Evening star., 1922-03-15
BY FORREST DAVIS.
Correspondence of The Star. ,


Correspondence Of The Star.
DUBLIN, ireland, February 14.-La-
Dor in ireland would like to be
great, bad boy, but 1t dare not. Its Or
CARNATIONS are committed to. con-
fiscatory policies only slightly less
moderate than those Of the Russian
communists, but the policies are not
made effective.
Instead of staggering about reck-
lessly, Irish labor contents itself with
thumbing it's nose at capital. smash
ing an occasional window and talking
loudly in public houses about the 80
cial revolution.
The leaders OF the organized prole-
tariat talk earnestly about workers
republic and the right of the people
to take over any idle productive
agency for their own good but they
are waiting. as Is business. and as in
every other interest, to see what the
morrow will bring.
Once in a while during this transit
tion period radical policies emerge.
In Mallow recently the workmen em-
ployed In the Hallinan -four mills kid
naped Maj. Hallinan, the manager.
and appropriated the plant. They held
1t for week, then turned 1t back to
the proprietors on order OF Michael
Collins. enforced by the Irish republi-
can police. Working class solidarity
did not materialize to support the
mill hands. Some time ago the rail-
way workers in the Cork district
marched on the four stations there,
assumed control for a few hours and
then marched away. They didn't
know what to do with the stations
when they had them and their leaders
didn't tell them.
Thp,C hill h4 Y~sa r Do Hfvv
and Trades Union Congress-. en-
bracing the 100000 and more organ
lied workers in the island. solemnly
declares for a modified soviet and the
workers republic. 1t doesn't support
its words with deeds-yet.
Labor would like to take advantage
Of the present social disorder. but
labor is enfeebled by a lack of con-
fidence in its own powers. True, there
Is small group Of communists. led
by Roderfck Connolly. son OF James
Connolly. the great labor leader who
Easter rebellion. who wish direct ac-
ton and would set up soviet to-
morrow il they could. But they are in
an inconsiderable minority. Young
Connolly violently advocated the
forcible seizure of Ireland by the
Republic" but few take him seriously.
Leaders for Free State.
The most significant leaders in the
johnson. secretary Of the labor party.
and Tom Foran. president of the
Transport and General Workers
Union since 1909, are for the FREQ
State and are holding their program
in the background momentarily until
the political matters are resolved.
Johnson gave me frank outline OF
labors policies when ] went to see
him in his efficient modern office in
Lower Abbey street. near the Abbey
Theater. We sat for an hour before a
CRATE fire, with an American type
writer clicking in the outher office and
American fling cabinets within easy
vision. I had suggested that Irish
labor was being accused OF red-handed
designs on the security OF the new
state and that these reports must be
incorrect.
"Wen, hardly" he replied. I'VE
have certain definite PRINCIPLES we in
tend to strive for in the Free state
First Of all. we are committed 10
workers republic. in which the labor
would lay out constituencies accord
ing to trades and occupations rather
than according to. geography. That
would give every class representation
according to its strength. >,
Then we believe. ana TINS ~ ,s
titled to the productiveness Of all
the sourcT Of wealth in the state.
That is to say, if any productive in
strument, factory, farm mine or
whatever, were to be idle from any
cause, the people would have the
right to step in, set it going and
maintain it for the benefit of the
THAT means oonfiscation, does it
not?" inquired.
TT might be preferable to buy
property rights in such cases." John
son returned
That is the policy. Its meaning is
clear. In case Of q strike or depres-
sion. If a factory is closed by its
owners. the labor party considers
that the people, i. e., the workers.
have a right to take possession and
conduct It in their interest. The
point is that in the very few cases
whore isolated workers have at
tempted to execute the policy the
central labor authorities have failed
to lend them material aid.
johnson, as is the case with many
leaders Of tho Irish people. is an
alien. He was born in England, be-