Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-06
BRITAIN REFUSES
LABOR'S APPEAL TO
SAVE MACSWINEY
Bonar Law Asks for Sym
pathy for Relatives of
Slain Irish Policemen.
HE AND LLOYD GEORGE,
! FOR ENFORCEMENT OF LAW
Declare Any Other Cause Would
Make for Breakdown of the
Government.
LORD MAYOR DYING FAST
Sister Declares British Premier
and Fellow Ministers Will Answer
for Brothers DEATH.
HE AND LLOYD GEORGE,
FOR ENFORCEMENT OF LAW
LORD MAYOR DYING FAST,
Sister Declares British Premier
and Fellow Ministers Will Answer
for Brothers Death.
ny Unlversal Service. j

tBy Universal scrvicc.l
BRINToN PRISON. LONDON. Sept.
8 III p. M.).-Lord Mayor MacSwiney
is reported to be dying fast.
Chaplain Dominic left Mr.. Mac
Swiney at 0 o'clock. He reported
that the Mayor had occasional fits OF
dizziness, but had not lost conscious
ness. ~ morbidly curious crowd is
outside the prison waiting for the
announcement OF death.
Replying to the Labor party's ap-
peal in behalf of Lord Mayor Mac
Swiney. Bonar Law, the govern
ment leader, addressed n long let
ter. dated Downing Street. today 10
the effect that tho governments po-
sitlon was made clear in the Pre-
mier's statement of August 25. to
which there was little to add
| Bonar Law proceeds TO state
that MacSwiney was ono of the
leaders OF the Irish republican army
| which declared itself at war with tho
| rorces OF the crown. and, according
to his own written words in one OF
the seditious documents for which he
was convicted. he and his followers
had determined to pursue their own
ends, asking no mercy and making
no compromise.
| Had he been taken at his word and
dealt with as an avowed rebel, ac-
cording to the universal practice
among civilized nations. says Bonar
Law he would have been liz
able To be shot. Instead he was
tried By legally constituted tri-
bunal. sentenced to a moderate term
OF imprisonment and given. ali tho
privileges of political prisoner.
ITO release such prisoners" as
serts Bonar Law. >would be moth
ing short OF @ betrayal of loyal
officers, on whose devotion to duty
the fabric OF social order in Ireland
rests"
Since Macswiney's arrest 1t is
pointed out In the letter. fifteen on
GERS have been brutally and treach-
erously done to death without nny
chance of defending themselves.
surely" continues the letter, "the
sympathy extended TO the Lord Nav
or whose condition Is duo to his own
deliberate act, Is due rather to the
Dereaved widows and families Of the
murdered Irish policemen. The gov
ernment fully realizes how large
part sentiment plays In all human
aHpirs, and if it were possible II
| ouio 6iauiy nave taken tho atti-
'ude OF the English King, who said
ot an opponent. He is determined to
h'Tnseif martyr. and am
equaily determined to prevent it,
Bonnr Law declares in couclusIon
that the government cannot take
n course involving the complete
breakdown OF the machinery a,
law and government, and that if
the Lord Mayor dies In prison the
responsibility Will rest in degree
upon those who by their repeated
appeals have encouraged the he,,sr
that the government would prove
insincere In It's determination.
| Lloyd George also replied in tho
negative to. the message OF AIayor
Hyian, OF New York City. urging
the Premier to release Lord Mavor
MacSwiney. OF Cork. from prison
The Premier. in his reply. dispatched
Yesterday, stated politely but firmly
that ne could not interfere with
the course OF Justice and law. The
LORD Mayor Is master OF his own
destiny"
Mary MacSwiney. sister of the LORD
Mayor, wrote to the British Laoor
council. saying that If England is
aiioWeu TO crush Ireland now. n
VIII next be labor's turn, to be
crushed. Tho letter In part follows:
ferhaps you do not realize that
the PREMIER and his government are
counting that IL my brother dies the
leaders or tho Irish republic Will lose
their heads, that the army OF the
irish republic will do something rash.
ana that, In consequence. the gov
ernment Will be able to arrange an
| other massacre like that of 1903.
nave already warned Premier
Lloyd George that we will hold him
responsible for the murder of my
brother. AS he declares that this is
a cabinet decision, then each member
OF the CABINET who does not resign
publicly as n protest will be hold
| by the Irish nation to account 70.
| the murder.
Those who keep these men in
power cannot escape the RESPONSE
bility for their actions"
Mrs. NacSwiney today received a
message signed by tho president and
secretary OF the Cork urban district
council. conveying In behalf of the
townspeople OF Cork heartfelt sym
pathy," and adding:
THE sacrifice tho Lord Mayor and
his fellow strikers are making has
Infused into their countrymen a set
tied determination to carry to triumph
tho cause they are suffering and dy-
Ing for"
Cork Hunger Strikers Dyins.
DUBLIN, Sept. 15.-The eieysn
hunger strikers In the Cork fall this
afternoon entered tho twonty-sfxth