1918-06-15 — Page 3

Page

CONSCRIPTION AND VOX

POPULI:

[CONTRIBUTED]

Local politics frequently, lead picople to: indulge in personalities. It is, of course, the penalty which public men are called upon to pay if they wish to serve the

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, JUNE 15re,

TO RODERICK RANDOM OF THE

DAILY PRESS:"

من

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HONGKONG DATIT PRESS,""]

SIRSball we not call a truco to raining and recrimination?" It can do no earthly good, and it is not an edifying spectacle for the British subject of non-

Before asking to be cleared from two imputations made against me in your article of June 14th, may I be permitted (at the risk of being eternally " marked " by your powerful journal) to drag you from your journalistic. “ funk-hole" and ask if you are recognisable as Mr. H. A|--

British descent.

obscure people as those who work in con- nection with the tramways, the electricity supply, and the local steamers. They are all affected. if under forty, by this most important legislation, and many of them have not been in any way consulted about it. You may use that fact, if you please, as an argument for Constitutional Reform; but, on the other hand, it can be suggest- community. No doubt the public mened that the Chamber of Commerce Com Cartwright, printer, publishor and editor who pans it, and the satisfaction of a realise that fact fully before they enter mittee might have invited representatives of the newspaper which sorves your pur sardonic chuckles to those who read it, public life; it shows, at any rate, that

are dying, dying in thousands, that we they have courage to risk such troubles. ing the restless employés, to consider the Will you accept my assurance that 1 but while we wrangle and squabble men and ourg may live in security here no 8 said, before the war, that in contents of this vital Bill. which they have not written under instructions

less than at Home. land people of culture were rolusing seem to have drafted.

It

to

take part in municipal life, because

of all sections of the community, includ-base no well?

It may save recriminations and per- of these unpleasant personalities. The rent extraordinary trial, during which sonalities if the writer explains his own Pemberton Billing made incredible sug-point of view, which he advances merely gestions about an ex-Premior of Great with the object of showing that we all Britain, is perhaps an extremo case, but have our own pet notions. He advocated,

??

from the Government? The letters are entirely my own, and I received, directly or indirectly, orally or by document, information or suggestions of any kind. from anyone in the Colony.

In the next placo, may I repudiato any intention of easting aspersions upon, "bolding up to ridicule" or "insulting" Lain questions in my letter of June 12th

The cheap aneer, or cheap score, may afford a passing gratification to the man

Shall we not close our ranks, employers and employed, put asido potty jealousies

not close our

and unworthy suspicions, give credit to those about us for a patriotism as sincere as our own, and cease to be continually. looking around for some other fellow

it is an example of what personal animus at the outbreak of war, legislation to the gentlemen to whom I addressed cer- who ought to be doing a job at the

servant of the public can ac-

towards a complish.

compel every physically at man in the Colony to join the Volunteers or Reserves,

tu Hongkong there has been especially or to publicly declare himself a conscien- tious objector. And since then it has since the outbreak of the war, a great seemed to him that the simplest plan was deal of local excitement concerning

to introduce legislation here on the same political matters. It is, at times, very general lines as that proposed in the bard for one who is not daily in the

Imperial Parliament. Under those con. stream of life in the City to understand why there should be so touch of the ditions all the young men, would have personal element dragged into the con.been trained, and then when the urgent broversy. The climate may account for sune of it.

call cause the single men would have been liberated first, even if married men re- placed them in the offices,

At the present time feeling runs very

Anyone who knows the young men of high on this matter of conscription. Mr. Jenkin and Roderick Random " take the Colony knows nisʊ that they ask only uppusite points of view. Every man is, to go to the front. (There may be in- one may suppose, entitled to his opinions; significant exceptions, but the case of and if he goes beyond certain limits one-my-cent can be ignored.) It is also there is the law of libel. So much only fair to assume that the married do the laws of Great Britain respect men, too, wish that they could go. (For individit opinion that, even in this make no mistake about it, in the days erinis, & conscientious objector te warfare when the war is ever, those of us who, is not compelled to fight. Now in for whatever reason, did not fight, will ordinary circumstances, it does not, perfoel bound to step behind those of our haps, matter much if Mr. Jenkin and

Roderick Random" go for each other in the public print. In the days of peace we might even find it as entertain. ug as some of the stories of Mark Twain concerning American editors and their newspaper readers. But, unfortunately,

own prople, who did fight. will be

hard on the young men who were kept back; we shall all have to take it as "rough luck.") But the married men have given hostages to Fortune. If they have children they have a duty to the

It is in your own article, when still

writing as Roderick Random" on June 12th, that I find the statement that:--

The commercial houses, appealed to the Government to help them out of the difficulty by introduc ing conscription in order that the necesary remaining nien might he con- tent continue at their posts... From the lest letter of the hon. mem- ber for the Chamber of Commerce we know that the commercial houses construe men at accessary" as covering ali present in their employ.

