Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-02
STATEMENT OF A JUSTICE
Preparations to Make New Phase of
Agrarian Agitation Universal.
WANT BIG GRAZING RANCHES
Officials of Dublin Regard the Situa-
ton as the Most Serious One in
Fifteen Years.
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram The Star
LONDON, June Prime Minister
Henry Campbell Zimmerman ingenuously
informed the house of commons the other
day that the situation in Ireland on the
whole. was very satisfactory" The ex-
preston used by the premier has a pecu-
liar meaning. Unrepressed disorder exists
openly and undeniable in nine counties of
Ireland, namely: Sligo, Leitrim. Roscom-
mon. Mayo, Galaxy, Glare, Kerry, Kings
and the western part OF Cork, and the
agitation is spreading also to Queens and
Longford.
Justice Curran Of the Irish high court.
In opening the quarter sessions in Kings
county this week. affirmed from the bench
that although Kings county is officially
reported as peaceable. it is my emphatic
declaration that the county was never in
worse state Of disorder and disruption
than at present"
The Agrarian Agitation.
The Stars correspondent on the ground
writes as follows today:
Preparations are being made through
out the south and west of Ireland to make
the new phase OF the agrarian agitation
universal. Heart has been put into the
movement by failure of the crown to send
any OF the numerous prisoners charged
with driving cattle from ranches to trial.
The graziers realize that their OCCUPATION
is being made impossible, and many have
within the past few weeks surrendered
their grass lands in obedience to the de-
mands of the people.
New Movement Difficult.
The government finds 1t difficult to
tackle the new movement. Numerous pub
lie mensfn sympathy with the nationalists
movement were created magistrates by the
late administration wher devolution was in
the air and there was a promise of peace
and prosperity. Both devolution and Chief
Secretary Birrel's bill have been blown to
atoms and now the new magistrates have
1t In their power to send agitators forward
for trial or not as they wish. Up to the
present, all the men arraigned for cattle
driving have been liberated. notwithstand-
ing the positive swearing of police. In the
hopeful days Of devolution the constabulary
force was considerably weakened by the
government. who believed they had done
with the agitation. This force is no 4 found
to be too small and men have to be drafted
from the peaceful districts to uphold the
law in counties where the anti-gra ziers
are active
Towns in the disturbed districts are like
armed camps and strong bodies of police
are stationed at ranches where cattle are
grazing. When the agitation spreads. As 1t
will do Immediately, it is believed that the
military will have to be called In to assist
the constabulary.
Serious Condition of Affairs.
The people demand that the vast grazing
ranches shall be divider among them, and
drive through the affected parts shows that
they have some reasons for their stand.
1t is quite common to find cabins of peas
ants clustered in the congested districts,
their so-called farms being reclaimed bog
unproductivei clay, while cattle
ranched on widespreading grass land s of
the finest SOIL The officials at Dublin
Castle regard the situation the most
serious in the past fifteen years, and the
United Irish Leaguers are confident that
their movement will result in the abolition
of the present grazing system within the
present year.
Not many weeks ago the league was re-
garded as moribund but since the present
agitation started new members have foCked
in and a spirit of fierce determination has
again become manifest
Conspiracy Against Farmers.
A few specific instances will show the ma
ture of the situation which Prime Minister
Campbell Bannerman pronounces very sat-
isfactory. In Sligo there exists a conspr-
acy to compel two farmers named Arm
strong and Cooke to surrender certain lands
which they hold in the Tubbercurry dis
trct under the ordinary tenancy. The Moy-
Tough branch OF the league has called upon
these persons to sell their lands to the con-
gested districts board grange. The branch
is adopting a similar procedure toward
Owen Bradley, who holds grazing land in
Dromore West. The branch recently re-
ferred to a local grazer in the following
terms:
The league has him under treatment
and will continue to administer to him largo
doses of that well-known patent medicine,
the effects of which on his whole being.
physical, mental and moral, are evident 10
the least observant. Day or night, poor
man. he now considers il necessary for his
preservation to act. move and even sleep
in the shadows of policemen.
In Leitrim Caretaker Brady IS vigorously
boycotted and is under police protection.
In a large area of this country no process
server dares to serve processes or execute
,-it