The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-07-26
BOYCOTT is STRONGEST
WEAPON OF Sim FEIN
BY Chas. McCann,
Omitted PressNStaff Correspondent

London, July 26.-Economic war
fare is assuming equal Importance In
Ireland with the swifter, more spec
tacular battle of arms between Sim
Feiners and the governments SOL
diers and police. G.
While flying columns Of the Irish
Republican army are, ambushlng
crown forces Throughout the south,
the Sim Fein government is conduct
ing a silent, but more effective fight
by means of the boycott. All i =,
Over a year ago, Sim Fem de-
creed boycott Eof certain Beltast
goods because of alleged dlscrlmlna-
ton against Catholic workers in the
Ulster capital. The boycott has
spread until it covers all northern
Irish goods and commerce and a
great deal of English goods. Il r.
X The latest Sim Fein. embargo has
been placed on ~ all banking inter
course between north and south and
northern banks are feeling the loss,
just as northern factories have.
Through the boycott many Ulster
cloth, biscuit, shoe, tobacco and drug
manufacturers have lost half their
trade and are trying SO far unsuc-
cessfully to overcome heavy losses.
The boycott has spread to English
goods, which Dali Eireann considers
can be supplied by southern Irish
firms. Agricultural implements, mar
garine, shoe polish and soap are
among the articles boycotted by an
order a few, weeks ago., Many patri-
otto "Shinners" are smoking cigar
cites manufactured in the south,
though most, including the leaders,
have not made this sacrifice. -.
With the converting of the Ulster
parliament June %, Sim Fein began
to tighten what it termed "band
of steel around . the six northern
counties" The idea is to isolate the
north, and by carrying to its extreme
the partition of north and south by
the home. rule act, to persuade Ulster
that Ireland must be united.
FISHERMEN confess that the policy
has hurt. While a great deal of u
ster's trade is done outside of Ire
land, many industries, particularly
the ones cited, depend almost entire
ly upon southern patronage. Efforts
to avoid the boycott by shipping
good to England and Scotland and
back again under another firms
name to Ireland have failed, as Sim
Fein always uncovers the evasion
and boycotts the British firm.
AS regards the south's compliance
with boycott orders, there is little
trouble. A town council will meet
and decide upon boycott. Public
notices are Issued to he effect unat
certain goods are banned. If a shop
keeper fails to obey the order
promptly, he is served with a notice
Of which the following is typical: d., =.
understand that you have re-
Gently received consignment Off,.
from Belfast. May point out to you
the degree Of An Dali (.'The Dail''
for Dali Eireann,s the republican gov
eminent which forbids al dealings
directly or ind ectly with Belfast
firms? Willsyoafx ease givesbearer an
explanations sand ! written guarantee
that you will cease trading with these
firms 2" & - %e'fz., 81 r -.
There is never. any question as to
the effectivenessHof such a request.
DISC bedience would mean that the
offending shopkeeper's !. premises
would be wrecked and that the shop
keeper himself Might be killed. =
There is one feature of the boy
colt in which even the British govern
ment officials see hope-tbe pointing
out to Ulster that southern Ireland
must be friendly in order that the
north be prosperous. Many govern
ment authorities see the only solution
in Ireland in an agreement between
north and south.