Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-15
Dublin LORD MAYOR
ANXIOUS TO KNOW If
U. S. IS FOR IRELAND
Says His Pespe Are Now
Considering Eaxpayers
Strike To Gain End.
By Ralph Couch

| (Un1ted Press Staff correspondent
Copyright, 1919, BY United Press)
New York, Mar. 15.-Foreseeing pos
sible bloody revolution, the one public
official in Dublin who has the eonti-
dence of all factions IS trying to unite
the various Irish political elements in
scme form of eolonial hume rule.
That man is Laurence O'Neii, lord
mayor of Dublin. He was recently in
augurated for his thirl term. This is
unusual, as custom long ago decrced
tls; the lord mayor corld serve but
One term
Although I went TO the Mansion
House to interview 0'Neil just before
leaving Dublin fortnight ago, | soon
found that ] was being interviewed in
stead.
"Is America agains. US - he asked
Immediately. "That is the only inter
pretation | can put on the failure CT
President Wilson to acknowledge the
invitation to come to Ireland, which
was extended to him on behalf of the
government. /"
Situation Most Serious.
When asked to give his view of con
ditions in Ireland he said:
"The situation is mos serious. The
feelings of the people are stirred by
the continual presence here of thous-
ands 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 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 cur
condition. But if the Americans have
lost their sympathy for us | don 7 know
what will happen.
In appearance Omen is not at all
what imagination pictures the wearcr of
| the gold chain of a lord mayors Of
flee. He is small and thick set, not big
and pompous. He speaks with q sligh.
musical brogue and there is continual
look of weariness in his eyes His
friends say he works longer hours than
any man in Dublin. He sometimes
makes appointment as early as Z
clock in the morning. Visitors are not
infrequent at the Mansion House ut
night after dinner
O'Neil is credited with having made
the big yellow Mansion House the
only free building in Dublin"
Position Difficult
"My position has been difficult be-
cause had to please so many cle-
ments," he explained. "My job mas
been one Of pouring oil on troubled
waters. Any group can meet here, no
matter what their political opinions.
at seems as though everybody
comes here at least one day to pl.-
test against something. Perhaps 1ome
day the Irish won't have to protest
continually. Meanwhile, we are sitting
on the lid; nobody knows when it will
blow off,
A taxpayers strike is one form Of
direct action now being considered by
the Sim Fein national council direct
ing revolutionary tactics in Ireland.
Only One Of Several Measures
This is one of several measures,
short Of open rebellion, which the Sim
Feiners hope viii call the worlds at
tention to what they call "Britain Is
army Of 100000 hayonets occupying
Ireland =
Leaders say the strike will be adopt
ed as a national Sim Fein policy If
the party is successful in winning ma
jorities on the county councils at the
local elections in June.
Under the strike plan, the national
council would begin countrywide
campaign to persuade all Irishmen to re