Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-23
REACAN'S EYES ARE OPENED
Local Democratic Chairman Surprised
by English Political Meetings.
scANT COURTESY TO THE ORATORS
Ireland I'm Much Better Condition
Than England Today, a of
the Benefits Flowing from
Land Purchase Act.

John r. Reagan, chairman Of the demo-
cratic county committee, has returned from
a business trip to Ireland. He has with
him a ~blackthorn stick for Mayor Dahlman
and a new notion Of politics.
Il did not see OF heargo of one political
meeting In the United Kingdom that did
not break up In a row. This was espe-
cially true in England. 1t seemed to me
that the most distinguished men in public
life, when on the platform, were treated
very much as we would treat the veriest
hum IL he to make a public talk
on angelic morals. B~lAckguards and hood
iums would interrupt every sentence, and
continual uproar was the order in those
meetings. II a lord was talking he had
no show at all, but the lords had to get
off the hustings at a certain date and
keep their mouths shut from that time on.
but George himself was given
most disrespectful treatment in some in
stances, showing that the interruptions and
disorder we're confined to no particular
party. l heard John Redmond, leader OF
the Irish party, make a talk in Belfast,
and his audience was fairly decent, The
natIonallsts will hold the balance OF power
IN the new Parliament, and Ireland Is look
ing forward to getting a home rule measure
through Parliament.
Ireland BETTER Than England.
ireland is today In much better condl-
tion than England. 1 never saw so much
poverty and misery in my life as exists In
England, while similar conditions are fast
disappearing in Ireland, except In isolated
instances. Englishmen have said to me
that they would delight TO see the Irish
land purchase act made to apply to their
country. And l do not wonder at the wish,
for you may travel for hours through parts
of England that are entirely given over to
game preserves and otter uses that keep
the land uncultivated and unproductive.
The most useless parts Of the lordly de-
mesnes nave been set aside for the loca-
ton of villages, and they look most sterile
and unpromising.
Every man IN the British isles, it seemed
\ to me, carried a cane or stick, even the
I clerks In the stores, and they stick to their
notions in England most tenaciously, L
ordered a suit to be made and tried to have
It cut and tailored like the one 1 had on,
made here. The tailor would not make 1t
that way; told me l really did not know
what the latest correct cut and make was.
1t was like every other mans suit over
there, so / was not made uncomfortable.
Maybe LII wear IL d llIlc u tWO Al Ohiahoi
but II it attracts too much comment I'll
nave 1t made over.
Cotton ON Fire on Ship.
"Going over l was a passenger on the
Celtic, and for five days in one of the
lower stories OF the boat several hundred
bales of cotton were on fire. With 80 much
water about, It would have been strange
IL we\ burned up. Coming back l was on
the Lusitania, and perhaps the news was
brought TO your paper that a tidal wave hit
us, which smashed the windows in the
pilot house, two hundred feet above the
surface of the sea, and carried away some
OF the nautical Instruments. Old sailors
said twas the worst shock of raging water
they had ever experienced. 1t shocked
every passenger, all right, and sneaky
notions Of going to the bottom crept
through our minds for a while.
IT was interviewed by a newspaper man
In Belfast, while at a dinner gathering
When he heard Omaha is as large as Bel
fast he was astonished. He wrote Of this
city as being in 'far-away( western
America, and intimated that 1, like every
American, was boosting for the United
States. He congratulated me when ]
told him had quit newspaper reporting
to study law. Indicating that newspaper
men are not millionalres, even in ireland
When l told him the farmers of THU
state ride about in automobiles and tina
the cows will not give down their milk un'
ill the electric lights are turned on and q
music box set going, he wondered quite
q bit.
"The German war scare has everybody
scared green In England. They were
astonished when, in answer to inquiries
1 told them we knew little or nothing
about 1t over here. Their cherished hops
is that the United States will join will
England in an alliance 70 make the kaise
keep within bounds.
mo. / wasn't seasick, going over Of
coming back