Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-07-01
Chief Secretary Says Public
Meetings Are Prohibited Be-
cause They Are Marked By
Seditious Talk,
SINN FEM MOVEMENT
DECLARED WANING
Believes His Methods Have
Proven Success And Sees
Little Hope For Home Rule
In the Near Future.
BY James NJ. Tuohy.
Copyright. 1919, by the Press Publish-
ing Co
(The New York World.)
(Suaeial Cahin niqpatch


Especial Cable Dispatch,)
Dublin, June Sol was received at
Dublin castle today by the Right Hon.
Ian MACPHERSON, chief secretary for
Ireland, the minister responsible TO
the British house Of commons for the
current administration of the country.
He responded to my request for an in
terview for the Journal with extreme
courtesy.
| questioned him respecting the pro-
hibition of public meetings in differ
ent parts of Ireland. pointing out the
serious criticism evoked by the fact
that in several cases the orders had
been announced too late to prevent
the people assembling, although many
days public notice had been given of
the meetings.
There Is no delay inside this office
in dealing with such matters, once the
facts came to the knowledge of the
administration" the chief secretary
declared.
rs it not fact,"I / asked. "that as
consequence of this procedure III
many cases the notice of prohibition
has been so short that there has been
no opportunity for the conveners TO
call The meeting off, that the people
have assembled and have been dis
tperscd by the military aud tha po-
ltccs "
Yes that is unfortunate, but there
is no doubt that all these meetings are
certain to be marked with seditious
speaking by the promoters themselves,
and they will be prohibited" he re-
Piled.
Now, as to the prohibition of the
fairs which the Gaelic league has been
holding for several years, which in
clude exhibitions of little local indus
tries, as well as competitions in sing
ing. dancing and the like. Why has
1t become the policy of the govern
ment to prohibit these p l asked.
1--WE do not prohibit them ALL" he
answered. There Is no intention to
interfere with the innocet employ
ment Of the people, but when these
fairs are used for political purposes
they are likely to be mixed up with
seditious oratory OF the worst kind
unless they are prohibited" the chief
secretary said.
who are the judges as to whether
these meetings should be prohibited
or permitted" l asked.
THE competent military authorities
are responsible in the first instance,
MACPHERSON said; Those authorities
act In consultation with the civil gov
ernment II the competent military
authorities get guarantee beforehand
that there will be no sseditious speak
ing, and that the proceedings will be
restricted to the ordinary meaning of
fair and that murder outrages will
not be advocated, these fairs will be
permitted"
WAS not the fair at Killarney the
other day prohibited only the morning
1t was to be opened, although 1t had
been fixed and advertised at least
fortnight beforehand; were not re-
spectacle young girls prosecuted there
selling flags on that occasion? ?" he was
asked.
Il believe that something of the
kind did occur but competent military
authorities took action without delay
when satisfied that the fairs should
be prohibited" he admitted.
No Sesiition. in Ulster, He Says.
Can you tell me how many Orange
meetings have been prohibited In
Ulster?"
II can't recall any since I have
been chief secretary, the explanation
being that Orange lodges do not in
dulge in seditious speaking or advo-
cate murder outrages," he answered
But when Carson held meetings
in Ulster he preached sedition and
rebellion, surrounded by drilled and
armed forces. How many of his
meetings were prohibited?"
II take no responsibility for any poll
icy followed there before 1 became
chief secretary. / proceed on the
clear and definite policy that meetings
where an Indictment to sedition and
Outrage are INDUCED in will not be
permitted"
There is neither continuity nor
impartiality then in the Irish admin
istration?" asked
II am responsible for my policy
alone" he answered.
DO you consider that the whole-
sale prohibition of these meetings,
outside of Ulster, on the ground Of
apprehension of incitement to sedi-
ton, after Carson and his followers
have been given perfect freedom TO
preach sedition and rebellion in Ulster
openly, supported by drilled and
armed forces is calculated to instil
respect for the administration of the
law in Ireland p
His Policy Is Succeeding.
"rnat is a hypothetical question"
Macpherson said 81 am dealing with
conditions as find them. and with
facts as | know them. am not con-
cerned with what has been done in
the past"
do you consider the policy you
are pursuing Is srcceeding?'
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