Evening star., 1918-04-11
VOTES TO ENFORCE
DRAFT IN IRELAND
British Commons Gives a Big
Majority for Governments
Man-PoWer Bill.
AGE LIMIT FIFTY YEARS
Rr the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, April 10-The house OF
commons tonight passed the second
reading OF the governments man-po"ef
bill. The vote was 323 to 100.
Closure was applied and. carried by
4 vote of s1s to los. and Sir Charles
Hobhouse's amendment, declaring that
while recognising the gravity OF the
military situation, the house is OF opfn-
ion that the measure diminishes the
naval and economic power OF the ma
ton without adding commensurate mil
itary strength" was defeated by vote
of a21 to 10s.
Ministry Challenges House.
Factors which governed the recent
crisis over the removal of Gen. Sir Will
liam Robertson as chief of the genera |
staff still seem to control the poitlcai
stuation. The Lioyd-George govern
ment has again challenged the house
of commona to accept its man-power
policy or provide another government.
Since no parliamentary section appears
ready to take the government response
bllity the Indications are. as shown by
today's vote on the second reading OF the
bill that tho government will carry the
day. despite clear evidence that the new
proposals meet with the most widespread
criticism Moreover. the news from the
front today. showing tho continued gravity
Of tho military situation. is helping the
ministers in their new campaign
Opinion In tho lobby of the house was
that former Premier Asauith could have
taken a much stronger attitude against
tho government than he did. and the ract
that he refrained from utilizing the op-
porunity to embaxraB the government Is
Indicative of the spirit Of large section
Of the house. Ireland and the attitude
of the nationalists Of course. remains an
unknown factor, but John Dillon, at the
end of his speech, seemed to- Indicate
possible means of agreeing with the gov
ernment. Until the government proposals
on the projected home-rule measure be-
come known nothing can be predicted
with any degree OF certainty.
Bill May Be Modified.
1t is not unlikely however. that the bill
may be modified considerably in its pass
age through committee. Andrew Bonar
Law, government leader. intimated in the
course of the debate that the government
might consider fixing the conscr1ption age
at forty-eight instead Of fifty.
After Capt. William a. Redmond had
spoken against the government meas
ure a sensational scene arose in the
house. Leifchild Jones, liberal for
Nottinghamshire. demanded on whose
advice the government was acting IN
deciding to conscript Ireland. Sir Auck-
rose TO address the house. but the ma
tionalist members shouted for Chief
Secretary Duke to speak.
Sir Auckland tried to speak, but his
voice was drowned by shouts of: Duke!
Duke" The speaker Of the house ap-
pealed for order. whereupon Joseph
Dsvlin excitedly demanded to know
where the Irish government stood In
the matter. The disorders continued,
Sir Auckland Geddes vainly trying to
get a hearing. The speaker again in
tervened, and said that although some
members were anxious to hear the chief
secretary others wanted to hear
Geddea.
This failing to quiet the commotion,
the speaker appealed to the house Tor
q third tifne. and said that II certain
number of members were determined
that Geddes should not be heard that
was a game two parties could play at.
He strongly deprecated the attempt TO
shout down the minister of recruiting.
John NDillon appealed to his friends 10
allow Sir Auckland hearing. and An.
drew Bonar Law eventually promised
that Mr. Duke should participate in tho
discussion of the Irish clause. Sir AucK-
land Geddes was then allowed to speak.
He gave soma explanations on details
of the bill and strongly emphasized It's
urgency from a military viewpoint