Because I did not believe, and do not now believe, that the

men themselves asked for conscription for such a purpose, I took the liberty of putting it up to them to answer what you tex An

insulting question...

Front.

Don't let disgruntled opponents of the Bill who, nevertheless, want conscription

sulk in their tents because the Bill is not exactly what they asked for. Let the Tribunal get to work without fear or favour, and let us all combine with. a will to see how many more fl men Hongkong, which has sent home many, a brave spirit, can yet apare.

This is no time for bickering. If Germany were to win, what would it profit any one of us to have saved his face or saved his business? We have got lo "beat Germany, even if materially we suffer losses untold. Material losacs may be retrieved. if we win. If we should lose, good-bye to everything that makes life worth living.

Iray to Mr. Helypak, to the Committos of the Chamber of Commerce, to the You suggest I should apologise.

Hends of the big Hongs, to the hot When the men themselves repudiate heads whom they employ, to Mr. Jenkin, your statement, the statement which I

have quoted above, then I will most placed reliance on anything which liberally apologise, but only for having

appeared over your pseudonym,

June 14th, 1918.

FC JENKIN.

The adoption of a num-de-plume is

jast at present some of us want to obtain take to train those children to become thoroughly well recognised British jour-

all the evidence possible about this on- scription business. We want to form an usbiassed judgment, and the matter is obscurad very much by these personalities, which net like smoke-screens.

good citizens.

Let us attempt to regard the whole matter in the most charitable manner possible. Let us assume, despite some unfortunate words used in the Legislative The British community of this Colony Council, that the Chamber of Commerce is iade up of many elements and it wish to send as many toon as is possible would be unfortunate if the general to the front, and wish to retain others theory were accepted that any on for the sake of Empire trade and not elent, however important, can dictate their own individual interests. Let us to the rest of the community. That assume that every man, married and seems to account for the attitude of some single, under forty wants to go. Then of the business men towards the Esecu we must se, at once, that, in the matter tive and Legislative Councils. Concern-of selection, the young unmarried men ing the best form of Government for Crown Colony much has been written, and it is not proposed to enlarge upon it now. But unless the views of the Chamber of Commerce are entirely mis- understood, their argument is that the community as a whole, and not the cadet service, should decide concerning legisla tion.

It does, therefore, puzzle a mere on looker that the theory should now be advanced that the Chamber of Commerce is entitled to prepare legislation, and that, beause it comes from that one section of the community, therefore, it must be passed without criticism.

should be given the right to go first. The cost to the Colony will be less. He will be made a better soldier, for he will much more physically fit, if aged about 20 than the man of 38. He will not penalise young children, who will need careful training if they are to be come assets of the Empire. He will adapt himself to now conditions more easily than an older man.

Of course the uncharitable will say that the above is merely a plea to be excused service at the front. But, having been rejected, twice for active service, on medical grounds, that can be ignored. And let it be said, once more, that those of us who take no active military part in this great struggle will regret that fact for the rest of our lives. For, when the war is over, the world will not be able to do enough for those who went through the furnace in Flanders, Mesopotamia, Palestine or the other battlefelds upon which this great struggle has been fought It will be easier to face danger of life for a year or two than to have life-long

M. 8

No one has a more profound admira. tion for the commercial men of the Colons, not even "Roderick Random," than the writer; and often and often that admiration has been expressed by him in public prints, such as the Times. He asks for nothing better than to have the opportunity of increasing his admiration by learning more of the past history and the present enterprise of the commercial men of this Colony. But he has also a very great respect for the medical pro- regrets. fession. Yet she would not give that learned body of men a free hand to draft and to pass legislation affecting all of us, without any possibility of amend ment, especially if that legislation in- volved a matter of life and death. They might insist that we took physic four times a day during the rest of our lives,

THE CONSCRIPTION BILL.

(70 THS EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG DAJLY PRESS.”].

SIR-For pity sake, spars us from further contributions of such nauseating rabbizh as that contained in the letter There is a danger that we are all of us signed Business is Business."

