The New York herald., 1922-09-24
Ministers Heretofore Incon-
spicuous in Front Seats
Labor in Opposition.
MEET IN SMALL TE AJER
Deputies in Orchestra, Speaker
in Gilt Chair Built 0uf
From Balcony.
Special cooie to Tur NEW yor Rr.18


Copyright, 1922, by THE NEW Yc s. SiEa,Ep.
New York Herald eseru.
Dublin. t -
Devoid of the romance le bv tae
dominating personalities OF MieAss!
Collins and Arthur Griffith. 81 frre
of the caustic gibes OF the ] vtlera
party yet with plenty OF spir ara-c-
gous to that of '76, which a.t
In all true Gaels, the Provisi
lament, the youngest legis ve al,
sembly in the world, is sho, .s bot
taste and an ability for res .ork.
Unlike the old Dali Eireann a 7ex
body IS composed of average men. with
fewer outstanding leaders and corre-
spondingly fewer nonentlties.
Mrs. Mary MacSwiney and the
Countess Markiewicz are missing. and
Minister'S hetS ofore inconspicuous oe-
cupy front seats, while the opposition
has been replaced by keen labor Depu.
ues who know how TO take q parlia.
mentary beating gracefully.
The chamber where the meetings ara
{
| deputies sit In the red plush seats o.
The orchestra. and the Speaker occupies
large gilt chair on a platform built out
from The first balcony over the orchestra
seats. Contrary to custom, the pro-
visional Government party fills tho side
OF the balcony on the Speakers left.
Behind great stacks OF papers in the
front row OF the orchestra sit the men,
bers of the Cabinet.
A Glance mt the Cabinet.
The visitors gaze drifts naturally
toward small figure in brown home
I spun IN the most remote front seat.
| quizzically eyeing the proceedings. liz
Ii Richard Mulcahy. the man OF action
who stepped into Coilins's place at the
mead OF the army, and who before the
\ treaty was the late chiefs closest ASSOC
\ ciate. He has fine poker face"--no
! one can tell what he Is thinking until
I ne speaks, and then everybody knows.
| When he speaks he seems to be trans
lating a difficult passage from Latin.
Every sentence. every word is backed
by whole self-contained thought. He
speaks slowly and evenly. with eyes
cast down. fist cIenched and ' rM
the railing. ready TO drive n
climax that never comes
| He tells the Parliament ths e
rot be squeamisn about killing
ulars, just as he told tho pr,
sembly Of much vaunted irret 1rr
70 dc more than capture police
Notwithstanding the unpIeas.
he pronounces. Mulcahy Is r.nt
popular man IN the Cabinet r9n. Is
Of his tested ability and
nerve.
Near the center Of the -at
row sits IIevin o'Higginx. shft
speaker on the Governments g
stands facing the labor sea
forward TO deliver his argu
I the skill or the trained del
sepulchral voice that carries
in every word. He is a mel h
NJ. Sullivan, Irish patriot an, ariau
William r. Cosgrave. the rrssl-
cent or the body. sits at the 0t8
row. looking almost bashfui nan fo
reads speech his words arr ara
bic. but when he delivers an at.t.t
defense his resolution comes luD st
the blue eyes fash and voice ....A 4
cultured broguc rises harshly as he slips
in an unavoidable and subtle Joke that
sets the house roaring.
Ernest Blythe. Local Government MIN
lister. Is a clearer and less subtle speaker
than the president. and also has an
easier time stopping.
cation, always bellies his gentle. harm
less appearance By slowly and logically
making his opponents motion seem en-
tirely unreasonable.
The Governments most capable sun
porter Is Dean Milroy. an old friend os
Arthur Griffith. lie Il small red
faced man, with a deep. rich and mel
low voice that Is always on the verge OF
oratory.
seventy Labor In Opposition.
The seventy Labor members. whiIs
wanting in voting strength becausa
practically Isolated In their opposition az
! the Government. are none the less sharp
IN their opposition. with Thomas John
son az their spearhead Johnson Is n re-
markaby good speaker. He spent ar
hour before the first days session in
gently yet aptly phrased and clearly
enunclated address outlining Labor's at
titude. Ills features have a noble cast,
topped with steel gray hair. His digni-
fed bearing and his way OF hanging ON
10 tho ends ot his words. with a sort
Dublin infection. almost conceal their
sting.
The other members Of tho Parliament
seem 10 hold excellent promise. Gavan
Duffy already l. wen known Prof.
MacEnnls. an eminent Irish psychology
expert. Is one of the best speakers IN
the assembly.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin. Larry
O'Neill. with whom everybody In Irish
politics is acquainted, sits ever In tho
center Of the house, watching. His
dropping mustache and hts bald head
give him tho appearance Of mandarin.
but so far he has been silent.
with tho talent already exhibited In
Irish state affairs tho quality just
looming In this Parliament bids fair 70
make n proud record OF the commences
ment Of Irciand's career as a separate
state.