The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-05-19
Election In
Erin Planned
For Next June


ktention of the provisional govern
hent of Ireland to hold the elections
br the Free State Parliament early
June. The electors will be asked
= yot not merely, as was originally
ontemplated, for or against the
reaty. but for or against the detailed
onstitution prepared for the Free
tate.
This plan, forced upon the Free
taters by DeValera, is unwelcome to
ae Labor Party which formed large
art of the Sim Fem strength ana
rhich is mostly favorable to the
reaty. The Labor Party leaders fear
nat the constitution may be too con-
ervative in form for them, and would
refer that the issue were confined 10
he treaty.
The Immediate trouble is the voters
egister which has been challenged
s obsolete and unfair by Mr.. De-
alera- It is charged that 1T not only
isfranchises 100000 voters in the
hrthern area but omits in the south
sses on whose support DeVa1era
d count. To prepare new Register
lu1d take several weeks. Mr.. Crit
Ii says months. and as a speedy
Zection is desired by the government
he present decision Of Griffith
to adhere to the existing register.
This may lead to the refusal of the
Republicans to stand as candidates
or any of the seats and in that event
he section of the army opposed to the
Raty might think ttself justified In
The Free State party is composed OF
|lree sections. It lss all the Stnn
sdners who rega5 the treaty as a
ictory. and as fq bhishing to Ireland,
Z Eventually aRbeing all its demand.
he Free Stad yet'e also supported
all the NJ purchI voters con s dGrmepiy
ndentified Mt O. the the a 1Gn9 bv na1H
aen VIII ere formerly Unionists
lit WIS Nv gladly accept the treaty
the to peace.
The third section of the Free State
f<v is composed of extreme Repub1-
P Who will be satisfied with moth
Hi short of an absolute isolated re-
halle They say the quickest way to
x eventual Irish republic is to make
Sc of the powers of the treaty to
saforce 1t.
They are understood to be in as
beiation with the 1risil party IN
Rlera when he was in the United
*es.
ough the anti-treay is more
A-nogeneous then the treaty party,
f. hoo, is not quite uniform in opinion.
differentiation to resist the treaty
y all legitimate means is common
81 the whole party. Some of it would
Innate means But the whole party is
hot committed to he plan of DeVa1era
or q republic externally associated
nth the British Empire. That plan
segotiations fruitful without sacrifice
hg the Republican principle. But the
aain force of the anh-treaty party
II IN its assertion of undiluted and
nqua1ified Republic anisnl. The most
sonspicuous figure among the undi-
lted Republicans is Liam Mellowes.
EThough the DeVa1era party long
sAnained undecided whether to con-
ant TO contest the elections, or even
Fhether the election will be permitted
aprepared sheafs of election leaflets
#Probably this was the first time
hen electors had been threatened
Nth war by both sides. The Free
Eaters argumen was that the a1terna-
we to the Treaty was war with Eng
SAnd and their opponents retorted by
laying that if Griffith and Collins won
1ae elections, a civil war would de-
Hyfroy the country.
Great material for the DeValera
aaflets IS furnished by the speeches
e. British ministers on the Treaty
md Lord Birkenheads speech in the
House of Lords on March / has been
eprinted and widely distributed as
fn evidence that the British govern
nent is using Griffith and Collins to
put down the turbulent population
L the South of Ireland
u A fundare entail difference between
The opposing sections is in their altti-
Hde toward Ulster. The Free Staters
hvor methods of Cancellation and re-
moved the boycott on Belfast goods.
heir opponents reimposed the boy
oft and daily destroyed goods from
Belfast and northern towns.