The New York herald., 1922-04-25
EVERY WHEEL STOPS
IN south IRELAND
Business Completely Sus-
pended for Day in Protest
Against Militarism.
LABOR MEETINGS HELD
Demonstration Considered to
Show Where Strength Of
Country Lies.

specia: Cable TO THE new Yosx 9ssALD
Copyright, 1923. BY THE Nyw Yong HrsALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Dublin, April "a.
The most thorough nationalist move
ment Ireland perhaps has known ma
terialized to-day in the one working
day general strike, completely tying
up all business. cutting off Ireland
from the rest OF the world. 1t ended
at 3 o'clock tonight as an eloquent
some say onvincing---argument
against miitarism. There was no dis
turbance. no outrage: but the various
political eaders were shown clearly
where the real strength Of the coun-
try lies. Business came to a dead halt
particularly in the south. where every
wheel ceased turning as a protest
against the factional strife that has
been maintained since Michael Collins
and Arthur Griffith signed the treaty.
Although the strike was directed
against the leaders Of all factions, IL
resolved itself. in the opinion of Dub
linites, into a protest against the De
Valera extremists; and while TIE pro-
visional Government officials played
a passive part. It is agreed tonight
that they have won a signal victory.
For the strike was a plea for law
and order. which both Mr.. Collins, as
head Of the Provisional Government,
and Mr.. Griffith, as head of It's Ma
tional Assembly. the Dali Eireann, have
been preaching. The strikers drove
home their argument with tremendous
force.
seccssfonists Weakened.
The secessionists of the Irish Repub-
lican army said they were not inter-
ested in to-day's action. Commander
Rory O'Connor told THE NEW YORK
HERALD correspondent that their execu-
tive had been reorganizing the army
and expected to. initiate a new program
about the end of the week. He reiter-
ated that he planned no attack upon
the regulars unless fIrst attacked. But
the feeling is that the secessionists are
greatly weakened, because the unaniIn-
ity of the demonstration for peace
showed that public sentiment is against
the very conflict they are attempting TO
promote.
To-day is the sixth anniversary of the
Easter rising, which inaugurated the
country's struggle for freedom. Labor
rose up in protest against the growth
Of the idea that military forces may
take command of the civil life CT the
nation without responsibility to the peo-
pie. that military men may commit
acts OF violence against civilians and
be immune to prosecution and punish
ment, and that the possession of arms
Is the sole title TO political authority"
From dawn until 3 o'clock tonight nor
NAL community life ceased.
There were no telephones. no telegraph
wires, no cables and no mode of trans
port In operation. IL was the third time
that Irish labor had called a general
strike 10 give the strongest impression
OF the whole country's opinion on n great
popular issue.
On April 81, 1918. II protested against
English conscription, and succeeded
Next. in April, 1920. 1t demanded that
the English Government release SO ma
tionalist hunger strikers from Mounjoy
prison. Labor struck until the prisoners
were released. and won the second day
Tonight labor thinks II has won again.
Tts leaders say II has shown that the
country can do nothing which labor does
not indorse.
Even Newspapers stop.
Save for gatherings held to emphasize
the purpose of the strike. people strag-
gled about aimlessly. Trans. jarvcys,
movies and restaurants were idle or
closed. and no newspapers were pub
lished A huge mass meeting was held
at noon in Dublin, speakers asserting
from three platforms labor's demand
that the country be allowed to resurrect
industry peacefully.
Eamon de Valera addressed a large
meeting TO commemorate the men who
died In the Easter rising In 1916. a
large crowd assembled. but were not
visibly moved by his speech.
The labor speakers generally en-
deavored to hit both sides of the uues-
ton. Thomas johnson, secretary OF the
Labor party. said the only thing lacking
10 make tho day decisive success was
the presence OF n couple of thousand
men Of each army. all promising they
wouldn't shoot at each other. but save
their strength for the common enemy
he said what must be guarded against
was counter revolution. giving an index
of Labors attitude.
The most amusing feature OF the day
was poster widely distributed this
morning, proclaining the Workers Re-
public" For a time great interest was
aroused, but n soon developed that II
was another Irish practical joke. The
poster proved 20 be a positive fake
MIR. Johnson said he knew nothing about
Continued on Page Two.