The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1920-01-28
Four Being Hunted

AZ IAV ~ SoOAI AAO41CAC AOuA
bers OF the cabinet" are being hunt
ed by the British government author
tiles. They are: D. J. Barton, minis
ter of agriculture; Countess Markie-
vicz, minister of labor; Ernest Blythe,
minister without portfolio, and
Michael Collins, minister of finance.
Several of these men are still in
Dublin but kept under cover so clev-
erly that the government, agents are
unable to put their hands upon them.
Only few days ago two of the men,
bers were seen on the streets in dis
guises by acquaintance.
Within the past week Collins walk
ell boldly down Sackville street, the
mainthoroughfare, and met face to
face with two government secret SER
vice men who imm tely recognized
him. Collins coOlly showed his hands
in his hip pocket and walked between
the detectives. Knowing his reputa-
tion as desperate and daring fighter,
the detectives feared to tackle him.
Within few minutes the district
was swarming with police but Collins
had vanished
Daring ESCAPE
In the last roundup" Of oinn
Fein leaders in which the government
planned to make clean sweep of the
cabinet" Collins had close shave.
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 seconds to spare Ae succeeded
in reaching the roof and thence
crossed to the roof of hotel next
door and calmly watched the raid.
After the police had departed Col
lins started to descend but fell thru
skylight into the hotel and almost
into the arms Of British officer,
who raised an alarm. In the confu-
sion 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
. l.rge number Of persons in small
amounts, so as not to arouse suspi-
ciCn.
Evidence of the activity of Collins
"ministry' are visible. to any casual
observer in the streets of Dublin
The walls and signboards are plaster
ed with appeals to "buy bonds of the
lrish Republic" With an eye to
permanency the loan advertising IS
painted in black stenciling. One of
the favorite positions for the appeal
is over Lord French's proclamations
and with characteristic Irish humor
someone painted one on the police
station walls.
Newspapers Suppressed
Several Dublin weekly newspapers
were suppressed for publishing the
advertising for the Irish Loan.
Next after Collins, the British gov
ernment Is most anxious to get D.
l. Barton, the minister of agriculture
Barton has had romantic career. AT
the time of the Easter rebellion he
was British army officer. He was
placed on guard over some of the
Sinn Fein prisoners and through
conversation with them became con.
verted to Sim Feinism. Since then
he has been one Of the bitterest enc.
mics Of the British government in Ire
land.
One of the many mysteries of Dub.
lin Castles actions is the freedom al.
lowed Arthur Griffith, the acting pre-
sident of the Irish Republic" Since
the wholesale sweep in 1917, Griffith
has not been molested. Other Sinr
=. Feiners declare that the government
is afraid to arrest Griffith because
It would precipate an uprising. Mean.
" while Griffith comes and goes more
- or less freely about Dublin and is
readily accessible to visitors.