Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-12-13
Pro-Germanism Charge
Nearly Causes Riot
in Committee; Crowd
Hoots Accusation.
De Valera Faction Asks
u. S. to Appropriate
Funds to Send Diplo-
iats to Dublin.

Washington, Dee 12-The claims oi
the Irish republic to recognition as ar
independent nation were brought to con-
gress again, today, and debated in mill
tant fashion through a tempestous all
day session of the house committee on
foreign affairs.
A crowd which jammed the committee
room and blocked adjoining corridors
punctuated the proceedings with cheers
and with boots of disapproval 1t in
cluded many leaders of the cause of
Irish freedom and manifested in many
ways it's sympathy with the plea for
recognition.
The occasion was committee considera-
tion of bill by Representative Mason,
republican, Illinois, which would appro-
pirate funds for dispatch of, diplomatic
and consular representatives 70 the gov
ernment set up by the insurgent Irish re-
publicans. It's supporters declared it pre-
sented an opportunity for congress to do
all it could constitutionally toward a full
diplomatic recognition and its opponents
condemned it as an effort to involve the
United States in dangerous foreign
situation.
Almost Had Riot
Late in the session. charges of pro-
Germanism on the part of the Irish re
publican leaders and some of their sup
porters in this country threw the meet
ing into furore which the committee
quoted with difficulty. Interruptions 50
prolonged the hearing that the commit
tees plan Of concluding il was abandoned
and the arguments will be resumed
Saturday.
Justice Daniel r. Cohalan, of the New
York state supreme court, and Frank
p. Walsh. who headed the Irish-American
delegation sent to Paris during the peace
negotiations. appeared to espouse the
cause of Irish freedom and ask for
passage of the bill The arguments in
opposition were made by George l.. Fox,
Of New Haven, Conn: George Il. Lem
mon, Of Troy, y. J.. president of the
National Federation Of Presbyterian Pa
triotic societies and others.
President" Did Not Appear
Eamon De Valera. president of the
Irish republican government, who came
to Washington to confer with Irish
American leaders, did not appear at me
meeting, but Harry Boiand. secretary of
the republics parliament" sat with
Justice Cohalan and Mr.. Walsh and fire.
quently advised them in the presentation
Of their case.
The provisional government, these
speakers argued, clearly was a defacto
government, having a complete legisla
tive and parliamentary organization. an
effective army of 100000 and united
popular support. The government. they
asserted is functioning in many i'm
portaDt matters while the British author
tiles have abandoned their attempt to
carry out many of the duties of govern
nent.
Makes Disloyaity Charge.
These statements all were denied by
Mr. Lemon and Mr. Fox, who said there
was a great division Of sentiment among
the Irish both ia Ireland and the United
States, and that little real headway had
been made by the republic as "a gov
ernment agency. They declared the Sim
Feiners party backing the republic was
one of the three powerful political or
ganiZations in Ireland and had hand-
capped the allies in winning the war.
An understanding between Irish
Americans and Communications was
charged by Mr.. Lemon and Mr.. Fox
carried the suggestion step further by
turning to Mr.. Walsh and declaring that
during the war this man was thinking
to help Germany" The crowd in which
the tri-coior of the Irish republic was
conspicuous along with the Stars and
Stripes. hooted down the assertion and
cheered committeeman when they obiec
ted.
Mr.. Fox will continue his speech when
the committee meets Saturday and
Bourke Cochran. of New York, will /
make the concluding address for the
advocates Of the bill