The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-13
ASQUITH'S DIPLOMACY
LED TO THE PASSAGE
OF CONSUMPTION
British Military Service Bill Passed Sec
ond Reading in House of Commons
After Opposition Had Dwindled
to 80, Against 4sI.
to 80, Against 4sI.

London, Jan. l3.--Amid scenes OF up
roarious enthusiasm, the House of Com
mons at II o'clock last night defeated q
motion to reject the military service bill
by vote of i3l TO 80. Immediately aft
erward, the House aeceded 10 the premi.
er's request by passing the second reading
of the bill without division.
The vote was chiefly interesting owing
TO the changed attitude OF many OF the
los members who opposed it ON the first
reading.
The debate was closed by Arthur Hen.
derson, president of the board of educa.
ton, who said il was great satisfaction
to him that because of definite assur-
ances 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 and
abroad as a symbol OF the nations unity
He closed with the statement;
Il have the authority of Earl Kitchen
er 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 be
called, but also the whole available part
of the $4,000 men with whom this meas
ure deals"
The opposition in the House of Com
mons to the conscription bill crumbled
last night to few conscientious oblec-
tions. A fortnight ago the anti-compul-
sionists claimed 200 votes, but on the
first reading they were able to muster
only l05, of whom more than one.half
were Irish Nationalist.
When it came to the second reading of
the bill last night, the Irish Nationalsts
had withdrawn from the opposition. Pre- !
mier Asquith had placated majority of
the Labor members who had voted mo"
on the first reading and a comparatively |
handful remained irreconcilable.
The result appears to have been due
partly to evidences that the country fa
vors the measure, and lastly to Mr.. As
quith's often displayed faculty at con-
citation. The premier held a conference
with the executive committee of the La
Dor party and Labor members Of the
House of Commons yesterday afternoon,
1t which he induced the three Labor
members of the ministry to withdraw
heir designations temporarily and appar
,ntly made strong impression on the
of the executive committee.
The Labor men asked for assurances
hat the bill should not be used as a step |
oward general CONSUMPTION or industrial {
Mr. Asquith gave the prom I
sc that the bill would be modified to .
1t from any suspicion that it !
ould be used for such purposes. After I
n appeal for labor's support, he with 8
rev to permit the representatives to j
iscuss their policy.
The Nationalist members, after voting :
gainst the bill on the first reading, now
AXE the attitude that it does not concern !
hem-although they are opposed to COM ),
ulsion on principle-since it applies only,
. the larger island. John Dillon, who
7as its strongest opponent among the 7
'ationalists, agreed to the party's deci
ION, although he said he would have I
ought the bill ii a majority TO the Liber- {
Is and Laborites aid stood together
The weakening of the opposition to linn
CONSUMPTION in the House of Commons "A
oes not necessarily indicate a change y
front by organized labor throughout .
ne country. The labor congress Of last 7
eek pollcd large majority against the n
overnment's plans, although the critics
aim that it did not represent the mass K
the membership of the unions. The "
liners federation, which was not repre- W
'nted in that congress, will hold con-
sntion next week, and all the local min r
g associations which have instructed
,legates thus far have instructed them
rainst the bill. r..
The South Wales miners conference at .
lrdif yesterday decided by a vote of = :,
to IS to protest against the bill and \,
rther to ask the national executive to =
II general ballot on the down tools
licy, unless the bill is withdrawn.