The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-20
Irish Home Rule
Raises Questions
viii South Of ireland Adopt Act an
Will Minority Aequiesee in
Ulster7
tsy Associated Press)


DUBLIN, Feb. british determ
tnation 10. apply the newly enacted
home-rule bill has injected new com
plexities into the Irish imbroglio.
The big questions OF the hour are
whether conditions In southern Ire
land are too chaotic TO permit the ex-
pertinent 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 10 accept the home-rule act
and thus give full way to unionists
OF whom Sir Edward Carson has long
been leader (since 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-
yenient date. The splendid Belfast
city hall will be placed at the dis
posal OF the new northern parliament,
eliminating any delay for erection of
a parliament house. 1t is assured that
the Carson adherents will have
working majority The result will de-
pend on how extent TO which the ma
tionalists in northeast Ulster. dissatis-
fled with its severance from the rest
of Ireland. go to the polls.
II 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 given virtual carte blanche II the
nationalists boycott the election. Re
fusal of the nationalists to vote will
not prevent the parliament from func-
tioning.
In the south. there are two main
currents of opinion in official and I'M
ionist circles. The one which appears
10 predominant 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
attempted application of the act is in
sopportune.
From several sources "feelers" are
keing put forth In the endeavor to
ring 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 10 accept office.
The Farmers union has announced
that IL does not intend to put for
ward any candidates. But indlvid-
ual farmers have repudiated it's claim
10 speak for the general body. and
contend farmers should take advan-
tage of the opportunity offered them.
The old Irish parliamentary party
has made no move, and it's members
seem indisposed 10 run counter to
Sim Fem sentiment.
The home-rule act provides that it
shall come into operation on the ap-
pointed day. which is defined as "the
first Tuesday in the eighth month
after 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 a wide margin,
varying from about the present time
to rs months hence,
The main principle OF the act is
the establishment of two equal par
liaments one in Dublin for southern
Ireland, and one in Belfast for the six
northeastern counties. with a central
connecting council.
The act even provides that local
parliaments may. II they choose. abol-
ish themselves altogether and turn the
central council into one parliament
for all Ireland. This single parliament
II II is ever constituted, would exceed
In importance and functions the
home-rule parliaments contemplated
by Parnell and Redmond. Meanwhile
many IL not most, OF the powers they
contemplated will be eNercisable by
eaos Of the local parliaments in its
own area.