New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-10
n;serence q COmpulSion
Only Question of Con
duct of The War.
pFNT MORATORIUM
TO BE PROPOSED
names of Men Serving at the
Front Must Be Protected
by the Nation.
y, SIR HENRY DALZIEIe VI. P.
p-,nric,or of "Reynolds's Newspaper



fp, Cas., 60 TIE Trisunel
ro-dor. Jan. 9.-I have been asked
=. Give briefly my impressions Of the
.-,se,, poi.ical situation rs II Is af-
1900 bv the introduction OF the COM
ar,.,rv service bill and It's indorse-
-.r, 81. erst reading by an enormous
rs,or.tv IN the Commons. No one will
,,,use mo Of any Partially toward the
government. having criticised them
continuously IN the conduct Of the war
during the past year.
TIE question arises: "Win the bill
Ss passed and what will be It's effect
q, he future Of the war;"
There can be no doubt whatever that
,Ae bill will be passed. and that very
ou,,kly: and. should OCCASION arise
rhieb don't anticipate the action Of
the Commons will be Endorsed BY an
almost unanimous vote Of the country.
Ian supporting the government in the
Introduction OF the biil-frst, because
r.b,nk &c Is necessary that every ounce
= .,renr.h we possess be put into the
.,les Immediately in order 10 win the
var with the least possible delay; sec
e,s,v. because IL is the first real symp-
ton o. lie and vigor the government
IA, shown in It's war policy for CON
siderable time.
Tho effect Of the introduction Of the
BIT undoubtedly has been 20 give fresh
strength TO the government in the eyes
of the nation. Incidentally, IL may OBJ
,,ure many blunders that have been
committed wherewith We have charged
The ministry time after time. In my
op,r!on. undue Importance has been
attached 20 the decision o. the Trade
Union Congress in deciding by ma
FORTY against She bill The decision
o. the delegates was both premature
ard uriustihed. The bill was con-
demned before Il was ever printed and
she delegates were entirely unaware Of
,ome important provisions which it
contained.
For example. two OF the main argu-
nerte were PIT before the congress by
certain labor members who had never
done anything 20 assist the voluntary
system. Therefore they deprived them
selves Of their claim to oppose com
uu'-.,- because, first, eompulsion
vor continue after the war; and,
ses.. because the bin meant indus
tr... .nlscrip.on.
Nct.-r Of these arguments Is
well founded. The bill IS limited TO
he continuance Of the war and II does
no. % the remotest degree refer 70 in
dustria. compulsion. In addition to
these considerations II ought to be re-
membered that the oldest and most
trusted labor repres entatives heartily
fsvo3 the bill. not because they are
particularly enamOured with i, but be-
cause they are determined 20 refuse
nothing q responsible government says
Is necessary 10 secure victory.
Ore very important point OF which
Americans and the outside world should
take due notice is that in all the fierce
opposition which some advanced labor
men have leveled at the bill not one
delegate 10 the congress, not one mem
Der o. the House Of Commons, breathed
one SYLLABLE against the rigorous pros
eeution Of the war OF even limited at
any suggestion Of peace. The nation
Is united 90 o man IN the determination
70 leave nothing undone 10 secure VIC
tory. whether the war lasts one or
twenty years.
The fact that SIX million citizens
have voluntarily offered their services
TO The government as fighting men IS
Itself sui cicrt proof 20 the nations OF
this determination. The controversy
regarding the compuision bill is purely
an internal and domestic matter as TO
the most effective methods which
should be employed for the one main
object Of insuring victory. The bill
undoubtedly mar6s very important
stage not only in the history Of the
war but Of the country. Some OF US
will demand not only that the lives OF
men, but that the wealth Of the coun-
try be conscripted. We have not the
slighiest doubt our demand will be
complied with
/ intend myself also 10 suggest a
rent moratorium with regard to men
secured by oompulsion, instituted so
that any man forced 10 join the army
shall know al least his home is intact
while he Is fighting for his country
On the whole, ] think the new year
opens with every indication Of greater
determination on the part of the gov
ernment 90 use every means TO defeat
The enemy, and there are signs OF
awakening In the Commons which shall
control and determine the government
policy In manner entirely unknown
N the early stages Of the war.