The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-08
S|NN FEN SURE
 OF VICTORY IN
 COMING ELECTION
Fact They Participate Does Not Mean Representatives Will Participate in the
 New ParIiamentS Y,
By ARTHUR HENDERSON.

Former Member British War Capnet
 Special Wireless Dispatch to Age Herald
 Copyright. 1921, by The Age-HeralO
 GA Sim Fein victory is looked for at the polls of the coming general cleo ton in Ireland. Meantime, the fndus- trial depression in Great Britain is growing acute. The Egyptian railways have let coal contracts in America for the next five years. This is one of the far-renching penalties of n failure to settle the coal strike in England and WaIes.D
 London, May 7.-(Special. 1.-The coming elections in Ireland will in effect decide whether the Sim Fein demand for republic will be per sisted in as the irreducible minimum, or if Irish political economic devel- opment, for the immediate future, is to be carried on through legislatures provided by the British government in the Ireland act.
 The strategical policy of Sim Fein was determined by the elections. If a ma iority of the people cast their votes for the Sim Fein candidates, it was re- Sarded as conclusive confirmation of their demand for independence, a demand which in principle was pronounced for at the last general election. There is no reason to anticipate reaction from the spiritual ideals of the Sim Fein in the coming elections. On the contrary, 1t will be surprising if the revulsion of feel ing, due to the wretched policies pursued by the British authorities, does not find reflex in a greatly augmented Sim Feln poll. But the fact that the Sinn Eeiners are participating in the election does not mean their elected representatives will attend the new Parliaments. They will boycott them in just the same way as at present they are ignoring the Parlia- ment at Westminster. It is believed the ex-lord mayor of Dublin reported to Dali Ereann the semofficia1 offer of a do- minion form of government and home rule, but the position of the parliament of the Irish republic is that any pro- posal when made by Lloyd George should be made in writing to that body direct.
 DEPRESSION INCREASING
 Meantime, the industrial depression in Great Britain is assuming alarming ITO portions. Not only are there a million and quarter miners locked out, but, in addition, over two million and quarter workers are registered as unemployed The general public seems very imper- fectly informed as to the vast economic consequences of the stoppage of, coal min. ing. It's appreciation rests to very large extent on the measure of it's per. sonal inconvenience and discomfort. The shortage of coal is becoming acute, ana while the distress of the mipers ant ! their families is increasing, the Industrial effects of the stoppage also become more accentuated daily. The letting of Egyp tian state railway contracts for coal tt America for five years is but one indica- tion of the economic penalties which the stoppage in this country will entail fo ' long time ahead. The decision of the | transport workers not to handle foreigl coal to be used in this country will mol ! be without it's effect. The miners figh | is now in it's last stages. The govern ment and the owners appear to be rely ' ing upon the pressure of starvation tt 1 break up the miners resistance. There | is no sign of weakening as yet, and I seems clear that only war Of attriti2i win compel the men eventually to return l to work