Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-01-07
Representatives of organi-
cations Demand With
drawal Of Bill
MAJORITY UNsHAKEN
Commons Passes Measure on First
Reading After Three Laborites Re-
sign From Ministry.

London, Jan. Tn spite of the op-
position of the Labor party, the Con
scription bill passed the first reading
in the House of Commons last night
bv vote of 4O3 to 1O5.
Following the action OF the Labor
Congress, which by vote OF l,999'-
600 to $4,000 demanded the with
drawal of the bill from harllament'
the three Labor members OF the coal
ition Ministry, Arthur Henderson
president of the Board of Education
and leader of the Labor party, IN the
House of Commons; William Brace,
Parliamentary Under Secretary Tor
Home Affairs, and George Il. Roo-
erts Lord Commissioner of the Treas
ury, resigned.
It is understood that Mr.. Hender'
son will take an early opportunity to
state his position to the House Q
Commons, probably at next Tuesdays
session.
There are now four vacancies IN
the coalition Ministry, including that
caused by the resignation 'of Sin
John A. Simon, the Home Secretary.
Gossip already is busy over the prob
able successors of the outgoing Min
listers.
Mr.. Henderson served notice on the
Labor Congress that if it decided
that he should oppose the Govern
rnent,s compulsion bill he would refuse
to accept such decision; that he
Rtaaht tFirn,lE a:st.ls fesiss:s.llssis scat ~ ~
the House Of Commons and would ask
his constituents whether they indors-
I'd his action or not.
In the debate Henry E. Duke,
Unionist member from Exeter, char
acterized the measure as the widest
form of coercion ever applied by any
man in any emergency.
William O'Brien, leader Of the in
dependent Nationalists, opposed the
stand taken by John Redmond, speak
ing Of the Nationalists, and gave the
bill his hearty support.
~ would not consent to strike a
blow at this country, France or Rus
sia," he said, "by doing anything
which would wreck this BILL"
Nh toH5rien considered ireland
had claim for exemption, because
she is a distinct although necessarily
allied nation" He wondered what
principle of democracy would: be sac
riGced by asking youAeS Smensto place
their. services at the disposal: of the
country in whatevers capacity they
might be best utilized. The most
amazing thing to him, he said, was
the fact that England had clung so
long to u system of national defense
rs obsolete as bows and arrows.
Herbert Samuel, Postmaster-Gen-
cral said he was driven to support
the policy represented by the bill by
the hard, cold logic of facts, although
it was against all his predictions.
All were agreed, he continued, that
this country ought TO put its whole
strength into the war. but it would
not be doing this if it puts its whole
strength into the trenches. Great
Britain was the chief munitions fac
tory of the alliance, and its financial
strength. On behalf Of the COM
mon cause, she maintained a great
fleet which commanded the seas. 1t
was necessary to keep in this country
an adequate number of men for full
fillment of these essential functions.
The president of the Board of Trade
had concluded that 100000 men
! could be properly spared from the
population to take part in the mill
tary action, Mr.. Samuel continued.
That was the maximum figure, but in
his view also the minimum figure
and if the men could be spared they
ought to be sent.
A speech by John Ward, pic
turesque independent Labor member
indorsing the Conseriptien blu, wa
enthusiastically received, as also wa
that Of his Labor colleague, Georg'
Nicoll Barnes, of the Blackfriars di
vision of Glasgow, who was mad