Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-09


reflected in the morning newspapers
today. They give much prominence to
the prospects of todays doings in the
house Of commons and the attitude Of
political parties for the government
and General Maurice respectively, and
speculate upon the probable outcome.
Editorially the papers deal with the
subject very fully. Opinion is general
that II former Premier Asquith forces
his motion to have a select committee
investigate the charges made against
the government by General Maurice
to a division. the government will OBJ
tain a majority which some COM
mentators believe will be substantial.
Views Differ.
However views differ as to how far
that will satisfy the public. Some hold
that a verdict by the house of COM
mons in support Of the government
! will completely vindicate the govern
ment and crush what they call the in
ltrsue Of the Asarithian, oppoaents.
Others say that such verdict will
prove nothing, except reluctance to
GUST the government at critical
moment leaving the main question un-
affected s
The latter view is voiced by the
Daily Chronicle which in predicting a
parliamentary victory for the govern.
lnent possibly by a large majority,
says this would indicate nothing more
than reluctance by the commons at a
moment Of national peril to overthrow
the ministry while no definite ac-
ceptable alternative exists. 1t adds
that such "a victory can not be
a straightforward one on the merits of
the case. Such charges 1t says should
be disproved effectively or the minister
concerned should leave at once. The
Daily Telegraph on the other hand,
has no doubt that the ministerial reply
will be complete and crushing.
Asquith Explains Motives
In the house Of commons today For
mer Premier Asquith denied his
motion reporting the Maurice affair
was designed to obtain a vote Of CEN
sure Of the government. saying it was
absurd to describe 1t as such. Should
he find 1t his duty to censure the gov
ernment he said he hoped he would
have the courage to do so direct and
in unequivocal form. Moving the
motion for the appointment Of arselect
committee to investigate the charges
against Maurice. Asauith said he
thought It not the business Of parlia-
ment to constantly inquire into the
conduct Of successive phases Of the
0f
added. had more than enough Of such
inquiries already.
See Political Trick.
The action Of General Maurice is
suspected as a political maneuver by
several Of the morning newspapers.
Papers which have supported the
present administration insinuate or as
sert openly that former Premier
Asquith and his followers are back OF
General Maurice and that the affair Is
an effort to oust the Lloyd George
cabinet and put in its place cabinet
headed by Mr.. Asquith. Viscount Grey
and the Marquis Of Lansdowne.
The Daily Telegraph is convinced
that the ministers acted in perfect
good faith when they made the state
ments which General Maurice contra
diets, and believes they merely re-
peated information supplied by their
military advisers.
Says They Seek offie>.
The Daily telegraph believes the
country has complete and tustiflnble
confidence in the government, but
adds:
"There is no doubt that the opposi-
ton led by Mr.. Asauith regards tie
time as ripe for 1t to accept the re-
sponsibility Of office. It IS for the
house Of commons to choose. The al
ternatiye government would be exclu-
sively a radical one"
The Daily Mail which strongly sup
ports Premier Lloyd George. says the
debate on Mr.. Asauithsy motion will
afford him the needed oportunity for
an attempt to bring about a parlia-
mentary crisis. It remarks that when
General Maurice said that no soldier
had seen his letter he did not say that
no politician had seen 1t.
"This omission the Dailv Mail
adds. Coupled with Mr.. Asquith's ma
neuvers In parliament on Tuesday,
suggests that the old gang believes 1t
has found a weapon which will destroy
the government. We believe these. IN
fatuated partisans have male one
more n1iscalculatfon. The nation has
no confidence in the discredltcl and
.dilatory politicians and their pacif,sf
kI