The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-30
PARLIAMENT BY POLICE.

PARLIAMENT BY POLICE.
Exciting Scenes at Westminster ar,
Described.
The parliamentary reporter Of the
Dublin Freeman's Journal gives the
following-account of the recent row in
the House of Commons when Irish
members were removed by English pc.
licemen:
Mr.. Balfour then moved the closure
with regard to the original motion of
the vote on account, and was met by
loud cries of dissent from the Radical
and Nationalist members.
The closure was carried by 22O to
lit votes Majority, 103.
At seventeen minutes past midnight
the chairman put the vote, and hon
orable members above the gangways
on both sides of the House began, in
the usual leisurely way, to file into the
Hobbies. The Irish members, however,
remained in their places, and as it be-
came apparent that something was on
the tapis the Tory members remained
on the benches casting curious glances
across the floor.
The chairman said: l will ask the
honorable members to proceed to the
division Hobbies.
In response to this request the Tory
members rose and proceeded to leave.
The chairman then, addressing the
Irish members, said l will ask the
honorable members to be good enough
to proceed to the division Hobbies.
The Irish members remained seated,
che of them eXclniming: eve Won't
divide!'
The chairman repeated his request,
and was answered: "Certainly not"
Mr.. Flavin (who was greeted With
loud cries of "Order, order')-May |
point out that we consider we have Il
right to protest against the way i'll
which the votes have been clos,lrcd.
The Irish members have no opport,lni-
ty of speaking on the vote, and we
consider it scandalous Qrish chcers).
The Chairman-It is impossible to
go back on the decision Of the House
The House decided that the motion be
put, and it is my duty to put it.
Mr.. distinguishing your policemen;
but we are not going to vote.
At 1926 one of the clerks of the
House proceeded to take the names of
the Irish members who had decided
not to take part in the division and
who remained in their places. Amid
the cheers of his colleagues, Mr..
Boyle declined to give his name, and
his example was followed by the rest
The Opposition and the supporters of
the government had returned to the
House, no division having been taken.
AT this time the excitement was gen.
cral, and quiet was only restored when
the speaker took the chair.
Mr.. Lowther then said: l have to
report that in the course of division l
put the question which was ordered
to put to the House, and during the
course of that division Il certain num-
Der of members declined to leave their
seats cloud Irish cheers), and proceed
to tile division Hobbies. l requested
them more than once to proceed to the
division. l gather FROM the observa-
tons that fell from some Of them that
they declined to proceed.
An Irish Member-Because they
would not submit to the gag.
Mr.. Lowther-I thought it was due
to the House that 1 should follow the
precedent set on Il former occasion
and ask you to return to the chair. l
am not able to give the names of all
the honorable members who declined
to leave. but amongst those whom l
was able to observe We're the mem.
bcrs for East Cork, North Kerry,
South Tipperary, North Meath, North
Leitrim, East Limerick. Northeast
Cork, West Cavan, East Tyrone, South
Fermanagh, East Cork and West
Cork.
Mr.. Joyce-And the member for
Limerick. cloud Irish cheers.)
Several other Irish members called
out togethcr-And for College Green
and South Mayo and Mid Tipperary
(then, after II PAUSE and the member
for South Tipperary.
The speaker called loudly: Order,
order. Proceeding, he said that the
order having been made clearing the
House it was the duty of every men,
her to leave the House for the purpose
of the division, and he should remind
the honorable members that they were
breaking the rules Of the House III not
clearing the House for division.
At this point scene of the utmost
excitement was witnessed, and Mr..
Flavin was heard vainly attempting
to speak.
The Speaker must ask the honor.
able members, do they still persist in
their refusal to leave?
There was shout Of Eyes" from
the Irish benches.
The Speaker-It is now my duty tt
n0ma tho honoroh lilo n,omhors Ino,o.