Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-03-11
First Citizen of the Land Stung
When $4,000 Is Sliced
of.
Has Had Hard Struggle to Reach
Top and Not Afraid
of Foes.
TAKES RETALIATORY MEASURES

There is merry war on in Ire
land and both sides of the con-
troversy are finding rocky road I'm
Dublin. Alderman John j. Farrell.
the new Lord Mayor, is objection
able to some members of the City
corporation, so they cut the historic
salary OF $4,000 a year to $4,000.
Mr. Farrell reciprocated by closing
the Mansion House and refusing per-
mission to the corporation to give
balls and social functions in that
place. Now the people have taken
up the fight. Some are supporting
the Mayor and others side with the
Corporation.
In response to the queries of a
correspondent of the New York Her
aid last week Mr.. Farrell said: yes.
1t is a position of the highest
honor, and one that any man might
be proud of. In fact in our present
state, without a Parliament of our
own, the office places me in a posi-
tion somewhat between your Presi-
dent and the Mayor of Greater New
YORK, though of course | need
hardly say without the power of
either. We have no Crown (appar-
emily the Lord Mayor had not read
Mr.. Redmond's speech), no Presi-
dent of republic, therefore the
Lord Mayor of Ireland's capital rem
resents the State so far as we Irish
men are concerned"
You may not be aware" pro-
ceeded Mr.. Farrell, ''that according
to statute law Dublin is the only
city which has the privilege of pre-
senting a petition in state at the
bar of the House of Commons, and
that according to British charters
the Lord Mayor of Dublin is the
first citizen of ireland in the alb
sence of the King, unless it be- the
Lord Lieutenant when he is presid-
ing in the Privy Council At all
other times the Lord Mayor is by
statute the first citizen and next to
the King"
Questioned as to the coming royal
visit Mr.. Farrell said:
"The people of Ireland are dis
posed to be friendly toward King
George. They were fond of his
father, King Edward, and if home
rule were granted would give King
Ge rye an official welcome. The
people of Great Britain are begin
ming to understand Ireland better,
and for this We have in a large
measure to thank the United States.
which has shown unvarying good
will for ireland. Even a friendly
smile from the great republic has
been of great value to poor little
Ireland The United States have
been to us our sheet anchor i'm dis
tress and We are greateful. Long
live the United States, say l."
Mr.. Farrell did not wish to speak
Of his business. In addition to being
a newsdealer he conducts a boot and
shoe store. "'My life has been an
eventful one" he said. mo man
has had more earnest friends and
at the same time such relentless
enemies. | have come right up from
the bottom Of the ladder, and | sup
pose | must start downward again
when my year of office is up.
hope my downward movement will
receive as strong opposition as my
upward one did"
Isn't that a delicious Irish touch.
Mr.. Farrell is a strong politician and
says just what he thinks. His wife
Is, II anything, stronger Mrs. Far
rell traces her ancestry back to the
Norman Raymond lie Gros, who
,ame with Strongbow, and whose
descendants. like the Fitzgeralds.
became more Irish than the Irish
themselves" She has just presented
he Lord Mayor-elect with "a son.
Alas! had the interesting event.
aiken place after his installation as
Chief Magistrate the Corporation
would, according TO ancient custom.
rave voted him a silver cradle.
The Mansion House, where the
Lord Mayor will not reside unless
ais salary is restored, is one of the
'inest buildings In the city, situated
n the fashionable quarter. IL is
that the people of Dublin
will force the corporation to pay the
lewsdealer Lord Mayor the full sal
Try OF the office. so that he may be
lble to uphold its traditional hos
.hismaa rticalar year