Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-13
IRISH REPUBLICAN
!. HEADS AIDED FOE,
COMMITTEEH HEARS
Mason Bill to Recognize
"Irish Republic" Is 0p-
posed at Hearing.

George L. Fox of New Haven. Conn.
who is conducting the opposition to
the bill of Representative Mason. re-
publican, of Illinois, which would APP
propriate funds for dispatch OF Dip
lomatic and consular representatives
to the government set up by the Irish
republic" continued his fight today
before the House committee on foreign
affairs.
Declares Irish Aided Foe.
Mr. Fox declared the reason Irish
republican leaders had been impris-
oned was that they had given aid
and comfort to the enemy in the war.
And if men in this country had
done the same thing" he added. they
would have got it in the neck as
quickly as those IriShmen did.
Mr.. Fox attacked the statement that
upward of 20.0o0,0o0 Americans OF
Irish blood were asking recognition
OF the republic, declaring that the
1910 census showed only 100000 males
in the United States who were born
in Ireland.
He said that at least some Roman
Catholics had an utter contempt for
the Sim Feiners" backing the repub-
lican government. If vote were
taken in ireland with illiterates
barred from the polls. he asserted.
against the Sim Fem movement.
Condemning hyphenism. Mr.. Fox
said agitation for Irish independence
had been carried to an unfortunate
extent in the United States.
IF any American wants to agitate
for Irish secession he added. "let
him go to Ireland and try it" The
Irish uprising, he said. was decided
on by majority of one by eleven
conspirators who sat in secret prior
to the Easement outbreak.
"De Valera Not Truly Irfsh.''
The record of Irish in corrupt poll
ties in the large American cities,
said Mr.. Fox. amply proved the in
capacity of the Sim Fein element to
establish and maintain efficient gov
eminent Eamonn de Valera. presi-
dent of the provisional republic. he
charged, is not truly an Irishman,
but an American of Spanish and
Cuban blood, who never had held any
| public Office of great responsibility.
To approve the Mason bill. the speak
| or continued, would be to aid ''one
| of the most monstrous schemes for
wholesale robbery ever proposed be-
cause of the Irish debt to Great Britain,
! which he said it was sought to re-
| pudiate.
Says Lodge Had "Change of Heart
Asked to elaborate on a statement
he made yesterday regarding a con-
versation with Senator Lodge, chair
| man of the foreign relations commit
tee, Mr.. Fox quoted Senator Lodge as
, saying to him, a year ago today:
TT seems to me we have no more
! right to interfere IN the Irish ques-
| ton than they have had to interfere
in the south or the Philippines"
But Mr.. Lodge had a change of
| heart. didn't he?" asked a committee
| member.
He must have had" replied Mr..
Fox, for he voted for the Borah reso-
| luton, expressing sympathy with the
cause of Irish independence.
! Canadian Editor Favors Bill.
Lindsey Crawford, a Toronto, Can
| ada, editor, who was the first presi-
dent of the Independent Irishmen,
mo such thing in Ireland today as a
| normal functioning of the British
government"
Mr.. Crawford declared the plea
| made against the Mason bill was
based on mot 100 per cent Americanism,
but on 100 per cent British imperial
ISM"
He charged that "the linen trust"
was behind the Ulster movement and
| opposed to the republic with the pur-
pose Of preventing any union of Cath
olics and Protestant workers which
might force better wages and work.
| ing conditions.
Pleas for recognition of the repub-
lie also were made by James G.
| Mythen, a Protestant Episcopal cler-
gyman of Baltimore, and Judge Z. c.
Bonniwell of Philadelphia.
i Stormy Discussion Of Issues.
| The hearing yesterday resulted in a
stormy session. At times the meeting
! was thrown into disorder by the hub
bub caused by members of the large
crowd that filled the room, loudly pro-
| claiming their versions of the issues
! under discussion.
The record of the Irish during the
war was the subject of prolonged dis
cussion and when charges of pro-Ger-
| manism were made against some
| Irish leaders rebuttal was brought
| forth with feeling and the charges
were hooted by some of the more en-
| thusiastic Irish supporters.
| canon de Valera, president of the
| Irish republican government. who
came to Washington Thursday to
confer with rish-American leaders,
did not appear at the meeting, but
Harry Boland. secretary of the re-
public's parliament" sat with JUS
tice Cohalan and Mr. Walsh and fire.
Quently advised them in the presenta-
| ton of their case.
Claim Made OF De FactO Government.
The provisional government, these
| speakers argued. clearly was de
facto government. having a complete
executive and parliamentary organiza-
ton. an effective army of 100000 and
| united popular support. The govern
ment, they asserted, is functioning in
many important matters, while the
British authorities have abandoned
their attempt to carry out many of
the duties of government.
These statements all were denied by
Mr.. Lemon and Mr.. Fox, who said
there was a great division of senti
ment among the Irish. both in Ireland
and the United States, and that little
rao1 haodUov had heen made nv the