The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-16
John Redmond "Thanks
God He Has Lived to See
This Day" and the Bands
Are Already Playing.

London, Jan. 16-lt was a great day
for Ireland In the House of Commons
today. The NationaIists were out in
full force to see their dream of nome
rule realized, that is to say, the first
and most important stage of it.
Telegraph and cable wires embrace
ing the earth were ready to send the
first flash that Ireland was free.
Solicitor General Sir John Simon
was the speaker when the debate on
the Asquith home rule bill was resum-
ed in the Commons, this afternoon.
He talked for the measure.
'+The day has come when even the
Irish conservatives (meaning the U1-
ster mem, have begun to see that
times have changed and that home
rule now is the almost unanimous de-
mand of the mass of Irish people,
said Sir John, amid thunderous ap-
plause.
When the debate was resumed, not
seat was empty and the galleries
were packed to capacity tickets for
all chairs having been given out weeks
ago. Many distinguished women and
men were to be seen among the spec
tators, notabIes- of England and other
countries and members Of the nobiI-
ity.
peace delegations occupied reserved
places as guests of the British govern
ment.
Scores of policemen guarded the
houses Of parliament and all ap-
proaches, and elaborate preparations
were made to guard against factionaI
clashes, this afternoon and tonight.
Irish bands that came to Parliament
Square were not allowed to play. To-
night the Nationalist demonstrators
planned to have bands playing outside
the observation-disclosures club and the
Conservatives arranged for a. counter
dem onstration outside the Constitu-
tiOnal-Nationalist club.
With an entire executive day for ar
guInent, the Irish home rule bill today
was expected to reach vote in the
House of Commons at 10:So o'clock to-
night.
tame by comparison with the two
stirring speeches yesterday by Prem
ier Asquith. for the measure, and Ar
thur J. Balfour, former leader Of the
.aThe time will come when the world
will know of what the Ulster men
shed-which God forbid-the real as
sassins will be those who have not
had the courage to face the real sit
uation-''
Although it was confidently predict
ed that on q, straight party vote the
government would have "a majority of
more than 100, there were scenes OF
great animation in and around parlia-
Tnent today when the final stage of
the home rule bill in the Commons
was reached Both parties were pres
ent in force. John E. Redmond's
band of Irish Nationalists was there
to a man, while of the Liberals, La
borites and Conservatives only those
VINO had been piared were absent With
the sick.
with full House of $40 members.
the government coalition of Liberals,
Ikaborites and Nationalists, has a ma
jority of 106, but one two Liberals
were expected to vote against the bill
or abstain altogether when the final
O'Clock. AT present the various par
ties are said to be lined up like this:
Liberals, 264; LaboTites, 40; National
lists, 76; Independent NatiOnalistS, 18,
and Conservatives, 282
Shortly after 2:45 p. M, Speaker
Lowther took the chair and although
the usual batting of ministers at ques-
tion time produced amusing verbal re-
joinders, the House inpatiently await
ed the crucial debate. Following in
brief, is what the leaders say about
home rule:
Premier Asquith, who introduced the
bill: This measure gives to the Irish
people a, free and ample field for the
development of their own national life.
Moreover, it will bind them to us and
the empire by a sense of voluntary CO.
operation and as I believe will be a
sincere and loyal attachment. At the
same time, the imperial parliament
will be set free for a fuller and more
adequate discharge of its imperial du-
ties. Thus there has been reserved
for this parliament, this House of
Commons, the double duty of recon
CLING Ireland and emancipating it
self"
! John Redmond. leader of the Irish