The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-08
ny FRANK p. WALSH

tthstANsN
Chairman. American Commission ON
Irish Independence
Ct'rom official report on Conditions
in ireland With Demand for In
vestigation by the Peace Confer
encc," signed by Chairman Walsh
and Edward +. Dunnel
ireland. for the first timc in more
than 100 years, is absolutely cut off
from England. its regularly elected
members OF parliament having, with
few exceptions. refused to go TO
Westminster. They are attempting
under the guns or the English
soldiers. TO hold orderly sessions In
the Mansion House, in Dublin.
There Is an Irish military Or
ganization of approximately 100000
men of fighting age. poorly equipped
as 10 arms. and without artillery.
They appear To be well differed,
and seemingly maintain perfect
organization. engaging In daily drills
and frequent maneuvers. Upon all
sides may be heard declarations that
they are ready to fight and die for
the right OF differentiation. no
matter how great the odds against
them may be.
The killing by the British govern.
ment of these 100000 men would not
settle the Irish problem. Those be-
low the fighting age. and even the
children of Ireland. are singing The
Soldiers Song" shouting. Long
Live the Republic" and trying TO
enlist in the revolutionary move
ment.
Education
II England ever had an educa.
tional system in Ireland. IL has COM
pletely broken down.
The Irish people are taxed moro
for the support OF the police and
constabulary. altho the country Is
practically crimeiess In the ordinary
sense. than they are for the main
tenance OF the whole educational sys
TEN of ireland. including the upkeep
OF the National university. Trinity
college, as well as all the primary
and other schools In the land.
School teachers In the primary
schools are paid as low as 81 per
week.
No system OF hygiene or santa
ton has been installed. The teeth OF
practically all the children are In de-
cay. and respiratory and throat trou.
bles exist TO an alarming degree.
Lack of decent clothing and un-
der. nourishment Is keeping thou
sands OF children out OF school.
Social Life
In the city of Dublin alone there
are 10000 families. on an average OF
five to each family. living in one
room tenemeuts. Infant mortality
is appalling. Destitution and hunger
are rife.
Municipal bodies and private per
sons are attempting to extend relief.
but all such activities must have the
sanction Of the English government.
which Is difficult. II not impossible
| TO obtain.
Land Laws
The much Wanted land laws have
not appreciably aided in decreasing
poverty In the agricultural districts.
| manifold defects and hardships in
the operations of the law. all the
farmer should gain by his owner
ship Of the land is taken away from
him by unjust taxes.
When the first land law was
passed I'm 1881. the direct per capita
tax in Ireland was about So per
head At the present time the direct
| taxation. imposed by British law.
amounts annually to tho enormous
sum of s45. The indirect taxation
of the people cannot be accurately
estimated. but is higher proportion
ately than in any other country In
the world.
The age-old curse OF absentee land
| lordisYn still cuts deeply into the
economic heart OF Ireland. Hun.
dreds OF thousands of its most fertile
acres are owned by foreigners. As
| quickly as the rich crops are garn-
cred they are taken out OF the coun.
try. and this immense food supply
and almost infinite source OF wealth
is lost to her forever.
England has absolutely cut off Ire
land from the outside commerce OF
the world. allows no ship to come
transatlantic to her ports, and thus
controls the prices OF the necessaries
of life for her inhabitants.
This combined system OF taxation
and monopoly automatically takes
away the legitimate profit from the
l------------------------