The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-23
HEAD IRISH REPUBLIC
REMAINS N SEClOS|On

whose arrival IN THIS country ""0 49,
nounced yesterday. remained In seclu-'
sion today, but a statement OF the pur-
poses of his visit was given out by
his secretary. Harry J. Boland. who
preceded him to the United states as
a stoker on a freight ship. The state
ment said in part:
"Eamon de Valera, president Of the
Irish republic, il in his native city.
He is here as direct representative
of the people Of ireland to the people
of America. He 10 the elected presi-
dent Of the elected government OF the
Irish nation which has deliberately de-
tcrmined itself as a republic. De
Valera was freely chosen by a three
4 one majority of the Irish people as
the duly accredited spokesman OF the
Irish nation.
president De Valera has undertaken
this journey at the request of his gov
eminent. His presence Is intended to
mark, in a conspicuous manner. the
esteem in which the Irish people hold
the people of America. His personal
connection with this country. coupled
with his well-known affection for 1t. in
addition to his qualifications as a
statesman. make him a suitable am
bassador.
"The visit Of the president OF the
lIlEu JCpuDltC w iSd q h'S $500
Is frAught with grave Importance. He
comes with a plan of reconstruction
tor Ireland and will endeavor to inter-
est American industries in the broad
field of Irish commerce. He will float
In America a bond issue of the Irish
republic that will start that new re-
public on a financial plane equalled by
few and excelled by none. He Will ap-
peal to official America to stand by the
Yrieh rnp,,hJ{n and rarncntye II before
the world"
Apropos a published report that the
immigration authorities were likely to
interest themselves in the De Falera's
presence in the country in view of his
arrival without a passport, Boland said
pa Valera Is an American, having been
born in New York. October IA, 1882.
When he was two and a halt years old
his father died and his mother took
him to her own home in Ireland. He
was educated In Irish primary schools
and French college, at Black Rock.
Later he attended lectures at the Ma
tional university and Trinity college.
Before his entry into the political feld
De Valera had won special distinction
as a mathematician.
In sketching the career of the Sim
Fein leader. Boland said he had
%tspoused the movement for national
freedom through his interest in the re-
yival of the Gaetic language.
In the Easter rebellion In 1915. De
Valera commanded a company in the
Mount street area. Dublin. which stood
off two divisions OF, British troops until
he received the order to surrender.
After the surrender he was tried by
court-martial and ordered shot. but
owing to the mood OF protests from
America az well as from Ireland, the
sentence was comrnunted to penal ser%t-
tude for life. He was the only OF
the Dublin commandments to escape
execution and was one of a group of
ssxty-nve political prisoners sent to the
Dartmoor convict prison.
At Dartmoor his leadership Of the
other prisoners brought him into con-
hict with the authorities and he was
transferred to Maidstone where his
associates were English criminals.
From there he was transferred TO
Lewes prisoner as the result OF tho
general protests made against the
treatment Of the Irish political prison
ers. AS a protest against the refusal
Of the government to treat them as
| prisoners OF war, De Valera and his
fellow prisoners. 1N in number,
wrecked their cells at a concerted sig
nal. Every pane Of glass and all fur
| niture in each Of the l25 cells was
smashed TO bits.
The result Of this action was an or
der from the home office for the trans
fer OF the whole group OF Maidstone
Parkhurst and Portland prisones
where the fight against oppressive
treatment was continued. Pressure Of
| public opinion and the report brought
from America by Mr.. Balfour OF the
sentiment prevailing here in regard to
treatment, Of the Irish prisoners, IN
duced the government to get all mem
bnrs Of the Irish volunteers free.
Immediately after his release In
1917. De Valera was nominated for the
seat in parliament left vacant by the
death Of Captain william Redmond
and carried East Glare by storm. His
first act after the election WAS to cal
. convention of representatives from
each parish in ireland to form an or
g%anization to continue the campaign
for freedom. The new organization. a
unteer or venian movement spread like
wildhre and today there are 1900 SIM
Fem clubs in Ireland.
Before the general election Of last
December" said Bofand. "the Sfnr
F.ein party held Ave parlianentar,
seats. In the election they captured
the country by more than two-thirds
seats"
OF De valere's escape from Lincoln
prison on February ., OF this year
Boland said 1t was not true that TIVE
girls had been employed to cajole thu
soldiers guarding the gates.
we respect VI Irish girls too
highly he said, ito submit them te
the ender mercies Of British soldiers
The Escape was work for men and wa
accomplished by men"
It was shortly before De Vn'ers'f
escape that Dali Eireann %fnational
assembly, met In Dublin and elected
him unanimously as president Of thu
r. republic.
Roland said tonight that De valers
will make his hrst public appearance
tomorrow, when he will meet newspa.
per men at the Waldorf-Astoria and
explain in detail what he hopes &c
accomplish during his stay in Amer
lea.
Gompcrs Gets Raise.
I Atlantic City. N. j.. June 22.-Sam
uel Gompers' salary as president of the
american Federation OF Labor. despite
his vigorous protest, was raised from
$500 to $4,000 a year.