The Colorado statesman., 1918-04-20


rageous statement when acting as
spokesman of the administration at
meeting of Liberty loan lecturers, and
his dismissal from government employ
was demanded by the indignant con-
gresSmen.
On Wednesday the senate passed the
amendment to the espionage bill. max
ing 1t the most drastic anti-sedition
measure ever proposed in this country.
1t is designed to expedite punishment
for disloyal acts and utterances, but
was changed to permit Of just critic
ism with good motives. Fear of antag-
onlzing loyal citizens Of German de-
scent caused the elimination of a clause
barring from the mails publications in
the German language.
The senate had another exciting de-
bate over the conference report on the
bill for furnishing sabotage and wilful
destruction of war material. AS re-
ported, the measure provided that 1t
should not be construed as making 1t
unlawful for employees to agree to-
gether to strike or refuse to work for
the purpose of securing better wages
or working conditions. Senator I'm
derwood and others strongly criticised
any such government Endorsements OF
strikes during wartime. Next day the
senate rejected the conference report
by vote of "a to 25. At the same
time Samuel Gompers was warning
congressman not to commit the devil
try and folly" of passing the proposed
law to prohibit strikes and lockouts.
Too many of the laboring men of the
country fall to recognize the fact that
when they are working for the gov.
ernment on war tasks they are doubly
working for themselves.
| -H-
Premier Lloyd George again has
stalked the political existence of him
self and his cabinet on one measure,
the new man power bill which includes
the conscription of all men between
the ages of 1S and 80 years, and which
Furthermore extends conscriptton to
Ireland The latter feature of course
put the Irish Nationalist members in
n rage at once and the premier was
warned that any attempt to enforce the
draft in Ireland would result in civil
war; that 1t would take an army to
raise regiment. He stood firm, how
ever, declaring the time had come when
Ireland must be treated like the rest
of Great Britain in the matter of mill
| itary service, and that II the bill was
| defeated his government would give
way to another. The measure passed
| its preliminary readings by n large
majority, but the press and people of
England are decidedly anxious about
its success should 1t become law.
Submarine slnkings as reported by
the British admiralty showed a great
falling off in number. only six vessels
being listed as lost, but both here and
abroad there is a feeling that this
presages n concerted movement of the
U-boat against the transports that are
now carrying American troops to
France in great numbers. However.
tho convoy system has been so per-
fected and so many warships are avail
able for 1t that no grave apprehension
Is felt for the safety of those trans
| ports.
The Dutch have quieted down con-
cerning the seizure of their vessels by
America and Great British, but Minis
ter Phillips has left Washington for
home, ostensibly on account of Ill
health.
President Wilson last week COM
mandeered the Clyde, Mallory, Mer-
chants and Miners and Southern
steamship lines and turned them over
to Director General McAdoo. This
added 63 coastwise vessels to the 4S
already under government manage
ment. Three Russian ships in a Pa
| ciflc port also were taken over by the
shipping board.
| General Allenby's forces in Palestine
are still pushing forward north of
Jerusalem. despite stubborn resistance
by the Turks, who have been re-enfor-
ced by German troops. In Berlin there
is a belief that the Holy City will be
recaptured, but this is based on false
ideas of the British action in falling
back after cutting the railway at Es-
Salt.
The Liberty Loan campaign was
most successful during the week. Iowa
lead the nation, subscribing its quota
within four days.