Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-23
WORDY RIOT FEATURES
MEETING OF IRISH SONS
Salesman Denies Vcrac.ty OF State.
mcnts Made by Miss Katherine
Hughes.
LISTENERS BECOME ENRAGEo
Man Forced to Leave John Marshall
Auditorium Amid Jccrs of Audi
cncc-Sinn Fcin Policies Outlined
by Woman.

BY interruptinE Miss Katherine
Hughes. exponent OF the principles of
Sim Feinism and champion of the
cause OF Irish freedom, In speech she
was making at mass meeting in the
John Marshall High School auditorium
yesterday afternoon. James l." Ken
needy travelling salesman. who lives
at ZOE south Boulevard. nearly pre-
cipitated riot among the indignant
Sons OF Irish Freedom who filled the
auditorium
planning in detail conditions in Ulster.
and, in particular. the attitude of the
city of Belfast in relation TO the po-
moment was speaking of French Ca
nadians ana the war, when from the
center of the auditorium, Mr. Kennedy:
VIII was born within thirty miies o.
Belfast, and, as he expressed himself
last night, regards Sim Fctnsn, Bol-
sherism and Germanism as being on
the same level. called out a question
as 10 why the French Canadians and
the Irish from the south did not vol
unteer In the war.
Snys Statements Untrue.
Several Of your statements are alb
solutely untrue he added.
VIVA; did you say. SIR said I, Pr resi-,
Henery Branch Of the Sons of Irish
Freedom. who WAS presiding, spring
ing TO his feet and coming TO the front
II.
who was also on the platform. was
on his feet instantly and people were
standing UP all over the house Gran
ing their necks to see who the dis
turning element was.
Mr.. Kennedy repeated his state
ment about the speakers statements
being untrue. -,
threatened President OFlaherty an
grily from the front Of the platform.
Miss Hughes hastily interviewed and
insisted on her friends rcsuminE their
seats and TO allow her TO answer the
mans question. which she did by
spiritcd defense of lreland's patriotism
which brought forth deafeninE APP
waving OF Irish flags in the audience
Draws Picture of Desolation.
With intense dramatic effcc, she
drew a picture OF the desolation of
the north;of poor old Irish mothers
giving up their sons in an agony OF
America the land OF opportunity. and
of the spectacle presented 70 the
world Of nearly 100000 sons of Erin
enlisted before the middle of 1917:
fighting for freedom under the nag OF
DSafcning applause drowned the
sneakers voice and there was another
demonstration OF enthusiasm from the
Mr Kennedy got up and lef, the
?~'torium followed by Kisses and cat
Miss Hughes finished her address
with no further interruptions. her
funl toast. Here's TO Ireland: May
she soon sever her letters and take
her place among the free REPUBLICS OF
the world" being received with ire
mendous outburst OF cheering and the
waving of flags.
Speaker Holds Interest.
Miss Hughes familiarity with Euro.
pean politics. her flaming patriotism
NO .esgIt n "A =. a. a.
dom OF her beloved Ireland, and her
own personality held the interest o.:
her audience throughout her lengthy
address.
An exponent OF the principles OF
Sim Fein from public platforms for
many years. Miss Hughes stated her
firm belief that because IL represented
the purest and highest political policy
In Europe today. Sim Fein!sm would
eventually mean the salvation of
Western Europe. and the solution Of
the problems for which now, she said,
there Is only one alternative-shoot or
starve.