The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-19
JUDGE WILKINSON
 SAYS S|NN F|ENERS
 HOSTILE ID WILSON
Member of American Le- zion Makes Reply to the Statement of Charles
 P. Sweeney

Judge Horace c. Wilkinson. who has | been prominent in the opposition to the visit of De Valera to the city makes re- | ply to Charles P. Sweeney, member of the American Commission for Irish Independ- ence, in the following statement:
 | "Mr Charles P. Sweeney. Sim Fein publicity man. appears on page six of Sundays Age-Herald, and attempts to | convince the people that De Valera. when prisoner in England, was in complete harmony with the war aims of President Wilson
 l "1f this is true it is a pity that De | Valera was ever liberated. I taka it that this is camouflage, pure and simple. It must me presumed that De Valera is in | thorough accord with the objects ana aims of the element he purports to repre- sent, and that being true, let us see if the | objects and aims of that element were in complete harmony with our presidents war aims
 I The public will recall that two of tho avowed leaders of the Sim Fein in this country, to-wit, Jeremiah O'Leary ana Judge Cohalan, have been publicly repu- dated by President Wilson. The League | brain. was defeated by Sim Fein-re- i publican conspiracy, and Judge Cohalan !, said (March 26, 1920) Americans of this generation will probably never fully ap- preciate the debt of gratitude which they owe to Senators Borah. Reed, Johnson Shields and the other glorious men who lhave won this unprecedented victory. WAR CLOUDS DARKEST 1 "The Literary Digest of February 2, f91s at a time when the war clouds were | the darkest, quotes De Valera as saying: | 'England's enemies must be Ireland friends and in Collier's Magazine, issue of March 6, 1920. the following appears The press of New York City quotes De Valera, who has the title of president of the Irish republic He was asked whether the Irish desired Germany to be victor lions: the reported reply was expressed in these words There can be but one 1 answer. As far as England was con lcerned. the Irish desired Germany tot De victorious. I now call upon MT. sweeney Ito produce any utterance of President Wilson to the effect that as far as Eng Hand was concerned the United States idesired Germany to be victorious. If he can not do this I shall expect him to withdraw his obvious camouflage about De Valera and our President being in tcomplete harmony.
 HOSTILITY OF SINN FEN | "Mr. Sweeney calls on me for proof that the Sim Fen element in Ireland lharrassed and mistreated American sail ors during the war. The order or the | American naval commander providing lthat no American sailor might enter cork, because of the hostility of the sim Fein, would seem to be sufficient. The local lpost of the legion is satisfied beyond all luuestion that this charge is true, TOT standing on that proposition. they prac- lticaliy unanimously petitioned the gov Iernor. of Alabama to notify De. Valel7' lthat he is persona non sgrata in the staYe tof Alabama. This resolution headed py | a committee of which Vice Commandsg
 sBilP Rogers is chairman, will present l.his 10 the governor today. If any addi- tjonal proof is needed it will be pro 1uced ir abundance at the mass meet |: :ng tomorrow evening at Capital parh which is open to every citizen In the state'
 .sMr. Sweenv mentions a few insignifi- ant fights between some American ano french soldiers as an excnse TOT the l ,ttitude of the Sim Fein. If any of our
 ,,en and the French engaged in e per l -onal difficulty it is safe to say that 2 sottle of win rouge or mademoisell' | vas at the bottom of it. but the Sinr -reiners had different reason. Heal l Admiral Sims say: During the neariN wo years which the American maya -orces spent in Europe only one elemen | :, the population showed them any hos .;l;tv ar. even unfriendliness . there were many hostile demonstrations 1T -ovine picture shows and theaters
 he behavior of the America, sailors wa
 ~ood. but tho mere fact that they die
 ot openly manifest hatred Of Grea'
 ,ritain and love of Germany infuriatet he Sim Feners. |.
 "A reference is made to the alleget I ,eceptions rendered De Valera in othel 1 -ssrts of this country. but nothine is sat
 of the opposition to him. On April 10 | he New York Methodist conference. fol lowing a speech bv Chancellor Dav O. thu | Syracuse university. denounced his pres ) ence in this country and called on Con yress to apologize to Great Britain for al l rnfriendly meddling with her domestic l affairs On the same day the annua : conference of the Methodist Episcopa church held at Baltimore took like ac l l ton
 REPUDIATED DEVALERA