The New York herald., 1921-03-28
IRISH START ROW
WITH EACH OTHER;
DISRUPT MEETING
Two Factions in Near Riot
at Clan-na-Gael Session
in Lexington Theatre.
FOR 'EASTER MARTYRS
Woman's Lusty Cheers for
De Valera Start Uproar;
Six Are Removed.
LEGION rs DENOUNCED
Col. Anderson's Resolution
Calling on All Irish to
Resign Is Adopted.
FOR EASTER MARTYRS
LEGION IS DENOUNCED

Annual commemorative exercises
held last night in the Lexington Thea
tire by the Irish Society of Clan-na-
Gael to honor the martyrs Of Easter
week" threatened to break UP in riot
when members OF the opposition fac
tion interrupted with shouts of Three
cheers for President de Valera!" Police
reserves from the East Fifty-first
street station were called in and two
women and four men, protesting
loudly, were escorted to the street.
At the police station the women
tried to enter complaints against sew
eral OF the ushers, who had helped to
put them out, but Lieut.. Joseph Ryan
refused to entertain charges.
The row followed a denunciation of
the American Legion for expelling
Lieut.. Col. Alexander Z. Anderson,
who spoke at the recent Horrors Of
the Rhine" meeting in Madison Square
Garden. Col. Anderson himself had
previously offered resolutions calling
upon "all former soldiers of Irish blood
to withdraw from membership in the
legion" which the meeting adopted
with much cheering.
Woman Starts the Trouble.
John Dewey, editor OF the Gaelic
American, was speaking Of the efforts
which he declared a certain faction OF
Irish patriots were making to split the
Clan-na-Gael, when G woman In the top
gallery arose and began to scream for
De Valera at the Top OF her lungs.
Others Joined In and from various parts
OF the house the cry of put them out"
was raised.
The police being ready for such an
emergency had about twenty uniformed
men In the theatre. but before they
could quell the disturbers the Irish
Pipers' Band in the musicians pit had
to come to the rescue with popular
Irish tunes, and Mr.. Dewey was obliged
to resume his seat with his speech un-
finished.
The attack on the American Legion
was begun by the Rev. Patrick j. Grat-
tan Mythen, Bishop OF the Greek Ortho-
dox Church IN America. He was also
speaker At the Horrors meeting and
said he was proud of il. The legion, he
said. was no longer representative OF
the rank and file veterans of the war,
unknown wealth."
when they expelled Col. Anderson"
he declared. "they expelled every right
thinking, right feeling veteran from
their organization. The fight for Irish
freedom must first be a fight for Ameri-
can freedom"
Col Anderson's resolution. besides de-
manding that all Irish resign from the
Legion. called upon the United States
an reflective protest against the course
Great Britain is pursuing in Ireland.
to demand the payment by England Of
the American loans. The resolution con-
tinues
1--WE strongly urge our Government
to make this demand on England, and
as an alternative to demand the sur
render of the British fleet and the ces-
sion of Bermuda and the West India
Islands to the United States as part
payment. Insistence on this demand
would, In our judgment. serve the high
est interests of the United States, meet
the approval of the great majority OF
the American people and be the best
guarantee of the future peace OF the
world
Calls Legion n British Agent.
The resolution was seconded by Col
Edward J. Mitchell, past senior vice.
commander Of the @. A. r. in New
York State, and was adopted unani-
mously. Judge ]. F. Wall Of New Jer-
sey then offered a resolution commend
ing the Rhine horror affair and praising
Col. Anderson for his participation. 1t
continued:
I'VE remind the American Legion that
It has, under its present officers. be-
come an agency of the British Govern
ment in carrying out its propaganda in
America against human liberty, instead
of following in the footsteps of the
Grand Army of the Republic. which was
composed of men who fought to savo
the Union when England was conspiring
for its destruction. The recent actions
OF tho officers and spokesmen of the
organization suggest the propriety OF
changing its name to tho Anglomaniac
Legion"