Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-08
IRISH KING IS DEAD.
Michael Waters of Innishmurray
Well Known Character.
HOME RULE GAINS STRONG POINT
: unionist Member Of Parliament Makes
Interesting Announcement.
LORD CLANRICARDE TO SELL OUT
Land Commission Forces Landlord to
Close His Estate.
IRELAND DRAINED OF ITS YOUNG
old Age Pension Law shows Active
sons rnd Daughters of Erin
Have Gone to other
Countries.
LORD CLANRIcARDE TO SELL OUT
Land Commission Forces Landlord to
Close His Estate.
IRELAND DRAINED OF ITS YoUNu

DUBLIN Nov Especial )-Ireland has
lost one OF it's most picturesque characters
In Michael Waters the king OF lnntsh-
murray, who died a few days ago. and
who has been succeeded on the throne by
his son, Michael. InnshmurTay Is a storm
bound island about nine miles off the Sligo
coast and the Waters have ruled there as
far back as the memory OF man runs The
late king succeeded his mother, who in turn
succeeded her husband, and the ruling
monarch has been king in fact as well
as i'm name. There are neither clersymen
nor police nor magistrates on the island
and the kings word is the supreme law to
the eighty inhabitants. An Innishmurray
man has never been known to trouble the
courts on the mainland.
CIandestIne Trade In whisky.
Officially the main Industry of the island
. is fishing, but unofficially It is making
p, Zen, or whisky, which pays no tax to
the government. The liquor is sold to the
> pubIcans on the mainland and is delivered
when the weather is suitable-that is on
dark and stormy nights when the excise
men and their boats are not likely to be
abroad. About ten years ago the govern
ment determined 70 put stop to this traf-
fic and stationed police sergeant and four
men on the island After four months,
however 1t was discovered that the in
habltants were in Danger OF starving to
death on account OF the ruin of their in
dustry The police. too, were in danger
Of starving for the islanders refused to
- supply them with food, and there are some
times periods of a month or more when
all communication with the mainland is
cut off. At the end of this period the po-
lice were withdrawn and the staple in
a tat,.. - ~. tgta l,a.
Since without hindrance.
King Michael Popular.
King Michael was well known to thou
sands OF tourists who visited the island to
see the remarkable ruins of the abbey
founded Jointly by st. Molaise and st. Co
inmbkille. early in the sixth century. The
kings castle" a neat whiiewashed cot
teGe stood near the only landing stage on
the island and the king was. always at
the waters edge when a boat arrived to
welcome the visitors. unless they were po-
llcemen or excisemeu.' when the welcome
would he a very cold, one His crown was
\ a very old. but carefully brushed silk hal
and his scepter a formidable blackthorn
His real robe was the garment known II
the west OF Ireland as "wileycoat,'' which
is cross between a flannel jacket and
Jersey.
every one Of his subjects and by hundred
of people from the mainland. He wa
buried. IN the royal plot inside the wall
Of the ruired abbey.
Home Rule IL Gaining.
Another evidence OF the change in pubi
sentiment even In the unionist party oi
the subject Of home rule is furnished b,
an interview with Sir George Doughty,
leading unicrist member of parliament
which has just been made. public. 81
George, while repeating the pous formu
abe ut complete separ alton Of Ireland fror
England being impossible, says that
- Ilarge number OF influential men In tn
unionist party believe that ireland shoul
receive a measure OF seh-govcrnment quit
Gs full as that enjoyed by any of til
British colonies, He also declares that h
is confident that this will soon become tn
official policy OF the party. II may
pointed out that this is all that the Iris
y lnationalists are asking for. A colonil
parliament meaLs the next thing to entil
political independence.
Gets After CIanrIcarde.
The Irish land commission has at la,
taken steps 10 deal with the scandal
Lord c1anricarde, who. enjoys the distin
tion of being the only land owner ev'
publicly denounced in Parliament by
British prime minister for his treatinel
of his tenants. The statutory notice I,
the compulsory purchase cf the Clanr
earde estates by the land commission h,
been published and within another yei
II is expected every tenant who has be-
evicted from the Clanricarde estates W
be back or his own land Lord Clam
earde of course is doing all he can
oppose the purchase but apparently Z
he can do is abuse the land commissions,
lie has not seen the estates for twent
five years and he lives the life of reclu
In England, devoting his time 10 art al
euTio collecting. lie is shuEned by 4
fellow peers the rare occasions Of h
appearance I'm the House of Lords.
Eject OF Immigration.
An announcement which has Just be
made in the English Parliament by I
prime minister throws a sinister light
the manner in which Ireland is bell
robbed by emigration of the young a
active part Of its population. leaving on
the old and poor behind. Mr.. Asquith a
nouneed .hst the total number OF app
cations received for old age pensions und
the new act up to the date OF his stat
ment was 46S.ie4. An analysis OF the app
cations shows that they we're divided
toloWs. The total population OF ca
country is given for purposes OF eompS
son;
Applications. Populate
sssHssssss.sEs.sss Ela.bbs bOOl
lleiahu s'.s..s...s..,...... l3l, $40 6O0l
ccotlahu '.s''''-...,...... 49OIl 1900
Wales ....''.'.....,,...... 1885 1870,
"a, This means that ireland. with the sal
population as Scotland. has three times
many applicants for a dole OF s.25 a wee
payable at the age OF 20 or over, and col
pared with England has four times
many In proportiOn TO the popuIation