The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-20
DUEL IMMINENT IN
HOME RULE FIGHT
Wild Disorder and Hot Words
Follow Defeat of Motion to
Censure Government.
Sir Edward Carson Calls Dew
Inns Statement Infamous Lies
Nationalist and Unionist
Near Battle.

LONDON. March 1s.--The refusal
of Bonar Law, the Unionist leader. and
Sir Edward Carson. leader of the
Ulster Orangemen, to accept the pre-
miers proposal in regard to, Ulster
and the latter's refusal to make his
proposals more definite. or to agree TO
a referendum. has produced, for the
time being any way, q situation which,
as described by the unionist papers.
looks extremely dangerous. Belfast
Is reported 10 he in ferment. and it
is declared that only the smallest spark
is necessary to set the Orange districts
Of Ulster ablaze. THE departure OF
Sir Edward Carson for Londonderry.
and Moore. NJ p, for Belfast, last
night, Is ascr.bed to their recognition
OF the danger. and the necessity to
curb the angry enthusiasm OF their
followers.
LONDON. March 19.--The motion
of Bonar Law. leader of the opposi-
tion. censuring the government for
the refusal of Premier Asquith last
Monday to give the details of his pro-
posai for allowing the nine counties
of Ulster to vote separately on the
question Of being excluded from the
operation of the home rule bill, was
defeated In the house OF commons
tonight by a vote of s4b to 252.
Mr.. Laws proposal for referen-
dunn on the home rule bill was re-
iected by Premier Asquith. who ex-
pressed the belief that the govern
ment's plan offered the only hope OF
lasting settlement. The opposition
leader offered a guaranteeN that the
unionists In both houses of parlia-
ment would place no hindrance in the
way of obeying the will OF the peo-
pie If the government would accept
the proposal for referendum
IL his suggestion for q referendum
OF the United Kingdom on the ques
ton was rejected. Mr.. Law said II
could be only because the government
thought '.in the words OF Winston
Churchill that the question should be
settled by bullets rather than by
votes
Premier Asouith repeated the gov
ernment's assurances that there Will
will be no coercion In Ulster
Carson Calls IL Lie.
Sir Edward Carson, the Ulster
Unionist leader. followed the premier
in a fiery speech. during which he de-
nnunced an assertion by Joseph Dew
lin, Irish Nationalist member for Bel
fast, that sir Edward Carson was at
one time home ruler. Carson char.
Rcterized It as an infamous lie." but
subsequently HkouiucQ AhS iCh'Ht n,
saving: THE statement Il q wilful
falsehood."
Austin Chamberlin wound UP for
the opposition and Augustin Birrel,
chief secretary for ireland. for the
government, after which the division
was taken.
The tempers Of the members on
both sides have risen holly during the
last few days The strain has also
affected the health of the leaders.
Premier Asquith is not very we'll. and
Sir Edward Carson Is also under the
weather He left sick bed only an
hour before the beginning of the de-
bate His bitterness during his speech
is excused by some members on this
account but the words of his remarks
and of Mr.. Devlins were sharply con-
demned by many on both sides.
winston Churchill was obviously
stung by Sir Edward Carson's re-
proaches, and reference TO his faith
er's support OF the Ulster men. though
he subsequently took occasion to de-
clare that he felt no resentment. ana
that he did not wish anybody to take
up the cudEels for him. This alluded
TO Joseph Devlin's self-imposed task
Of defending Mr.. Churchill.
Words Lead 70 Challenge.
There was an incident during the
debate that nearly resulted in formal
duel. John Dillon. one OF the Irish
Nationalist leaders. in the course OF
his speech. said that England must
conciliate the Irish In America. AT
this point Major Archer-Shee. Union