF
affairs at home and abroad during the
present war, because of the impression
it would create in enemy nations and
those countries whose support is yet
sought. 1t is admitted, however, tnat
the situation is a grave one for the
present government. as the house or
lords could force adjournment of par
lament by failing to pass the parlia-
ment and registration bill prolonging
sessions another eight months. 1t also
is pointed out that the designations OF
Reginald Mckenna, chancellor of the
excnequer, and Walter Runciman, presi-
dent of the board of trade, from the
ca binet, along with those of the labor
ties, would SO disrupt the coalition gov
ernment .LAt general election would
be necessary.
There is every indication that the
compulsion bill will successfully wealth
er the storm in
Just How Far the house of
Will Labor Resist. for the govern,
ment won a decisive victory when the
measure passed with a majority of 29s.
but laborites and trades unionists show
no signs of retiring.
The question which now prevails is
just how the workmen of the nation, as
represented through their party and
labor organizations, will continue to
resist the government should the bill
now pending be finally passed.
Robert Williams, general secretary of
the National Transport Workers FED
Grafton of Great Britain, one of those
most outspoken in his attacks on the
compulsion plan of the government. de-
clared during the week: We are ready
and prepared to risk the bullet and the
bayonet leveled at US rather than to
yield" While this may be an exagger-
ated view of the lengths to which the
la borites will go, it gives an insight to
their determination to resist any gov
ernment compulsion measure to the
last.
Already it's being suggested in Eng
land that the more than 100000 able
bodied single men who have as yet re-
fused to join the colors may make at
testation once they see that the gov
ernment intends to carry out it's
threats. Students of English temper
ament declare that rather than be for
ever labeled with the disgrace of hav-
ing to be forced to fight for the nation
the "slackers" will respond in such a
way that compulsion will become un-
necessary.
1t is not assured, however, that all
"slackers would follow this course in
the period of
Will Have Time six weeks in
to Make Attestation. would havs
time to attest before the compuIsion
bill became effective. The real crisis
in British domestic affairs will come
once the bill is passed and the unmar-
ried "slackers'' continue to spurn it's
edict. That a considerable portion will
continue to do so is the confident belief
in some circles in England because of
the bitterness which already has been
aroused by the governments efforts.
Events of the next ten days will be of
the gravest import to Great Britain
and may take a turn toward further
complications and greater complexities
at any moment.