New-York tribune., 1920-10-31

about things in Ireland?" =
The answer, a Journalistic axiom,
is easy:
GO to the Gresham Hotel"
In the lobby Of the Gresham Hotel,
Dublin, can oe felt the pulse Of Ire
land. Here gather Irishmen and
..nglshmen, of all creeds and politi-
cal beliefs. Here the interested visi-
tor can hear the latest rumor, meet
opposing leaders and be in instant
touch with Dublin Castle and Sim
i'ein headquarters. Jim Doyle, the
genial proprietor, has no politics;
Hugh, the hall porter, has all poll
tics; within twenty-four hours after
& foreign newspaper correspondent
arrives there will appear in search
of him one Desmond Fitzgerald, who
will see that ne has every oppor-
unity to observe the republican
Movement at its lest; the British au-
thorities, while poorer self-adver-
tisers, are accessible.
Nearly every prominent leader Of
he republican movement is liable
TO arrest at any moment; practically
NJ. of Sim Feins activities are for
hidden by law, yet there is not a
man in Sim Fem, from Arthur
Griffith, acting president, to the mys-
terious Mickey Collins who cannot
. be interviewed, and the various
phases of republicanism are an open
look to the visitor to Erin.
Ireland will never, so long as the
present British government con-
tinues in power or so long as Brit
ish public opinion, backed by the
weight Of the empire, continues what
it is, be granted a republic. The
leaders of the Sim Fein movement
realize this IS we'll as any one. Still
they continue to build up, under.
ground, their republic" in the faint
hope that the world will intervene.
And Ireland, observers admit, profits
from the constructive phases Of this
movement.
The Commission of Inquiry
There is the Commission Of In
quiry into the Resources and In
dustries of Ireland, a native agency,
headed by Darrell Figgis, acting, al
though it operates openly even to
the extent of advertising in Unionist
papers, as a special economic council
of Dali Eireann, the Sim Fein par
lament. 1t is an integral part of
the republican government"
When this commission was insti-
tuted it naturally met with deter
mined opposition from Dublin
Castle, the seat of British authority
in Ireland. 1t was a Sim Fein or
ganization and, as such, entirely IL
legal. Publicity saved its life; to-
day all shades Of Irish opinion have
rallied to the support of the con-
structive program it outlined; Of
fcials of the British government.
even Carsonites, have given advice
and testified at its sessions.
. Dublin Castle does not refuse to
permit Irishmen to interest them
selves In the Improvement Of their
country. The Offices of the commits
SION occupy strategic position di-
rectly above the American Consulate
in Dublin; the information it COL
lects is placed at the disposal of all
foreign consuls.
The National Land Bank
The National Land Bank is Sec
ond phase Of republican activity.
Duly chartered under British law,
the bank is nevertheless in the
hands of officials prominent in the
S'nn Fem movement. At its head
Is SmithGordon, we'll known as
writer on economic subjects.
Part of the work of the land bank
is 70 give practical expression to
the Sim Fein policy of emancipat-
ing the agricultural laborer from
the tenant farming, or landless con-
o't'cas at present existing 1t is
organising landlsss men and uneco-