Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-10
JIM LARKIN, MOST
PICTURESQUE FIGURE
IN LABOR ASSEMBLY
Famous Irish Agitator Vigor4
GUS Opponent of War and
Scornful of Home Rule
Bill. ,ls

One Of the most interesting. 20 not ihs
most interesting visitor at the convention
Of the American Federation of Lebon q
James, or as he is better known through
out the world, "Jlm' LarlSin. Lariin
Is the Irish labor leader who was put
in Jail by the British Government some
time ago for leading big strike. AL
together no has had against him prison
sentences amounting to some 10 years OF
hard labor. He has only served two
years, and according to him, has never
been In Jail for a period longer than three
months and IL days It was only after
the declaration Of war between England
and Germany that Ireland became too
hot place for Larkin to live in. At
least the Government made It too hot
for him by evincing a desire to shoot
him for his anti-war agitation. He was
so active and pronounced In his anti
war propaganda that, according to his
statement, the Government could not get
ten recruits day in the counties Of
Ulster, Munster and Connaught.
In appearance Larkin looks like a
'rebel" Of Robert Emmett's days. He is
tall, massive, yet wiry. His features are
sharp and his nose, somewhat long,
seems to breath defiance through it's
nostrils to the entire world. His eyes.
blue, deep and penetrating, shine with
brilliant light, the light that must have
shone In the eyes of Danton when he
called the peasantry of France TO rebellion
His hair, an iron gray, betrays long suf-
fering and struggle. With a big, black
slouch hat upon his head he darts to and
fro like q great eagle, embracing every
thing, leaving nothing unnoticed. Larlin
arrived in New York last Monday on the
ST. Louis. He will remain here until
after the war and will tour the country.
ireland is now in a very miserable
state" said Larkin, today "The future,
however, is not altogether without
promise
AGAINST THE WAR.
'There is powerful anti-war sentiment
In Ireland which has frustrated the Gov
ernments recruiting plans. The Irish
Trade Union Congress and Labor party
have by a definite proclamation decided
not to take part i'll the war. Our po-
sltion on war is the same as that of
labor the world over. We have no in
terest in this war and we are not going
to fight. The anti-war manifesto was
signed by all the leaders of the Irish
Trade Union Congress and Labor party.
representing more than 1900 men All
the city trades councils with the excep-
tlon of that in Belfast, agreed with the
manifesto.
THE employers in ireland have been
to force the workers to join the army
Though we have no formal Conscription
i'll Ireland, Scotland or Wales, employers
under the influence of the War Office,
have compelled their employees to enlist
by refusing them work. Thousands of
men on the railways, in the textile fac
tories and in all industries generally have
thus been deprived of their positions.
In Ireland and in England there Is no
enthusiasm for the war. The miners,
more than million in number, are OPP
posed to the war, Ramsay Mcdonald and
Keir Hardie, leaders of the Independent
Labor party, are addressing tremendous
meetings all over England, Scotland and
Wales. urging the people not to 60 to
war. They point out that the war was
brought about through secret diplomacy
and the people We're never taken into
confidence on matters of foreign relations.
"All expressions of public opinion are
censored by the Government. -Four promi-
nent labor leaders are now in jail for
daring to sign the ant-war manifesto
Three postmasters In Cork were arrested
for agitating against the war They are
Patrick Haggerty, Peter Haggerty and
j. j. Walsh. Peter Haggerty has been
sentenced to one year penal servitude.
HOME RULE" A MYTH.
On the question of Home Rule, Larkin
very sarcastically remarked that there
is no Home Rule bill. There is a Gov
ernment of Ireland bill, which will come
into force next year and which is subject
to an amendment bill the context OF
which has never been published.
'The bill in itself is an abortion" said
Larkin. 1t gives no economic power
whatever 20 the people OF Ireland It is
essentially undemocratic. Its only pur-.
pose seems to be to create a mutual ad-
miratlon society between the ruling class
in Dublin and that in Westminster The
people in the cities of Ireland, who COM
prise the majority of Ireland's population
are given only 81 members In the Irish
Parliament created by the bill. The rural
districts, where the minority lives, l. e.,
the land owners. are given 12S members
Trinity University, home OF reaction in
ireland, is given two members for a
population OF 800 The areas of rem
resentation are so marked out that no
democratic expression OF the popular will
is possible The upper house is appointed
by the Lord-Lieutenant, who is appointed
by the King"
Larkin Will speak in Philadelphia on
November 25 under the auspices of the
United Irish Societies. The place OF the
meeting has not vet been decided upon