The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-04-20


! ritgeous statement when acting as
spokesman OF the administration at a
meeting of Liberty loan lecturers, and
his dismissal from government employ
was demanded by the indignant con-
| gresS1nen.
| --Hs-
On Wednesday the senate passed the
| amendment to the espionage bill, MAX
| ing it 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-
| onizing loyal citizens of German de-
scent caused the elimination Of clause
! barring from the mails publications In
| the German language.
! -n-
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 81 to rs. 1T the same
a.time Samuel Gompers was warning
! 7csslnefl not to commit the devil
try and folly" of passing the proposed
! law to prohibit strikes and lockouts.
i Too many of the laboring men Of the
country fail to recognize the fact that
when they are working for the gov
eminent on war tasks they are doubly
working for themselves.
"a
Premier Lloyd George again has
staked the political existence of him
self and his cabinet on one measure,
|
the CONSUMPTION of all men between
the ages of IS and so years, and which
furthermore extends CONSUMPTION to
Ireland. The latter feature Of course
put the Irish Nationalist members in
a 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 mil
itary service, and that If the bill was
defeated his government would give
way to another. The measure passed
it's preliminary readings by large
majority, but the press and people of
England are decidedly anxious about
it's success should 1t become law.
-
Submarine sinkings 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 concerted movement of the
U-boat against the transports that are
now carrying American troops tc
France in great numbers. However
the convoy system has been so per
, fected and so many warshlps are avail
able for it that no grave apprehension
is felt for the safety of those trans
! ports.
IA
The Dutch have quieted down con
corning the seizure Of their vessels by
| America and Great British, but Minis
ter Phillips has left Washington fol
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. ovel
, to Director General McAdoo. This
added 63 coastwise vessels to the 4S
: already under government manage
: ment. Three Russian ships in a Pa
: cific port also were taken over by the
shipping board.
y IA
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 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 Els
! Salt.
h --m-
} The Liberty Loan campaign was
: most successful during the week. lows
i lead the nation, subscribing Its quets