New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-16

Between the first and second read
ings Of the measure it became clear 70
every political calculator that if serious
trouble in the House or out Of it had
forced the Prime Minister 10 resort 20
a general election before the end OF
the present month the Obstructlves
would have been almost annlhllatcd.
Asuuith Bold and Stirring.
Premier Asquith found that he held
the situation in his hands with mas
terry he had been far from expecting,
and with this discovery he sounded a
far stronger note. If his first speech
was apologize and tame. his second
was bold and stirring. with the most
robust tone of real national leadership
wc have had from the Premier IN some
months.
blending good temper with hrm man
aeement. a. be knows how TO 90 when
he is at his best. he has secured one
Of the most notable personal ana Dollli-
cal triumphs of his career. TINS con
firms for the moment the prediction OF
shrcwd observers and they ere nu-
mcrous who prophesy that no matter
what other changes may affect men or
measures MIR. Asquith with incompara-
bic adroitncss will keep has Mace az
Tho head of affairs TO the end OF the
war. -
That will undoubtedly be the case If
tbcrc are no further grave disappoint-
ments I'm the course Of the war. II
a0aiC there should be serious checks,
miscalculations and delays, such as
those Of last year the country would
assuredlv insist on total change OF
ministry. Meanwhile Mr. Asquith's po-
sition is exceedingly strong, and has
easy reconciling power IS unquestlon-
ABLY q national asset IN tue clrcun 81
stances OF the hour. He IS the oil IN
The mixed salad Of the coalition gov
eminent.
Irish Cling 10 Asquith.
The Irish party dread any Premier
ship but Mr.. AsQuith's. They have ac-
cordiuglv endcavored TO retrieve theli
o.rievors mistake of last week, and have
definitely withdrawn their opposition 10
the compulsion bill.
John Dillon, more radical than the
radicals. still wished at any cost 10
nreach antagonism and TO proclaim woe
IN the fixed character Of the permanent
banshea John +. Redmond. Tor whose
ncrsonal position much sympathy IS
feIt was far wiser. He insisted upon
abandonment IF the. opposition, ana u
he had failed TO carry his point he
nrobably would have resigned his
craftsmanship. Irish secession reduced
the dissidcntS TO rump
Next Mr.. Asquith had a private IN
torview with the labor men and as
sured them that the government mad
not the least intention OF manipulating
the bill in a way that would make IL
POSSIBLE for insubordinate Workinch III
thc munition making areas 70 pc re-
moved from the factories 20 the front
This is the case in France, where pre-
ci.elv the same rigid discipline applies
totb in workshops and trenches. BY
those conciliatory means Mr. Asqulth
took the heart out Of the parliamentary
movement. such as u was, against the
compulsiou bill.
100000 Needed at Once.
ON the other hand, he made IL un-
uistakablly clear that the measure was
demanded bv military necessity, that
the government must have al least nall
million more men Immediately and
that the bill must be placed on the
statute book within the nest couple
Of weeks That event. during the neN'
few weeks. will make the most historic
date of its kind in English military
history since Oliver Cromwell pressed
men into the ranks TO complete the
Ironsides legions Of mis- model army
and employed compulsion at need. as
Washington and Lincoln were after
ward TO employ %.
So far as Parliament is concerned,
we arc very well over our troubles. \
still better thing is that Asquith seems