Evening star., 1922-04-10
KEEP HANDS OFF"
|RELAND'S CLASH
Local Sympathizers With
Erin Refuse to Obey Behest
of National Organization.

Forced to showdown by it's ma
tional executive committee, the local
state directorate of the American As
sociation for the Recognition of the
Irish Republic. representing virtually
80 per cent of Irish sympathy in the
District of Columbia, voted almost unani-
mously to observe strict neutrality
toward the different factions in Ire
land and to refrain from criticism
until after the Anglo-Irish treaty had
been dealt with by referendum of the
irish people, at joint meeting of the
local branches at 6O1 L street last
night.
The body had voted similar reso-
1utions February II, but after a con-
vention of national representatives in
New York, March 26, the local con-
tingent had been notified that unless
Its action was rescinded summary
steps would be taken and all local
branches of the organization dropped
from the association. Therefore the
paramount question at last nights $
meeting was: shall the action of the
state directorate be rescinded?" The
final count was 2I3 against and 81
for the resolution.
Committee to Draft Rules.
James j. Slattery, president of the
state directorate. presided, and ap-
pointed Rosa F. Downing, former
state president: James Mccarthy,
president of the Padraic II. Pearse
Council, and Joseph T. Fitzgerald,
president of the Terrence MacSwiney
Council. a committee of three to
draft rules and agenda for the de-
bate that followed.
Declining an invitation to present
the national organizations Conten-
ton, Thomas Lyons, national Secre-
= tn
assistant counsel general of the rail-
road administration, who, while de-
claring he did not speak officially
for the association. OutlinethreeSonsW why
the \. \. r. |. r. should continue to
supply funds for the De Valera fac
tion in Ireland.
Summarized. Mr.. Finnerty's conten-
tions were that by processing neu-
trality the local organization was, in
fact. preventing the republican forces
in Ireland from having chance for
a fair election, and that under the
present scheme of using the old
register at the forthcoming election
many young, men and women would
be deprived of the right of franchise.
Cites Conditions Prevailing.
He said that, owig to conditions
that had prevailed in Ireland and
England for more than century,
each person must pay his own eX-
penses, and that to successfully con-
tend for one of the 10l seats Il candi-
date would be required to have at
least $3.50, (which, unless supplied
by the Irish of the United States,
will prevent the followers of De Va
lera from having Il fair chance at
the polls" He declared that Michael
Collins had the financial support of
the Free State government and that
it would be no real referendum un-
less the contending faction had suf-
ficient funds to defray expenses.
Mr.. Finnerty said further that there
old register of the people of Ireland
so that all could have a voice. and
that at least 100000. including women,
would be virtually disfranchised.
Replying to the speakers conten-
tions, Rosa F. Downing, chosen to
represent the local body, ridlculed
the claim of the De Valera faction
of not having sufficient funds. He
Said that never have the people of
ireland been SO prosperous as now,
and that when the elections were held
in 1918. before any funds had been
supplied by the United States, they
found ways of securing money. He
didate carried one-eighth of his con-
stituency great proportion of the
money required was refunded.
MIR. Downing further said that all
women over thirty years old who
had voted at previous elections would
be eligible at the coming election.
..AII of my life 1 have been for an
Irish republic" said Mr.. Downing,
but with conditions as they are to-
day in Ireland 1 feel firmly convinced
that it is question for the Irish
people to decide themselves.
The treaty with England was le-
gally ratified by direction of