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Show OPPOSITION TO CONSCRIPTION London, Jan. 3, 1-54 a. m. According Accord-ing to an announcement made b the Press association, Ireland is not to bo excepted from the new compulsorv recruiting bill. London, Jan. 2. The opposition of labor to compulsory service is the most serious problem which Premier Asquith and the cabinet have on their handB at the present time. Arthur Henderson, labor's representative represen-tative In the government, Is unreservedly unre-servedly In favor of carrying out Premier Asqulth's pledge to tho married mar-ried men, namely, that all the single men in the country will be called upon up-on to serve first. Should this hostility find expression In any resolution adopted by the labor conferenco called for next Thursday, Mr. Henderson would undoubtedly relinquish re-linquish his seat In the cabinet His withdrawal would mean that labor members Intended to offer every resistance re-sistance to the bill and that In that event the government might adopt decisive de-cisive measures to ascertain the feeling feel-ing of the country. Labor Leader's Views. W. A. Appleton, secretary of the general federation of trade unions, made a statement of his views. Mr. Appleton is ono of the most prominent leaders In the British labor movement, representing aB he does between two and three million organized workers. Ho was chosen a member of the small labor recruiting committee appointed to assist tho government secure a sufficient number of men. nc is convinced con-vinced that the volunteer method has fully justified itself and contends that there is no military necessity for the step proposed by the cabinet Mr. Appleton's statement follows: "I am irrevocably opposed to any form of compulsory military service. I have never wavered In this vlou, and do not propose to do so now, even though we are in the middle of our greatest war. "I am proud to belong to a free state. My interest is not in the soil or situation of the country, but in its free traditions, Jaws and the measure of freedom which is allowed. If wc are called upon to forego these, my interest departs. To labor for a flag is nothing It is conditions of life that are tho determining factor. "Dcspit labor's efforts and in the face of the magnificont response of the people to the call for recruits, the country finds itself threatened by the government with a measure for conscription. con-scription. In view of the facts of the recruiting it Is difficult to believe that moro or less necessities direct the policies. "The government has consistently refused to announce any figures concerning con-cerning tho recruiting It is alleged that to do so would be to give valu able information to tho enemies. Nobody No-body outside of tho government doubts tho enemy's possession of all the essential es-sential facts concerning the size of the army and probably nobody outside of the war office feels there Is any danger to tho country In the enemy possessing this knowledge." |