Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-08
BRITAIN FACES
ELECTION OVER
LABOR'S STAND
Government May Appeal to
Country Over Conscrip-
tion Issue to Avoid
Trouble
PENALTY FOR DoDG1NG
Referendum on New Bill Sug-
gested as One Way of Solv-
ing Vital Problem

LONDON, Jan. y.
Premier Asqulth had consultation yes
terday with several of the leading MEM
bers OF the Cabinet The situation as re-
gards the compulsion bill is causing some
anxiety, because, although the bill is as
sured of a majority in Parliament and
In the country at large, 1T Is felt that
some of the Labor Congress spokesmen
have SO pledged themselves that there
may be trouble when the bill becomes
operative. The Government. is examining
closely such a contingency, and the pos
sibility of n general election as a solu-
tion Of the present difficulties is consid-
cred
The text of the conscription bill has
been Issued. The penalties prescribed
for those who attempt TO evade military
service include imprisonment not exceed
ing six months without hard labor for
persons making false statements and n
fine not exceeding ESQ (S250) for failure
to notify the authorities OF n change of
circumstances.
Sir John Simon, who resigned from the
Cabinet as protest against the COM
pulsion bill: John Burns. the Labor
leader. who resigned from the Cabinet
on Great Britain's entry into the war:
James III. Thomas, representing the rail-
way men. and Ramsay Macdonald. La
Dor member for Leicester. toted against
the bill on its introduction in Parlia-
ment
MAJORITY REASSURING.
The political situation today was calmer
after the overwhelming vote obtained by
the Government In the House of Com
mons Thursday night on the first read
ing Of its compulsion bill. The reassuring
size OF the Governments majority Offset
to considerable degree the anti-con-
scriptlonist vote of the Labor Congress,
which also was partly discounted by the
attitude of such important labor leaders
as Arthur Henderson who resigned
nf 10 nj
John Ward. George Nicoll Barnes and
John Hodge. members of the House of
Commons.
The position of these men is that the
vote OF the Labor Congress was too
hasty and lll-considered to be regarded
as rejecting the actual feeling OF the
labor men of the country.
In some quarters talk of a general cleo
tion still persists. but 1t is certain that
considerable part of even the opponents
of compulsion do not want n resort to
the ballot.
To the American reader one OF the most
interesting suggestions heard in London
today was the proposal to Introduce the
referendum as the alternative for gem
eral election III dangerous hostility APP
pears to be developing in the country at
large during the later stages of the con-
scription bill before Parliament The ref
erendum frequently has been suggested in
England during the last few years as
desirable addition to the legislative ma
chinery OF the kingdom. II was adopted
as part of the Unionist program OF con-
stitutional reform five or six years ago.
An important meeting of some 10 of the
leading Unionist members OF the House
of Commons was held and it was decided
TO form a war committee of Unionist |
members to secure n more vigorous prose-
cution of the war Sir Edward Carson |
was elected chairman of the committee |
and Sir Frederick Banbury vice chairman. |
They will invite the Unionists to join the |
movement. which is virtually the long |
threatened new opposition to the Govern !
ment under Sir Edward Carson's leader |
ship. its aim being the subjecton OF the |
Ministers to the severest criticism.
SEEK TO AVOID ELECTION.
While IT is admitted that general |
election would result In securing the sup |
port of the country for the measure the |
Government is evidently desrous of |
avoiding such an eventuality IL It is in |
any way possible. Certain papers, how |
ever. notably the Daily Mail and the |
Daily Telegraph, give II their opinion |
that with the open opposition OF the |
Labor Congress to the bill the election
Is inevitable.