The labor world., 1920-07-17
FREE LAND IN IRELAND.


the as yet unrecognized Irish Republic,
in carrying on its functions under diff
culties, is paying scant courtesy to the
claims Of a small part Of the people to
ownership Of the land on which all of
the people of Ireland must live. Thus
this struggling democracy recognizes a
fundamental right which no true popu.
lar government should question. Un-
DERIVING the opposition to Irish free
dom, however, it may be disguised, is
the fear of landed interests that the
right of the people to the land will
be assured in some way.
The methods pursued by the pro.
scribed government are not such as
should be pursued by a government
unhampcred by powerful ruler in
sisting on disregard of the wishes Of
the governed. But criticism of wrong
methods is not in order so long as the
greater wrong, imperialist domination,
is insisted upon.
According to David K. Este Bruce,
Irish correspondent Of the Baltimore
Sun, Gin regard to the agrarian aspect
Of the Sim Fein government it is
claimed that every man is entitled to
land if he wishes it, Mr.. Bruce does
not seem to realize it, but this is moth
ing more than declaration of the. right
of every man to work for his living.
1t states in different words the under
lying principle of the late Bishop Nulty
Of MeSth's denial Of the right of pri-
vatc individuals to withhold from use
land needed by others. It announces a
truth that would be generally recog-
nized as selfevident did not the selfish
influence Of strong financial interest
blind so many.
Measures that imply an attempt at
enforcement of this principle are re.
ported as follows:
At special Sim Fein confer
ence Of 70 delegates at Roscommon
not reasonably occupied it should
he taken from the owner, by force,
II necessary; that reasonable CON-
pensation should be offered, the
amount, if necessary, to be decided
by arbitration; that the Sim Fein
county organization take over the
control Of the land agitation in the
) county, and that no claims be al
lowed FOR land outside the organ
1zatlon, supreme commission Of
five to decide all matters in dis
pute; that the Congested Districts
Board be asked to hand over to
the organization lands they are not
prepared Immediately to divide;
that all further action in regard
to lands driven be regulated BY the
commission, and that from now to
the end of 1920 they should con-
centrate upon holders Of 500 acres
and upwards
From this it is clear that the Sim
Feln government holds that when the
landowner does not make proper use
of his land he should be compelled to
get out Of the way and let those use
1t who wish to do 80. Fundamentally
the policy is sound. Land is a fret
gift OF nature and the equal right OF
all to its use is essential to the equa
right Of all to life. Private property
in land cannot be justified by the rea
eoning that justi6es property in gen
eral. In compromising the dispossessee
owner the commission ought to pay tht
full value of all improvements sine,
these, being products of human labor
are rightfully the property Of the pro
ducer or Of the one to whom the pro
ducer has passed title. But the lant
itself is not a product of human labo
and has little value. aside from tn
value of improvements, that is not du
to the efforts of others besides tn
owner.
Mr.. Bruce reports that dispossessio,
is not confined to owners of 500 acre
and upwards, but apphed to man,
smaller holders. He also says that ire
sponsible individuals. actine on +hel
own initiative, have seized in land, bu
that the Sim Fein courts have broush
these men to justice. This proves
will to settle the land problem peace
fully and equitably. Nevertheless, M,
Bruce shows = trend Of mind in cor
menting as follows:
The hardahip resnsthg to land
ownsrs 10 deplorahae when it il r.
membered that Of tie go, 900 fam.
s#i s.5% !. y 5is 3s.ssssc. s.z1 5r.s .15,