South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-15
TAXPAYERS Of
IRELAND MAY
CALL STRIKE
Sim FeinerS Consider Drastic
"DireCt Action" to Throw
Off Rule of Great &
Britain. e
BY RALPH r. COUCH.
Copyright 1919

BY United Press.
NEW YORK, March 15.-Forsee-
ing possible bloody revolution, the
one public official in Dublin who
has the confidence of all factions.
is trying to unite the various Irish
political elements in some form Of
colonial home rule.
That man is Laurence O'Neil. lord
mayor of Dublin. He was recently
inaugurated for his third term. This
is unusual. as custom long ago de-
creed that the lord mayor could
serve but one term.
Although I went to the Mansion
house TO interview O'Neil just before
leaving Dublin a fortnight ago. I
soon found that I was being inter-
viewed instead.
What Of America?
rs America against us?" he ask
ed Immediately THAT Is the only
Interpretation I can put on the fail
ure of Pres't Wilson to acknowledge
the invitation TO come to Ireland
which was extended to him on be-
half OF the government"
When asked to give his view of
conditions in Ireland he said:
1.-The situation is most serious.
The feelings Of the people are stir.
red by the continual presence here
of thousands Of soldiers. Nobody
knQNs what will happen and every
body fears the worst. The military
rule is severe. Men are arrested and
imprisoned often without trial.
Nearly one hundred are in English
prisons, (RepOrts have since been
received in this country that these
prisoners are being released),
America, we are hoping, will use
her influence to help us better our
condition. But If the Americans have
lost their sympathy for us, don't
Know what will happen"
Keep Long Hours.
In appearance, O'Neil is not at
all what imagination pictures the
wearer OF the gold chain Of a lord
mayors office, He is small and thick
set, not big and pompous. He speaks
ith a slight, musical brOgue and
there is a continual look Of weari-
ness in his eyes. His friends say he
works longer hours than any man
l
pointments as early as o'clock in
the morning Visitors are not infre-
quent at the Mansion house at night
after dinner.
O'Nen is credited with having
made the big yellow Mansion house
"the only free building in Dublin" ="
My position has been difficult be-
cause I had to please so many ele-
ments," he explained. My job has
/ been one of pouring oil on troubled
waters ANY group can meet here
no matter what their political opin-
/ ions
! 1T seems as though everybody
! comes here at least once a day to
protest against something. Perhaps
some day the Irish won't have to
protest continually. Meanwhile, we
are sitting on the lid, nobody knows
when it will blow off"
/ Consider Taxpayers Strike.
/ A taxpayers strike is one form OF
direct action now being considered
/ by the Sinn-Fein national council
directing revolutionary tactics, in
Ireland.
Leaders say the strike will be
adopted as a national Sinn-Fein pol
, icy if the party is successful in win
ming majorities on the county coun-
+ ellis at the local elections in June.
Under the strike plan the national
council would begin a countrywide
campaign to persuade all IriShmen
10 refuse TO pay taxes. The council
would issue a general appeal 10 this
effect
The appeal would be followed up
bv solicitations TO taxpayers directed
through the 1900 Sinn-Fein clubs
scattered throughout Ireland, with
their 10000 membership.
The government soon would find it
7 almost impossible to collect any tax
es on real property, it is believed.
Liens on furniture and other effects
would be wasted legal action, lead
ers say. The furniture could not be
sold TO pay the Indebtedness, they
predict
s.No Irish auctioneer would con-
sent 10 act at such sales" said 4
Sinn-Fein leader. Auctionsers would
have 70 be imported from England.
So would purchasers.
Then Irish laborers would refuse
10 remove the sold goods to the
/ wharves and Irish sailors would re-
fuse 10 carry it on their ships Eng
land soon would find herself with
out the millions OF pounds sterling
that she now squeezes out Of Ire
land"