Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-15
SERIOUS SITUATION.

to Ireland"
SERIOUS SITUATION.
When asked to give his view Of con-
ditions in Ireland, he said:
"The situation is most serious. The
feelings of the people are stirred by the
continual presence here of thousands
of soldiers. Nobody knows what will
happen and everybody fears the worst.
The military rule is severe. Men are
arrested and imprisoned, often without
trial. Nearly 100 are in English pris-
ons. (Reports have since been re-
ceived in this, country that these pris-
oners are being released)
America, we are hoping, will use
her influence to help us better our con-
dition. But If the Americans have lost
what will happen"
In appearance O'Neil is not at all
what Imagination pictures the wearer
Of the gold chain of a lord mayors Of
flee. He is small and thick-set, not
big and pompous. He speaks with a
slight musical brogue and there is a
continual look of weariness in his eyes.
His friends say he works longer hours
than any man in Dublin. He sometimes
makes appointments as early as Z
o'clock in the morning. Visitors are
not infrequent at the Mansion house
at night after dinner.
DIFFICULT POSITION.
O'Neil is credited with having made
the big yellow Mansion house the
only free building in Dublin"
my position has been difficult be-
cause l had to please so may ele-
ments,' he explained. MY duty has
been one of pouring oil on troubled
waters. Any group can meet here no
matter what their political opinions.
ut seems as If everybody comes here
at least once day to protest against
something. Perhaps some day the
Irish won't have to protest continu-
ally. Meanwhile we are sitting on the
| lid, nobody knows when it will blow
off"
A tax payers strike is one form of
| direct action now being considered by
the Sim Fein national council, di-
recting revolutionary tactics in Ire
land.
This is one of several measures
short of open rebellion which the Sim
Feiners will call the worlds atten-
ton to what they call "Britain's army
of 100000 bayonets accupying Ire
J land"
Leaders say the strike will be
adopted as a national Sim Fein policy
! If the party is successful in winning
majorities in the county councils at
the local elections in June.
/
ANTi-TAx CAMPAIGN.
Under the strike plan, the national
| council would begin a country wide
campaign to persuade all Irishmen
not to pay taxes. The council would
issue general appeal to this effect.
The appeal would be followed up by
solicitations to tax payers directed
4 through the 1900 Sim Fein clubs scat
tered throughout Ireland with their
750, 900 membership.
The government would soon find ii
almost impossible to collect taxes on
real property. it is believed. Liens on
! furniture and other effects would be
wasted in legal action, leaders say
| The furniture could not be sold to pay
the indebtedness, they predict.
mo Irish auctioneer would consent
to act at such rates." said a Sim Fein
leader
! Then Irish laborers would refuse to
remove the sold goods to the wharves
| and Irish sailors would refuse to carry
| 1t on their ships. England soon would
| find herself without the millions OF
! pounds sterling that she now squeczes
out of Ireland"