The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-08
ALL ENGLAND IS
MOST DEEPLY STIRRED
Interest Intense Ina Consumption Meas
ure, With Labor ADtagontstic to
Its Adoption.
ISSUES BRoAoHEs CABINET
ONLY Forty-fivc Representatives In
Great Britain Found to Have Voted
Against Mcasu e On First Read
ing.

London, Jan. THE interest OF ali
england is conferred on the situation
arising from the introduction of the
compulsory military service bin. While
II Is admitted in most quarters that a
general election would result in secur-
ing the support Of the country for
the measure. the government is evil
uehtly DESTROYS of avoiding such an
eventuality. if IL Is in any way pos
slbl ,. Certain papers, however. notably
the Daily Mail, and the Daily Tele-
graph, gave 1t as their opinion, that,
with the open opposition of the Labor
Congress to the bill. the election is
inevitable.
The Manchester Guardian. the
strong Conservative organ. expresses
regret that the first introduction of
a compulsion plan should result in
the -disintegration of the coalition cab
met. However unsteady the union Of
parties has been. 1t says. under the
stress OF certain untoward events, it
has tended 10 the concentration of
the country on one subject from the
outbreak of the war To the present
time.
l4abor's Peculiar Conduct.
The breakup" in its statement lis
announced by the massive ma jority
against the government bill at the
great labor conference yesterday, and
is siSnalized by the prompt resignation
OF three Labor ministers. or the three
parties forming the coalition, one hats
thus withdrawn. OF the other two
parties one distinguished member has
withdrawn. while a material proper
ton of the rank and file go with him
The government has at a stroke
become party government, although
the party is new in politics and a def
mite end regular opposition euergeS
at the same moment. Such are the
consV quences, deeply regrettable, Of
which many of us have consistently
warned the government since the con-
sCriptionists agitation began.
Positive evidence is essential, SAYS
the Guardian. that compulsion is nee
essdry. The figures of Lord Derby's
recruiting campaign, it finds no fur
Their convincing than they We're to the
Labor party. From them its finds
case for further examination, instead
of 4 case FOR immediate action.
England Almost Unit
The Westminster Gazette, on the
Other hand, brings out the fact that
ONLY forty five members of the House
of Commons representing constitution
cies in Great Britain were opposed tn
the measure III the division on the first
reading last night. II believes that the
ma iority viii be convinced Of the in
dispense OTtlry OF the measure, ami
that all threats to national unity VIII
he cleared up in the free debate al
later stages of the bill.
The text of the bill was made pub
lie today. 1t shows only one pro-
vision not fully outlined In the speech
of Premier Asquith Introducing it.
This is penalty of NOT exceeding 'siX
months' imprisonment for persons
making false statements in order TO
obtain exemption certificates. and "a
fine OF fifty pounds for failure to
notify the authorities should there he
change in circumstances under
which certificates are granted.