The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-12-23
OATH STORM CENTER
IN DAIL'S SESSION
Griffith Bests De Valera
In Heated Tilt, Fealty
Pledge Assaulted.

Dublin. Dec. 2O.-The stormiest
session that the Dali has yet held
came to an end at o'clock tonight
with indications that the decision to
ratify or reject the peace treaty may
not be reached before fife adjourn
ment over Christmas. Every one of
the 1913 members has announced the
intention to make speech.
Late this afternoon after a sew
enty-minute session. Sean Milroy,
representing two constltuencies--one
north and one south--took the floor.
For an hour he assailsd De Valera
and his supporters numerically. end
ing his speech amidst roars of min
gIed cheers and shouts of anger. He
read the substitute oath of allegiance
which Is DE Valera's famous myster-
ious Document Number Two" which
until now has been kept secfet at the
presidents request.
Now the cat is out OF the bag
Milroy shouted above the din.
De Valera was on his feet instant
ly, pale with rage. and insisting that
the deputy's action in disclosing the
contents OF document number two
was unfair.
Griffith sprang up and shook his
fist at De Valera, and shouted loud
ly:
"Mllroy stated the exact truth
when he declared that the issue
confronting us is not the republic
versus the treaty. but the treaty
versus document number two.
Difference Only shadow"
Milroy began by saying that he
was going to take off his gloves.
I'VE nave been throttled by the
preslSent's request that we keep
document number two secret" he
said. but intend TO let the Irish
people know in the Presidents own
words that the difference between
his counter proposals and this treat,
are only q shadow
Are we going to send the men and
women OF Ireland to the shambles for
a shadow?
That is the responsibility of every
member of this Dali. Rejecting the
treaty for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of
any man, when the acceptance Of 1t
means the smashing down OF the bar
riers OF seven centuries that have
kept the Irish people from freedom
lis this statesmanship or criminali-
-ty?
Women here have said that 1t is
the women who will suffer most II
the rejection is followed by war, yet
they are prepared to rel ct the
treaty.
1--WE all know that ii Is the women
who suffer most in war, but are we
going to send this nation downward
for De valera's shadow"
1t was at this point that Milroy
read the oaths contained in, the trea-
~, following II with dramatic pause
sSefore he questioned the deputies
III this oath is unacceptable to You
can the one that am about to read
be stomached any easier?
Then he read an almost identic
oath to the accompaniment of angry
shouts of mo. no. nc"
: The cat was indeed out of the bag.
for the people had generally been con-
WINGED that the president was holding
out for the republic.
De Valera did not even make de-
NAL OF Milroy's charge that he had
declared in the secret sessions that
there was only shadow of differ
enee in the two oaths.
The most sensational movement
DR.. McCarton announced that he
came just before adjournment when
Irish republic was dead.
~"It was betrayed" he said, mot
in London. but in Dublin; not by the
net of tn Irish republic, who, If they
British government but by the cabi-
had the decency would have resigned
before this"
"Republic Is Dead" Paean.
Repeating over ana over again,
-'the republic is dead" despite en-
ragged negatives from all parts of the
chamber. DIR. McCarton added that he
would not vote for the treaty and
would not vote against IT, because
one way meant dishonorable viola
tion of his oath to the republic and
the other would mean chaos.
81 realize" said Mr.. McCarton,
"that many people in Ireland are.
going to say what is good enough for
Nick Collins is good enough for