The New York herald., 1922-08-13
GRIFFITH'S PLACE
HARD ONE TO ELL
British Cabinet Considers Sit
uation Created by His
Death.
CONFIDENCE IN COLLINS
But Thinking and Balancing
Power Of Leader Will
Be Missed.
CONFIDENCE IN COLLINS
Special Cable to THE New YoRK HERALD.
1qoq n, Tim Nrw YORK HERALD

Special Gable to THE New YoRK HERALD
Copyright, 1899, by THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
London, Aug. IL.
Who will take Arthur -Griffith's place?
That was the one thought which swept
over London when the news OF his death
reached here. The situation had part
in the considerations-of the British
Cabinet meeting which was called to
consider the reparatons question. Pre-
nlier Lloyd George, Winston Churchill
aud others who had dealt with Mr.. Grif-
fifth during the long negotiations were
as much moved by his tragic ending as
any Irishman.
The Cabinet has the utmost confidence
IN Michael Collins. but 1t Is plainly woy-
ried oyer the loss of Griffiths soiid
thinking and balancing power, which
served as an admirable complement to
Collins's briljance and executive ability.
Mr.. Griffith did not inspire the wild de-
votion that Collins evolses, but he had
the more solid regard and affection OF
those who knew him.
Solidity was the dominating char
;tcteristic OF this small, compact figure.
with his feet planted firmly. a short
neck, firm chin and eyes that twinkled
but never wavered. The Free State lit
orally is his own child. Through all the
wild peregrnations of Irish policies anh
politics from the time he returned. q
quarter. of century ago, from the south
Of Africa to found, write. compose. print
and circulate the Yoaai0 IrishmGD and
utter the motto of the Sim Fein which
las gone echoing around the world
Griffith has been soidly for independ-
ence within the empire. He saw Parnell-
ism, Redmondism and the Easter Of
1915 wax and wane. The moment the
capture Of Cork by the Nationalists sig
nalized what seems the triumph of the
cause which was peculiarly his. that mo-
melt he was stricken.
More Than the Brains.
Griffith has been more than the mind
ot the Sim F'ein during the phase since
1915. He has been its soul. That is
what makes the gap caused by his death
seem as If it could not be filed. Though
his death leaves q gap in the affairs of
to-oay the mans personality will fll one
of the historic inches in the long line
OF Ireland's heroes, real and legendary.
His very greatness demands romance.
Griffith never earned more than flf-
teen shillings week until he came into
actual political power. He cared moth
1uS loi Iibilcy NtlSbHdliy. i'uiiHS tie
London conference his friends had to
search his pockets nightly to make sure
that no five pound notes were thrown
away with the note paper he had used
to jot down memoranda. The very dis
interested introspectiye concentration on
the prime object OF his life made Grif-
fith's rare utterances of huge value.
He was frank. brusnne. sometimes
verying on rudeness. his staccato sem
tences seeming to come with difficulty
from his habitually locked teeth. having
more kinetic power than all the historic
flowers of Irish oratory. Thus he sat
through the long discussions last sum-
mer. He spoke only when the trend OF
the discussion was from the line--his
\ line. When he got what he wanted he
signed the agreement, after ne had
signed he fought in the same way to
justify his signature.
He sat through the vast windincss OF
the Dali sessions in January With his
arms grimly folded and his mouth
grimly shut. But when he spoke he
spoke on the issue. Only once he lost
his temper, and its blaze shriveled Frs
kline Childers into silence like curse,
He was one of the few politicians who
told the truth or said nothing. Collins
probably will succeed him as the titular
head of the State, but IL Griffith's in
fuence and steadiness continues it will
be through men like Mulcahy, Duggan.
Desmond and Fitzgerald. trained in the
Griffith school.