Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-22
{ ENGLAND
BY
FEIN
ASSEMBLY
British GarrisonS' Evacuation
Demand in Declaration Of
independence Adopted
at Dublin Meeting.
By Associated PES.

Dublin, Jan. 2l.-Twenty-hvc
members of the Sim Fein society
elected to the British house Of com
mons assembled here this afternoon
and formally constituted themselves
"the Dali Fireann," which is Irish
Gaelic for Irish parliament"
They elected Charles Burgess
whose Irish name is Cathal Brugha
speaker. They also adopted
declaration of independence and an
address TO the free nations Of the
world and appointed a committee oi
Count Plunkett, Arthur Grifiiths
and Prof. Edward De Valera to pre-
sent the claims of Ireland to self-de.
termination to the peace conference
at Paris.
The two last named being IN Brit
ish prisons, only the, venerable
Count Plunkett can proceed TO Paris
and then only provided the British
government consents to give him
passports.
gathering Orderly"
A crowd of perhaps 1000, includ-
ing many women and children,
wearing green, white and yellow
ribbons, pressed around the door of
the Mansion house, watching the
delegates enter. Only two police
men were visible, but the Sim Fein
had its own police--youths wearing
white arm bands-to keep order.
Another crowd of different type
was on hand-repatriated war pris.
others Of the Dublin fusiliers. They
had been entertained at lunch at
the Mansion house and their friends
and public generally were waiting
outside to cheer them.
This combination furnished the
possibilities of clash, but none oc,
CURED.
Many Women in Audience.
A large proportion Of the audi
ence consisted of women. The mum
Der of young priests was con
spicious. One of. the popular figures
arriving first was Father O'Fiana-
gan, who recently was Dismissed
from his parish by the bishop on ac-
count of his political activity.
There was a brief demonstration
when the delegates advanced down
the center isle, the people standing
on their seats and applauding them
and-waving hats and handkerehiefs
The youthfulness of the SIM
Fem leaders was their most notice
able Characteristic There were Hard
ly half dozen gray heads ia the
group. Count Plunkett, member ol
parliament and one of the leaders Of
the party, introduced in few terse
sentences Charles S. Burgess.
young man who acted as Chairman
and who made a short speech which
was much applauded.
Rollcall Made in English.
The rollcall was made in English
It included all the members of par
lament elected from Ireland to the
British parliament. Naturally a
majority Of these men failed to re.
spond as they are in prison.
Mention Of the name Of Sir Ed
ward Carson, leader Of the Ulster
ties. was the cause of much merri.
ment during the session.
The most striking feature of the
program was the reading of the dec
laration Of independence. First IL
l'ish, with the delegates standing.
and afterwards in English and
French. "Ireland's address to the
free nations was read. II conclud-
cd with an announcement Of the
complete independence of the Irish
republic against the arrogant pre-
tensions Of England, founded in
fraud and sustained only by aif~
overwhelming military occupation.
Address to Free Nations.
The meeting lasted only 90 min
rtes.
The address to free nations began
The nation of Ireland having her
national independence, calls through
her elected representatives III parlia-
ment assembled, upon every free na-
ton to support the Irish republic by
recognizing Ireland's national stat.
US and her right to vindication al
the peace conference.
II declared that Ireland was radi-
cally distinct from England ID race.
language, customs and traditions.
ireland, it said, was one of the most
ancient nations of Europe. She had
preserved her national integrity and
vigor intact through seven centuries
OF foreign oppression and never had
relinquished her national rights.
which she had defiantly proclaimed
every generation throughout The era
OF English usurpation down to her
last glorious resort to arms IN Iqi6n