Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-17
RISHP|IAN TO
! HOLD ELECTION
EARLY IN JUNE
Electors Named to Vote on
Treaty and Free State
Constitution.

sDublin.-lt is the present lnten-
tion Of the provisional government OF
Ireland to hold the elections for the
free state parliament early in jane.
The electors will be asked TO vote not
merely. as was originally contemp-
lated. for o. against the treaty, nut
for or against the detailed constltu-
ton prepared for the free state. !
This plan, forced upon the free
-staters by De Valera. is unwclcome
to the labor party which formed a
!, large part of the Sim Fein strength
and which is mostly favorable TO the
treaty. The labor party leaders fear
that the constitution may be too con,
servative in form for them. and Would
prefer that the issue were conlheo
eolely to the treaty.
The immediate trouble is the vot-
ers register which has been chal-
lneged as absolete and unfair by MI.
De Valera. 1t is charged that 1t not
only DISTINGUISHES 100000 voters in
the northern area. but omlts IN ,n0
south classes on whose support De
Valera can count. To prepare a ne"
register would take several weeks
MIR. Griffith says months-ano as q
speedv election is desired by the gov
eminent the present decision of Mr..
Griffith is to adhere to the existing
register.
May Refuse.
This may lead to the refusal OF
che Republicans to stand as candl-
dates for any of the seats and in that
event the section of the army opposed
to the treaty might think itself JUS
tilted in preventing the elections pS
force.
The free, state party is composed
Of three sections. II has all the Sim
r@.s.nr, r.no roCord The treaty as a
victory, and as furnishing to Ireland:
If not absolute freedom. the means OF
eventually attaining all its demand
The free staters are also supported by
all the mass of voters formerly lden-
tilted with the constitutional aglta-
ton for nome rule and by many men
who were formerly Unionists but who
now gladly accept the treaty as the
way to peace.
The third section Of the free state
party is composed of extreme repub-
licans who will be satisfied with moth
! ing short of an absolute isolated re-
public. They say the quickest way to
an eventual Irish republic is to make
use of the powers of the treaty 10
enforce it.
They are understood to be in asso-
citation with the Irish party in Am
erica which differed with Mr.. De
valera when he was in the United
States. ..
No. Uniform Opinion.
Though the anti-trcaty party is
more homogeneous than the treaty
party, it, toe is not quite uniform IN
opinion. A determination to resist
the treaty by all legitimate means is
common to the whole party. Some of
it would include armed force among
the legitimate means. But the whole
' party is not committed to the plan
at De Valera for a republic externally
associated with the British empire.
That plan was an attempt to make
the London negotiations fruitful with
out sacrificing the republican prin-
ciple. But the main force of the
of undiluted n unqualified repuoll-
canism. The most conspicuous fgurt
among the undiluted republicans is
Liam Mellowes.s
Though the De Valera party Ions
remained undecided whether to con-
sent to contest the elections. or ever
whether the election will be permit
ted. it prepared Sheafs OF election
leaflets.
Probably this was the first time
when electors had been threatened
with war by both sides. The free
skaters argument was that the al
~r.ternative to the treaty was war will
England and their opponents re
torted by saying that if Griffith ant
Collins won the elections. civil wal
would destroy the country.
Great material for the De Waller:
leaflets is furnished by the speeches
of British ministers on the treaty ant
Lord Birkenhcad's speech in tn
house of lords on March 16 has beel
reprinted n widely distributed a
an evidence that the British govern
ment is using. Griffith and Collins t.
i"put down the turbulent population
of the south of Ireland"
A fundamental difference betweel
the opposing sections is in their at
titude toward Ulster. The free stat
ers favor methods of Cancellation an
iremoEed tn" boycott or Belfas
goods. Their opponents reimpose
the boycott and daily destroyed good
from Belfast and northern towns.
VALUABLE FCRS SHIPPED.
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