Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-07-05
SINGING
Rebuff Given Carsonism in East
Antrim by Independent
,, Unionists.
Sir Edwards Man Badly Beaten In
Most Strenuous Political
Contest.
viii the Orange Factionist Chief
Keep His Threat and
Resign?
THERE WERE EXCITING SCENES

Carsonism has been given a Sc
we're rebuff in East Antrim.
The result of the by-election for
the seat vacated by the resignation
of Lieut.. Col. McCaimona was de-
clared as below:
g. b. Hanna (Ind. u .....8,714
Maj w. A. Moore (Carsonite) 7,549
Legg (LiberaD ....1,778
Ind. Unionist majority ...1,165
| Inc return of Hanna Is seri-
Gus blow to Carsonism. During the
contest-one OF the most strenuous
in the political history of Ulster-a
/ great amount of bitterness was dis
closed between the official and DEM
ocratic wings of the Ulster Unionist
group. Hanna's challenge was
against the supremacy of the East
Antrim Constitutional Association
which, he held, had no representa-
tive authority for the selection of
his opponent and the rejection of
| himself.
AS an Orangeman he objected to
"a stranger" chosen without regard
to the wishes of the electorate
which, as the figures show, is pre-
dominantly Unionist, being put for
ward by the clique, as he called it,
which spoke on behalf of Sir Ed
ward Carson. He did not, however,
| discard Sir Edward; indeed he and
his friends submitted their views to
that gentleman in London, as Ear
bitrator" between the parties, gave
the advice. Secure the return of
Major Moore" and subsequently al
lowed members of his party to an
nounce in the constituency that IL
Hanna were returned he might have
to reconsider his position. More
over, they insinuated that in such
event he would retire from the
Ulster leadership, and in any case
they said, Hanna would not be rec
ognized by the Ulster party.
Personalities were freely in
dulged in at the meetings of the re-
spective parties, and at some there
were exciting scenes, with heckling,
while stones and rotten eggs were
features at gatherings addressed by
Major Moore. Many Orange lodges
and sections of the Unionist labor
organization supported Hanna, who
was accused of being a Sim Feiner
and of wishing to destroy the Car
son party On the other hand, he
roundly asserted that efforts had
been made to induce him to stand
down by offers of a money sum and
appointment as an r. M, and on
one occasion he admitted that there
was a prospect, II he were returned,
of his surrendering his practice as
Ballymena solicitor and entering
business career in London, where
constant residence would enable
him the better to serve the constit-
uents.
Major Moore was largely COM
mended for his service in the war
with the Canadians and as a win
ner Of the d. s. o., and resolution
in his favor was passed by the
County Antrim Grand Orange
Lodge-of which, by the w.y, Han
ma Is a member. One Oh Hanna's
platform statements was that Sir
Edward Carson told him he knew
nothing of Major Moore. but that
friend in Donegal had asked him to
get "our Willie" a seat. MIR. Legg's
campaign was conducted without
chairmen or organization in the
regular sense of the word, but his
progressive views on Irish govern
ment, as the figures indicate,
with considerable acceptance for an
area llh6 I<dSb thbiAht
touches on the Unionist suburbs OF
Belfast and embraces several of the
seaside resorts on the coast from
the city round to Larne.
On the polling day posters were
displayed with the words: Moore
and the Union. Hanna and Dis
Union. which," The poll was
very exhaustive. 1t may be re-
called that Lieut.. Col. McCalmont
at the general election defeated a
Sim Fein candidate by over $4,000
votes.
After the declaration, which took
place at the County Court House,
Belfast, Hanna, who was "chaired"
from the steps of the building by
an enthusiastic crowd, said he
hoped that when he went to West
Minister he would so conduct him
self that the people of East Antrim
would have the same pride In him
as he would have in representing
them. Addressing meeting Of his
friends, Major Moore said that, al
though beaten, he was not dis
graced. They all knew the prin-
riples he had fought for, and he
was sure they would not be mis-
Mr.. Legg not having obtained an
eighth OF the total poll, forfeits
his deposit.