The Cordova daily times., 1921-03-03
Preparations 4 for Applying
 Home Rule in Ireland HaUe
 Reached AdUanced Staue

DUBLIN, March 8 (by Associated Press) British determination to ap- ply 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 Ire : land are too chaotic to permit the ex- pertinent of an election and whether : the electors in that section will re- fuse 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 1; Unionisth, of whom Sir Edward Car son has long been leader (since sue ceeded by Sir James Craig).
 These are the dominant issues on which the whole country is speculat- ing.
 8 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 pos sible convenient date. The splendid sI Belfast city hall will be placed at T the disposal of the new northern par i lament, eliminating any delay for erection of a parliament house. It \ is assured that the Carson adherents will have working majority. The result will depend on the extent to which the nationalists in northeast Ulster, dissatisfied with it's sever- ance from the rest of Ireland, go 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 given virtual carte blanche if the nationalists boycott the election. Re fusal of the nationalists to vote will not prevent the parliament from fuuc- tioning. In the south, there are two main currents of opinion in official and unionist circles. The one which ap- pears 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 attempted application of the act is inopportune.
 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, announc- ing his candidature, is considered likely to stimulate willingness Sffoug moderate home rulers to accept of flee.
 The Farmers Union has announced that 1t does not intend to put for ward any candidates. But individual K farmers have repudiated it's claim to speak for the general body, and con. tend farmers should take advantage I of the opportunity offered them.
 The old Irish parliamentary party has made no move, and it's members seem indisposed to run counter to Sim Fein sentiment.
 The home rule act provides that it shall come into operation on "the appointed 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 IS months hence. The main principle of the act is the establishment of two equal par piaments one in Dublin for southern Ireland, and one in Belfast for the six northeastern counties, with a cen tral connecting council.
 The act even provides that local parliaments may, if they choose, abolish themselves altogether and turn the central council into one par liament for all Ireland. This single parliament if it is ever constituted, would exceed in importance and func- tions the home rule parliaments con- templated by Parnell and Redmond. Meanwhile many, if not most, of the powers they contemplated will be exercisable by each of the local par liaments in it's own area.