The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-02-18
is DIVIDED
OYER HOME RULE BILL
North Country Is Quite Likely to Es-
tablish a Parliament Under
the New Bill.

Dublin. Feb. British determine
ton to apply the newly enacted home
rule bill has injected new complexities
into the Irish imbroglio
The big questions of the hour are
whether conditions in southern Ireland
are too chaotic to permit the expert
ment of an election and whether the
electors in that section will refuse to
vote.
An important problem in Ulster is
whether the nationalist minority will
refuse to accept the home rule act and
thus give full sway to unionists, OF
whom Sir Edward Carson has long
been leader tsince succeeded by Sir
James Craig.
These are the dominant issues on
which the whole country is speculat-
ing. !.
Preparations for the application of
the act in NORTHERN Ireland are in an
advanced stage. There it is to come
into force at the earliest possible con-
venient date. The splendid Belfast city
hall will be placed at the disposal of
the new northern Parliament, eliminat-
ing any delay for erection of Parlis'
ment house 1t is assured that the Car
son adherents will have working ma
iority. The result will depend on the
extent to which the nationalists in
northeast Ulster, dissatisfied with its
severance from the rest OF Ireland, 90
to the polls.
If they vote in proportion to their
numbers, they will form somewhat less
than half Of the membership of the
new body. The Carsonites will be Civ
en- virtual carte blanche if the nation.
alists boycott the election. Refusal OF
the nationalists to vote will not pre-
vent the Parliament from functioning
In the south, there are two main cur
rents of opinion in official and union
list circles. The one which appears to
predominate is in favor of letting the
south make a trial of the act at the
same time as the north. The other view
is that in the south the time for at
tempted application of the act is mop
perfume.
From several sources "feelers" are
being put forth in the endeavor TO
bring out candidates for the southern
legislature. Men of moderate opinion
are being asked to offer themselves.
The letter OF Lord Decies, announcing
his candidature, is considered likely to
stimulate willingness among moderate
home rulers TO accept office.
The farmers union has announced
that it does not intend TO put forward
any candidates. But individual farm
ers have repudiated it's claim TO speak
for the general body, and contend
farmers should take advantage Of the
opportunity offered them.
The old Irish parliamentary party
has made no move, and its members
seem indisposed TO run counter TO Sim
Fein sentiment.
The home rule act provides that IL
shall come into operation on "the ap-
pointed day" which is defined as ''the
first Tuesday in the eighth month aft
err the month in which the act is passed,
or such day, not more than seven
months earlier or later, as may be fixed
by order of his majesty in council !"
This leaves wide margin, varying
from about the present time 20 Is
months hence.
The main principle Of the act is the
establishment Of two equal Psrlia
ments. one in Dublin for southern Ire
land and one in Belfast for the six
northeastern counties, with a central
connecting council.
The act even provides that local
Parliaments may, if they choose, abol-
ish themselves altogether and turn the
central council into one Parliament for
all Ireland This single Parliament, If
Il is ever constituted, would exceed in
Importance and functions the home
rule Parliaments contemplated by Par.
nell and Redmond. Meanwhile many, if
not most. Of the powers they contem-
plated viii be exercisable by each Of
the local Parliaments in its own area.