Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-12
BRITISH COMMONS
CONTINUED from Page One)

IFOTV o8S WV
service men, which was the question
originally before the House. In this
attitude the Labor members are
likely to receive the support Of the
whole Laboritc electorate.
All sorts of epithets and threaten
ing gestures against the Treasury
Bench came from the Laborite5, eS-
peciaily from the small extreme
group. including the Scottish mem
bers, led by John Joseph Jones and
George Lansbury. The House. IN
striking contrast with yesterdays
scene, was crowded. and the two
front benches were uncomfOrtably
so. Excitement was at a fever heat,
and the speaker from time TO time
vainly appealed the better feelings
of the members, but as completely
unable to stem the disorder Jones
yehemcntIy expounded the grievances
of the former service men ana was
repeatedly called to order by inc
speaker, who declared that the qucs-
ton could not be debated until To-
morrow.
All the Speakers efforts to pacify
the recalcitrants only appeared 10
inf1ame them still further. The
speaker protested that it would be
"a very bad thing il the members
should force an adjournment on ac-
count OF grave disorder. and begged
them to refrain. All to no purpose.
1--WE demand an answer. was
shouted on every hand by the angry
Laborites
chancellor Baldwin's motion was
that the House tomorrow resolve It
self into committee Of supply. so
that the difficulty in which the gov
eminent had found itself could be ad-
justed, but the opposition declined TO
take part in division when closure
was moved. leading finally to the
speaker declaring both closure motion
and the chancellor'S motion carried.
The government, constrained to
bow before the storm. had to aban-
don the important agricultural debate
set down for today and also the ex-
pected statement from the Minister of
Agriculture concerning the govern
ment policy on the recent recon-
mendations of the Agricultural Tri-
bunal.
Mr.. Lloyd George had only just
previously asked the government to
grant a special day for discussion of
the important agricultural problem,
only to meet with Chancellor Bald
wins regretful rejoinder that ne
could see no possibility of giving
day in the future and the declaration
that it is most important that the
Minister Of Agriculture should make
his statement today
Two views prevail tonight over the
exciting events, on the government
SIDE. although some Of the members
admit that Mr.. Baldwin and the other
ministers acted somewhat f1ippantly
and that the government was hasty i'm
invoking the closure motion il was
mostly held that when the House
meets tomorrow the effervescence will
have subsidized and some means of ac-
cOmmodation will be found. On the
other hand. the Laborites characterize
the plan devised by the ministers and
speaker az an ingeniouS bubble and
declare that strict adherence to par
liamentary tradition would have de-
manded the resignation of the gov
eminent.
J. Ramsay McDonal Id the opposition
leader. in inviting the government TO
explain its plans mainly declared that
last nights vote was vote of CEN
sire. He expressed ironical sympathy
with the government which after
series of unexamplod defeats in clec-
tons. now finds itself faced with an
uncxampled defeat so far As the rec
ords of the House OF Commons are con-
cerncd."
Ridiculng the ministers contention
that 1t was snap division, since Con-
Servatives were in the House who re-
fused to support the government he
declared that to call the defeat an ac-
cident was a delightful way of cloth
ing disaster. and he counscled tho
ministers 10 feel chaStened by the ac-
cidcnt and very careful in the future.
During the height of the disorders
the prime minister and some of the
other ministers left the House amid
shouts of dcriSion.
Accounts arc conflicting concerning
an actual Scrimmagc in the House. and
eye-witnesSes are hopelessly at vari-
ancc. LaboriteS assert that one of
their members was struck. accidentally
or by design. and that this precipitated
an attack on the Honorable William
ormeSby-Gore. under-Secretary for the
colonies. by Scotch member, with
whom the under-secretary immediately
came to grasps. Ramsay McDonal Id
and Chancellor Baldwin interviewed to
separate the contestants. and several
angry Laboritds were seen rushing be-
hind the Speakers chair. apparently
with the intention OF attacking some
of the ministerialists, but were pre-
vented by their colleagues.
John Robertson. Labor member for
the Boutwell, division Of Lanarck shire.
turning to the ministerialists exclaim-
ed: You have assaulted us! Come
outside and assault us there, you dirty
cowards.'