The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-25
MAYOR or CORK !


hunger strike two days earlier in the
/. wv When en- Macswiney was depSrtsd to;
England to be placed in BriSton jail
shortly after sentence, he was, SO weak
he had to be carried aboard the
steamer. 1t was believed then he
would die within a few weeks.
The 1erd mayor lived how ever, with
only slight changes in his condition
He lived to see one of the other hum
ger strikers s Mis saa f5 afhssraie a'e
Drive Against Slim Fein.
While he lay on cot in Brixtoh
Jail, conditions in ireland became. still
more acute The government an
nouneed it would proceed vigorously
against the Slim Fem.
There began a period of reprisals
when police exacted swift vengeance
for every ambush and attack by Sim
Feiners. Homes and business build
ings were destroyed and Sim Feiner
eaders were shot by "black and tansp
in reprisal for the death Of their conn
The Lloyd George government was
under fire, the attack being launched
by liberal and labor forces They
seized on the new policy of the gov
eminent, especially the reprisaisi for
arguments. Their attacks continued
up to the reassembling of parliament,
when an attempt at censure led to a
vote of confidence in the geverRgnent
Since the government announced II
would not free hunter striking prison.
ers. the vote of confidence made 1t
clear MacSwiney could gain neither
| his release nor a change in Great
Britair's policy toward the Sim Fem
| ers. His strike.was for the announced
purpose of leading to a change in poll
| icy or his own freedom
EHo Lived Too LONG.
The British public reacted strangely
! to MacSwiney's case: His vitallty
| blocked his purpose. First. there was
pitv and widespread demand for the
prisoners release. Later arose a sus--
| i1icioa he was being fed secretly and
| interest in England Jagged so that
| newspapers neglected to prime the
daily bulletin on his c0ndltien. :.
/ age. was elected lord mayor of Cork
| BY slinanimous vote last spriHgi after
! the murder of Mayor MacCurtain. He
was arrested during a session of Re-
| publican court at which he was pre-
siding.
MaeSwiney's friends charged the
| government wished to put him out VI
/ the way because of his restraining in
| fltience or the people of Cork which
prevented them from. ecofhniitting acts
! to Justify British soldiers and police
in shooting Inhabitants Z
SIM Fein Made Threats. 2
Sim F7ein leaders thruotit the las
maintained that the British govern
4sniett MSoz Id che glsifty of deliheratf
murder if the lord mayor died. TfIt
officials responsible for MacSwiney,s
death wouldsaya triedf by Sim Feif
courts. Sim FeiH Leaders said, and SEN
tencedto deatha5
A nata bic example of Sim Feir
/ Ice n 10
Police Inspe etnr4 Sxsatlzy;;s found guilty
| of inStigating the murder of Lore
Mayor MacCurtain. Swanzy was shoi
down by riflennen. as he was leaving
church.
MacSwiney told his sister he wished
no reprlsals. Any attempt at revenge
he said, would invalidate much of the
worlds sympathy for the Irish cause
| evoked by his fas..
| wife Upheld Macswincy.
/, Appeals for MacSwiney's release
were made personally to, the highest
officials of the eEIpire. The Irish of
flee, Home Secretary Short, Premier
Lloyd George, King George and Queer
Mary in turn refused to interfere Will
the decree that hunger strikers coul6
not be freed.
The most pathetic figure in connee-
ton with the lingering death of The
lord mayor was thai of Lady Mayor
ess MacSwiney She was a daily Wis
Il itor at her husbands bedsidei sShe up
/ held her husband in every way. She
refused to have him fed. She spok,
proudly Of the effect of the strike OF
Lexpatriated freshmen who wrote from
fall parts Of the world that their pat
riotismt was aroused once more b.
MacSwiney's suffering.
All thru the fast there were rumor
that the prisoner was being Kept alie'
Eby secret feeding. This was denied
alike by prison officials and Mac
Swiney's relatives