The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-02-02
IRISH REPUBLIC FUNCTIONS
WITH CONSIDERABLE TROUBLE
BY FRED MILLER

utmost vigilance of the British author
tiles the government OF the Irish re-
public" is still functioning to a certain
extent. Since the orders for 'he sup
preston of all Sin Fein organizations
and the Dali Eireann or Sim Fcin
parliament the government" has been
carried on with the greatest diff
Guilty.
Although nearly every minister" is
a fugitive and liable to arrest at any
moment the cabinet manages to
hold furtive secret meeting occa-
sionally. Usually these meetings are
held at the home of some trusted Sim
Feiner and never twice in the same
place. The meetings are mainly for
the purpose Of hearing reports of the
activities Of the different departments
and keeping the organization intact.
At the present moment four mem
bCi VI tlS SdblhSt diV bNlHS huAt-
ed by the British government authori-
ties They are: j d. Barton minister
Of agriculture; Countess Markevicz,
minister of labor; Ernest Blythe, min
lister without portfolio, and Michael
Collins, minister of fnance.
Several of these men are still in
Dublin but keep under cover so clev-
erly that the government agents are
unable to put their hands upon them.
Only a few days ago two of the mem
bers were seen on the streets in dis
guise by acQuaintances.
Within the past week Collins walk
ed boldly down Sackvlle street the
main thoroughfare, and met face to
face with two government secret ser
him. Collins coolly showed his hand
in his hip pocket and walked between
the detectives. Knowing his reputa-
ton as desperate and daring fight
er the detectives feared to tackle
him. Within a few minutes the dis
trict was swarming with police but
Collins had vanished.
In the last roundup of Sim Fein
leaders in which the government
planned to make a clean sweep Of
the cabinet" Collins had close
shave
vice men who Immediately recognized
Although forewarned of the impend-
ing raid he waited too long and when
the party of police arrived at the Sim
Fein headquarters in Harcourt street
Collins was inside and the building
was surrounded. With only few sec
onds to spare he succeeded in reach
ing the roof and thence crossed to the
roof of hotel next door and calmly
watched the raid
After the police had departed Col
Inns started to descend but fell
through slylight into the hotel and
almost into the arms Of a British Of
ficer. who raised the alarm In the
confusion Collins got away.
AS minister of finance, Collins is
handling the funds and campaign for
the Irish Republic" loan Although
the exact status Of the loan is un-
known, it is reported that it has
reached the sum OF several hundred
thousand dollars. For safe keeping
this is said to be distributed among a
large number OF persons in small
amounts so as not to arouse suspi-
cion.
Evidences ofthe activity of Collins
ministry are visible 10 any casual
observer in the streets Of Dublin. The !
walls and signboards are plastered |
with appeals to buy bonds of the |
Irish Republic With an eye to per-
manency the loan advertising is |
painted in black stenciling One of
the fayorite positions for the appeal !
is over Lord Frenchs proclamations,
an dwith Characteristic Irish humor
someone has painted one on the po-
lice station walls.
Seevral Dublin weekly newspapers
we're suppressed for publishing the adj
fertising for the Irish loan.
Next after Collins the British gov
srnment is most anxious to get D. j.
Carton, the minister of agriculture
3arton has had romantic career At
he time of the Easter rebellion he
vas a British army officer He was
'laced on guard over some Of the
'inn prisoners and through conversa-
ions with them became converted to
'inn Feinism. Since then he abs been
me of the bitterest enemies of the
British government in Ireland
One of the many mys' .es of Dub
in castles actions is t freedom al
owed Arthur Griffith, the acting pre-
fIont ns thu s.T,;el, Do,4,,1,1;o SIN,