The Irish standard., 1919-12-13

ed Eamon de Valera, president Of the
Republic of Ireland, from addressing
q meeting at Shrine Auditorium last
night, as scheduled and advertised.
sayy the Los Angeles Examiner OF
Tharsaay, Nov. 30.
This was the refusal of directors
Of the auditorium to let 1t proceed.
The denouement came only q few
hours before the doors of the audi
torium were to have been opened and
was In the form OF q letter from
George A. Fitch. secretary Of the
Shrine Auditorium directors. to P. p.
O'Rrien. treasurer Of the Friends Of
Irish Freedom. In this letter hs
stated that the directors had received
protests from q majority of Al Malai-
.kah Temple Of the Shrine which owns
the auditorium, against the meeting.
aad must therefore withdraw permis-
sion for its use.
10000 Had Assembled.
More than 10000 people were
massed before the building yesterday
evening. They were there to hear
de Valera speak.
The doors were to have opened at
$50 O'Clock, but half an hour before;
that time q truck surrounded by ex-i
service men, made its way through
the crowd to the curb and Joseph
Scott, chairman of the reception COM
mittee using this for platform from
which to speak. told. in brief terms,
the story Of the change Of plan.
In the darkness his form could
hardly be seen, but his voice carried
to As sutermsst fEinse OF the crows
as he said:
I'VE have been told by the men who
control. this a1dttorium that President
- Valsra cannst spaAk here TONIGHT.
We did not know until late this after,
nson that this permission would bef
eoeasot.
vtM Speak Next Sunday.
Sunday afternoon ut 2 O'Clock
President de Valera will speak at
Washington Park to the greatest mass
meeting Los Angeles has ever seen.
4 was never prouder Of my fellow
citizens in my life Than Tam tonight
as I witness their respect for law and
order under aggravated circumstances.
Do not emulate the journalistic anar-
chist at First and Broadway, but assist
the police and ex-service boys in their
work Of maintaining order"
The crowd, which was estimated by
many as numbering not far from
$4,000 received the news with little
comment. There was no disturbance;
very few outcries were heard.
Some one started up "The Star
Spangled Banner" soon there arose
from the mass Of people, who were
indistihguishable in the darkness, such
a rendering of the anthem as one
might rarely hear.
And then they trooped away to their
homes. This quiet and expeditions
dispersion was not the least remark
able feature Of the whole affair.
Greeted by Countless Thousands.
Although de Valera did not speak
last night, Los Angeles had an oppor.
tunity to see and welcome him yester-
day and the city made the greeting
one that will be memorable.
In all the countless thousands who
called to him as the parade made its
way through the downtown streets
there were scarcely an unfriendly
voice.
De Valera's address at the luncheon
at the Hotel Alexandria, while not
extensive. was so earnest in manner.
and weighty in substance that those
who heard him know that the cause
he represents has valiant and ca
pable advocate.
Mr.. de Valera, it may be mentioned,
took the Shrine episode in the spirit
which prevailed among the people who
were turned away from that place. He
learned in the middle Of the afternoon
that there would be no meeting and
remarked. "this is doubtless a good
thing. My voice needs good rest,
and shall be in better shape Sunday
afternoon than I am now"
The meat Of this contretemps, as
related by the principals and docu.
mentary matter, was as follows: VI
Decide Against Shrine Meeting.
@ On the evening of November 12 d.
rectors Of the Shrine Auditorium de-
cided not to let de Valera speak In
the auditorium. There were present
Ne1sy H. Flint, chairman; Louis NJ.
Coils ~: r. Jenries, w. H. Harrison
sa6As Rob6ft "A. 5Henner.
o. tbe ildAy following, two days
slete thp fpllpN ing lettsr was dis-
lsit Ihad f0 III O'Brien. treasurer 81