Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-31
PREMIER URGEDBY
BRITISH LABOR TO
FREE MACSW|NEY
Strong Plea Made to Lloyd
George in Dying
Mans Behalf.
DEATH OF HUNGER STRIKER
EXPECTED MOMENTARlLY
Wife of Lord Mayor of Cork
Says Release Can't Save
Life Now.
Lny rnlycraaI s.ryicc

LONDON. August 30.-Tere C @
MacSwiney. the hunser-str!kinG Lord
Mayor of Cork. who has completed his
eighteenth day without food. is not
expected to live through the night.
according TO several persons who
visited him in Brixton jail late this
afternoon. The prison authorities
have permitted hts brother, John, to
remain constantly at the bedside.
The Labor Council OF Action. the
greatest nongovern.nent unit of
power in Great Britain, today sent
plea TO the Premier asking the re-
lease Of MacSwiney.
Appeal to Premier.
The message was signed by ]. II.
Thomas. Arthur Henderson and Will
liam Adamson. 1t reads: THE whole
Of organized British labor asks you
TO reconsider the governments de-
cis!on TO permit the Lord Mayor Of
Cork to die rather than release him.
His suffering Is greater than lengthy
Imprisonment. His death would
make an Irish solution remote. We
have appealed in vain to the Home
Secretary. We appeal TO you to do
the big thing"
The guard around the government
Offices in Downing Street has again
been increased. this time because of
a resolution BY the Sim Fein at Glas-
gov to wipe out the British Cabinet
in event the Lord Mayor dies.
But while this action was taking
place the dying man was slowly and
with pitifully long pauses between
his whispered words and sentences
instructing his wife. Muriel, to pre-
vail upon his friends after his death
not TO re;aliate on the persons respon-
sible for the death. lie wants the
conduct OF his friends. when lie Is
gone. TO show that ireland can be
restrained and can gain its ends be-
cause OF the sense OF justice prevail
ing in other nations.
No Hope for His Life.
Mrs. MacSwiney has given up hope
OF his life
Even IL my husband Is released
and moved" she said, the prison
doctor can give me no hope. ! do
not believe that he can live for thir-
'y'slx hours. Ills vitality is very
low. There Is nothing America can
do TO help save his life. 1t is 100
late. But with Americas helm he
might az least be enabled to die out
OF prison."
1t was learned today from an ofri-
cial government source that the Lord
Mayor will not be permitted to die IL
death can be prevented AS quickly
as he loses consciousness restoratives
will be used. The absence of fever
was indicated today by normal
temperature. The pulse is very low.
There is not a single sign OF impair-
ment of the Lord Mayors mind.
One Of his visitors today was the
Lord Mayor OF Dublin.
Is Not Committing Suicide.
The Lord Mayor is not committing
suicide is the view of the church.
This view was expressed by DR..
OMearl in speaking at a mass for
the Lord Mayors release at South
wark Cathedral. He said that as long
as death is not directly intended the
accusation is not justified. 1t has
been pointed out that McSwiney's
hrst desire is not death but. through
release, the acknowledgment that
his arres: and conviction were um-
lawful.
Arthur ]. Balfour. who Is PRACTICAL
~ the head OF the government in the
absence OF Premier Lloyd George, in
defining the royal prerogative. wrote
10 correspondent that the King can
act only with the advice of his min
isters. The whole responsibility. he
said. rests with the government