The Irish standard., 1913-05-10
IRISH BILL TO Be
RE.|NTRODUCED SOON
Discussion Of it Not Expected to
Occupy More Than One or
Two Weeks.
Woman's Suffrage Bill the Chief
Danger on Account of the
Possible Dissension.
Balkan Situation Imperils the Peace
of Europe-Powers
Unsettled.

The introduction OF the Irish Home
Rule bill for it's second passage will
take place before the Mhitsuntide
holiday, according TO an announce
ment by Prime Minister Asquith last
week. The bill is not expected to
create much stir, as it will be sup
ported by the same majority this time
as when it's triumpllal passage took
place few months ago.
"This action" says T. p. O'Connor
in ID special cable to the Chicago Tri-
bune OF May 4, marks Il contrast be-
tween present and past conditions in
the Home Rule struggle and, it is be-
| lieved, this stage Of the bill will be
taken without even one word Of de-
! bate and in the most informal way.
In the ollen days, the first reading
occupied sometimes at least IL week
and with fierce divisions, while now
this stage is taken with as little for
mality as if it were Il small strectcar
bill. 1t is now announced, also, that
the ministry will not propose a dras-
tic closure for the" second reading de-
bate. but it is understood the debate
i will not be allowed to go beyond three
Or four days and that the remaining
stages OF the bill will not occupy more
than four days more. Thus the Home
! Rule bill will be passed the second
/ time in eight days"
| Woman Suffrage Threatens.
! The most serious danger threaten
ing Home Rule at the present time i:
the woman's suffrage bill. The dan.
ger lies in that parliament may be re.
quired to carry the bill through thi:
! session, thus taking up much OF thu
time OF the session with the possibil
I ity of causing Il division that ma!
eventually result in dissolution o
parliament. Should such Il sequel fol
| low it's introduction it would meal
| that Home Rule will be delayed fo
| two years at least. Commenting OF
this phase of the danger. T. p. O'Con
nor writes:
"a more serious danger threatens il
the debate next week of the woman
suffrage bill. The outragcs of tn
militants have aroused public opinion
wildly against the women. but man.
members of parliament still feel boun,
y by inpulsive promises to supper
woman suffrage and the result OF tn
division on second reading Tuesda,
night is uncertain and great anNet.
is apprehcnded, especially among tn
is carried on second reading, the min
istry will be bound to find time t
carry the bill through this session an
with that prospect in view, friends o
Home Rule claim it will involve enor
nous demands for parliamentary tim
and still further embarrass the situa
tion by the prospect of such violen
differences Of opinion among the cab
met ministers as to threaten the yer
existence of the cabinet.
/ "1'or this reason nearly all the Iris
members will oppose the bill. Som
liberals will oppose it. as IL respons
to the militant outragcs but the rea
danger is that, while the zealots fo
womans suffrage will be spent in full
many opponents or inIifferents wi
remain away and thus give ma jor
ity for the BILL
Danger Of European War.
In the meantime the war cloud
hanging over Europe. The danger G
struggle that might involve all tn
great powers OF Europe was so re;
last week as to be the paramount
question in government circles. Th
writer quoted above says Of it:
I'VE have all had big fright thi
week. The cabinet minister locke
grave. The bourses tumbled int
something like a semi panic and tn
wires were kept hot with telegram
from every capital 1t looked as if a
the terrible apprehensions of Europ
We're being dragged into a genera
! contlasration by the Balkan imbr0gli
Pictures were drawn Of Austria enter
ing Montenegro. of the Balkan stat