Just a little apt to exaggerate the im- If a male, 1 sincerely hope he may be

portance of our own work or professions one of the first to be slung out of his The British community of Hongkong job to make an opening for one of the does not consist entirely of doctors, boys who have been doing their bit."

soldiers, Government servants, or busi-Yours, etc.,

ess men. There are the lawyers, the schoolmasters, the architects and engi-

A. W

The courtesy of car columns is extended cers, the men in largo dockyards at impartially to ul stades of opinion... Taikoo and Kowloon, and even such H.D.F']

naliste practice, and indicates no unworthy motive, as our correspondent must be well aware. We need only men tion such familiar examples as

"Dagonct," Claudius Clear," and

whom this appeal may have any force,

lo Roderick Random," to all others to

and devote the energies which you ars forget your differences at this crisis,

frittering away in useless and acrimoni ous controversy, to one purpose alone. helping to win the war-Yours, etc.,

UNITY:

+4

HONGKONG

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE

DAILY PRESS.")

Sin-Time was when it was customary. Sub-Rosa.” As a matter of principle, for correspondents to allow themselves to therefore, the Editor of this paper be fined (preseds to Charity) for declines to allow himself to be “drawn” the privilege of indulging in "hot air"

14th June, 1018.

na to the identity of "Roderick Random" attacks through the medium of the but he freely accepts full responsibility papers. Some gave spontaneously, others for the statements and opinions which had to be reminded. Recent efforts appear aboys that signature or in the should have brought at least $100 to editorial columns of the Daily Pres Charities, and I think this ought to cost That Mr. Jenkin is conscious that his me $10, which I enclose Yours faith- conduct in this matter is not above fully, censure is shown by his anticipation

REFRIGERATOR,” that he will be eternally marked." The Editor of this paper, however, would consider himself unfit for his position if he were to allow personal feelings to MR. GOMPERS CONVERSION influence him in the discharge of his duties, and he is content to leave the matter to the judgment of the public. Mr. Jenkin will realise upon calm reflec tion, we think, that the offensive sugges tion he makes is more damaging to him all than to anyone else.--ED., I.D.P.I

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG.

DAILY PRESS,”]

Sin,-My attention has just been drawn to the concluding paragraph (which I had somehose missed) of Boderisk Random's first answer to Mr. Jenkin in your issue of the 12th instant. I think that “Roderick Random" did the Hon Mr. Lau Chu-pak less than justice in ascribing his vote for the Conscription Bill to the result of mental aberration of the moment, Mr. Lau's action, taken in conjunction with his remark in Council that the Chamber of Commerce should not have asked for conscription to be applied to Hongkong, does seem, at first sight, ponder, that inexplicable. But if we remark just explaing his attitude.

The Bill was introduced at the request

The Duke of Devonshire, Bir Wilfrid Laurier, members of Cabinet, and many prominent men, recently heard an ad- of dress by Mr. Gampora, the president the American Federation of Labour, at the Canadian Club, whose president, Sir Henry Drayton, introduced him as the generalissimo of American labour. Mr. Gompers told how the Socialist party leaders, working in concert with the Im- perial Government, had committed the labour unions of Germany to militaristio designs while deluding Socialists in other countries into the belief that Germany would only use her army to maintain tho peace of the world. There was, he said, no greater pacificist than himself before the war. In June, 1914, he had furnish- ed manuscript extracts from his sygeches for a book which was being printed or the Larnegie Peace Foundation." When in August the world was on fire and war had com, bellove me," said Mr. Compers,

I lost no time in geting out of the Printers hands that damned fool stuff." From that time he had been transformed of the Chamber of Commerce or, rather, from an extreme pacifcist into a decent of its Committee; but at the third reading

they took alarm at a certain clause which sort of fighting man. He deprecated any affects their interests, and, ignoring the Labour-conference with representatives ef main object of the measure, turned round and kicked it, as one of your correspond the enemy, adding, "When you begin eats puts it. No wonder, therefore, to discos pesca you lose the will and that a disinterested person on the Council power to fight, and the duty of the hour like Mr. Lan should have given his vole in to fight, not because we want to fight,

as

in favour of the Bill, apparently taken but because there is no bonourable alter

by its original sponsors.

Instead of being sneered at, I think

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fr. Lau Chu pak deserves well of the Labour, he said, but decided not to meet whole community, especially of those representatives of enemy countries until HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,”

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