The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-10-23
IRISH LEADER
I SEEKS FUNDS
O'Connor Says Home Rule
Is Id Sight.
TO TOUR UNITED STATES

Member Of Parliament From Liver.
pool District Explains Attitude OF
House Of Lords on the Budget and
Prediets Early Realization Of Erin's
Dream N Measure is Adopted.
Says Farmers OF Emerald Isle Are
More Prosperous Than Ever.
New York, Oct. 23.---Thomas Pow.
er O'Connor, the Irish parliamentary
leader, known among his intimates
and to his Liverpool constituency as
"Tay Pay" arrived by the Cunarder
Lusitania, looking as radiant and
rosy checked as II he were about 10
years younger than he really is,
which he admitted was 81, but
merely by the calendar and not by
the heart" MIR. O'Connor has much
OF the external aspect of an English
man, perhaps because he has been
representing Liverpool district con-
tinuously for the last "a years, but
he has as fine brogue as ever came
out Of Athlone, his birthplace.
Mr.. O'Connor said that the object
OF his mission was to raise funds for
the next general election. Most
Americans" said the Irishman "do
not know that the floor of the house
OF commons is the life of the coun.
try. am convinced that this is the
chance for Ireland. The Irish in
America and the Americans them.
selves have always responded liber.
ally to our appeals in crises and
believe this 10 be one. We want to
at least hold our representation In
parliament"
Mr.. O'Connor said much depended,
from the standpoint of the home
rulers, on the action of the house of
lords on the budget. "The effect of
the rejection of the budget would
give the Liberals at the next general
election a majority that would be not
only for the budget, but also for the
reform Of the house of lords. The
Liberals would not go before the
country on the subject of the budget
cnly, but would advocate n suspen-
sorry instead OF an absolute veto pow
er for the lords. The Liberals de-
clare that the house of lords has no
right to touch the budget; that it is
trying to take away from the people
the right to dispose of their money
and put 1t into the hands OF an un-
representative and irresponsible
body. II the budget should not pass
we might count on home rule per-
haps after three years. 1t Is my
impression that 1t will pass, however,
which makes our problem more diff.
cult The lords may desire to defy
the wishes OF the people, but It Is
not improbable that the. prime minis
ter may go to the king and he may
Intervene. The first measure after
the adoption Of the budget will be
home rule"
Mr.. O'Connor said that Ireland
had never been so prosperous as she
Is now, considered from the view
point of an agriculturist. When /
was a boy" he said, the country
"Np sHeNN oP Va PoupSio abN TidNto'
The landlord had the power at will
to turn families out on the highways,
and he did. All that has been chang.
ed There are now 100000 owners OF
small farms In Ireland, and in the
event Of the passage Of the land pur-
chase bill, the Birrel BILL it Is
known there, there will be 100000
farm owners. This means the pros
perity Of the 100000 of people. Ire.
land would become a small edition OF
France. Thousands of acres of the
land the government will buy from
the landlords and sell on easy terms
to the people on the west coast, from
Donegal to Cork, fine, cultivable land
that is occupied at present by cattle
instead of men and women--a mere
grazing ground"
Mr.. O'Connor will address a meet
ing In Columbus, o., on the evening
OF Oct. 81.