The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-23
ULSTER UN|ON|STS ID SIGN COVENANT AGAINST HOME RULE Big Demonstrations Are Scheduled for Ulster Day. Saturday Next HOME RULE NOT AN
 ISSUE IN ENGLAND Has Aroused No Great Feeling-Uls- ter Day May Be Beginning of
 Great Rebellion or a Flash
 in the Pan

London. September 22.-on Saturday. September 2S. unionists of the northern counties of Ireland propose to register their formal defiance of home rule. Gathering in halls and market places, even in churches. the men Of Ulster will sign a covenant pledging themselves never to submit to any government from Dublin which may be imposed upon tho country by the Asquith- Redmond home rule bill passed in the house of commons
 Ulster Day is the designation chose for this remarkable political sacrament According to it's promoters it will prove show of determination so seldom and impressive that the British cabinet will hesitate long before attempting to en- force It's scheme for partial separation of Ireland from the United Kingdom But viewed through spectacles of another po- litical color the affair is not to be taken seriously
 No Deep Feeling
 Home rule in its revived form of local self government instead of complete sep- aration for Ireland has aroused no deeper political feeling in England than other questions--the tariff, the lords and Lloyd- Georges taxation measures. Indeed. most Englishmen appear willing that Ireland should have about all the power involved In MT. Redmond's programme if only tho constant strife and racial bitterness can be ended. But the stumbling block has developed in the unionists of Ulster Be- fore they will submit to separation they will precipitate civil war, their leaders threaten. Home rulers, however, treat those threats with ridicule.
 Members of parliament like Sir Edward Carson. an Trishman, and r. r. Smith, one of the most conspicuous of the younger conservatives. who is not an Irishman, have made speeches in parliament and outside. announcing freely that Ulster will never recognize a home rule govern ment and urging the peopls to reqist | tfenee sonie af theii opponents have called upon the government to take proceedings against them for melting to break the law. They have taunted the authorities with being afraid to deal with these im- portant politicians as they did with the labor leader Tom Mann. who had term in prison for urging dock strikers to vio- Ience. But the cases of Carson and Smith present a loophole for evading prosecution. The home rule bill has not become law and the question arises whether people may be dealt with for preparing to resist proposals which have not yet attained the final stage of law and may never attain it.
 Carson To Sign First
 Sir Edward Carson and F. D. smith ara to be the first to write their names 10 the covenant" in Belfast city hall, where the largest assembly is expected. How many names will appear on this unique declaration of independence Is a subject Of newspaper contention Predictions of Ulster enthusiasts range from half a mil- lion to a million.
 The Belfast corporation has recommends ed all employers to give Saturday to their men as day of rest" The governing body of the Presbyterian church has is- sued manifesto declaring that the home rule bill threatens religious freedom and setting apart the day as one for worship and prayer. The covenant" Is to be signed on the steps of the Belfast cathe- dral and religious services will be heid there as well as in many Presbyterian. Methodist and Church of Ireland places of worship in Ulster.
 Unionist women have formulated a draft of declaration for members of their sex to sign and are preparing demonstra- ton to take place with those by the men
 The signing of the covenant may prove the prelude 10 q great rebellion or if may be a flash In the pan. Two years at best must elapse before home rule can begin to be established because the house of lords can hold up the bill for that time. The present drift of political feeling indi- cates that the liberal party may go out Of office within that period Ulster day. however. may be an excited occasion. Great political meetings in Belfast seldom pass without collisions between Orange men and Hibernians. Winston Churchill escaped being mobbed when he addressed a home rule rally there this summer only through strong police protection. with soldiers in reserve.