The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-26

Correspondence OF the Associated Press.
DUBLIN, October 14.-There are two
sides to the question of the famine in
Ireland. One side is that OF the govern
ment, which alleges that the famine is
exploited by politicians as an argument
against the administration OF Irish at-
fairs. The other side, held by many OF
the clergy, politicians and people, Is
that II is certain that there will be great
distress throughout large sections Of the
country,
A meeting of Roman Catholic pre-
lates was held at Maynooth this week.
and those present adopted resolutions
that the archbIshoPs and bishops Of Ire
land deem II their duty 10 submit TO the
government a statement OF their convle-
ton, formed on the personal knowledge
of seven members OF that body, that the
failure Of the potatoIand cereal crops In
many districts, particularly on the
southern and western coasts, must lead
to great distress, and unless speedy
measures OF relief are adopted, to dis
astrouB consequences.
From delegates who were present at
the convention of the independents at
Dublin this week details Of the situa-
ton were learned. II is particularly
bad In the middle and west Cork dis
trIcts, south of Ireland from Mncroon
10 the borders OF Kerry, including two
congested districts. Meetings are be-
ing held, the parish priests presiding, to
urge the government TO start relief
works before the people reach the point
Of actual suffering.
The district of Bantry, where the
greatest suffering occurred In ls47 and
1873, is as bad as the Cork district. The
potatoes are practically exhausted al
ready. ii middle Cork and along the
southern coast there is not more than
quarter OF the usual crop. 1t 10 said
that very small percentage OF the
farmers in these districts have saved
their potatoes, and those saved are re-
ported 10 be SO badly diseased that when
eaten they produce Irish cholera" 1t
Is feared that the supply of food viii be
exhausted before the new year. The 9TH
er crops are bad. The laborers ara
worse off than the farmers, because now
that the crops are harvested they have
no expectation OF work until the spring.
The government officials insist upon
keeping themselves fully Informed re-
garding the conditions prevailing, and
will be able, apparently, to cope with
the distress. but they say they are un-
able to announce at this time what dis
tricts or how many people will be af-
feeted
j. B. Dougherty, assistant under sec
secretary of state for Ireland, discuss
ing the situation with representative
OF the Associated Press said there would
undoubtedly be suffering but he added
that the predictions Of a famine SINH
lar to that Of the year 1SiS were "the
merest rubbish" He added:
"There are several counties on the
west coast OF ireland where the peo-
pie have had an exceedingly hard time
to attain their support under the best
conditions and II requires but a small
push to send them over the line, so that
with a small falling Off OF the crops
they will be obliged to accept aid This
will be the case in parts OF the west
coast Two circumstances, however,
will prevent n recurrence OF famine in
ireland under any clrcumstances,name
iy the Increase OF railroad facilities,
since lS4s and the fact that the people
no longer depend entirely upon the po-
tato crop.
The government Is keeping informed
on the situation and Is fully able to
handle any suffering which may arise"
In CONCLUSION, Mr. Dougherty left II
TO be inferred that relief works would
be inaugurated, although he did moi
say SO.