The Washington herald., 1922-01-16

toH'Hbeu gTo" Fuye V"c'
tive gathering of Eishmen than
the Dali Eireann ever was. The
majority in that body are either
farmers or clerks whose chief quail
ification at the time OF their cleo
ton was their personal bravery or
their loyalty as republicans. The
labor party will have some repre-
sentatives in the Free State Parlia-
ment and there is q possibility that
some Of the old type OF nattonalists S
may be elected. 1t is certain that
the professions will be better rep
resented than they arc in the Dali
Eircann and consequently the level
of the new gathering will be con-
siderably higher.
Before the end of January. the
5000 district organizations of Sinn
Fein will select delegates to the
general assembly of that party TO
be held in Dublin. February Z, where
the future of the Sim Fein move
ment will be decided. AS these
delegates will carry instructions TO
vote either for or against the treaty,
their election will be virtually a
miniature plebiscite, as far as Sim
Feiners are concerned.
Sure Of Big Majority.
Griffith's supporters assert that
the vote for delegates to the gen.
eral assembly will prove beyond
doubt their claim that the tremen-
dOus majority OF the Irish people
favors the Anglo-lrish treaty.
On February Il the Dali Eireann
reassemble and another long wran-
gle is expected, but by this time
the Griffith faction Is expected 10
have increased its margin OF con-
troll. The London government has
been playing its part well in the
past few weeks and nothing has
happened to threaten the dominance
of the pro-treaty group. Had the
British made a. false move, the
treaty might yet have been beaten
because there are enough deputies
still wavering little to throw the
decision adversely. The withdraw
al of the Black and Tans and the
release of some political prisoners
even before the treaty had been ap-
proved by the southern parliament
served to strengthen Griffith's posi-
tion.
Will Enter Today.
Eamon J. Duggah will meet Vis-
count FitzAlan, lord lieutenant, at
Dublin Castle tomorrow to take
formal possession in the name
the provisional government of the
viii oegin. Lige every other head
OF a new administration, Griffith
being followed by a horde of O
being followed by a horde of ott,ce
seekers. There will be no clean
sweep of present incumbents. many
OF whom although working under
English ofhcials have been most
loyal and valuable Sim Feiners.
Perhaps no country was ever SO in
rested with spies as Ireland has been
IN the last few years. Countless ill.,
terestlng stories are told of how
Sinn Feinsrs worked In departments
charged with the duty of detecting
their own operations. Sometimes
Sim Feiners would be assigned to
eaten certain Sim einers who
worked in the same department.
Radical Legislation Expected.
The credit for the first adminis-
tratlve success of the new provi-
sional cabinet goes to Joseph Nc
Grath. head of. the labor denart-
ment who settled the railroad
strike that had been called to 90 in
effect at midnight last night. No
other minister will be buster than
NcGrath, for there Is considerable
unemployment now and some un-
rest is feared in the transition from
English to Irish rule.
Considerable interest attaches to
the social program which Griffith
is expected to announce, 1t is
probable that there will be consid-
cradle radical legislation, as the
working classes are expected 10
provide large share of the mem
bership of the new parliament II
Is said that no effort will be made
to collect overdue income taxes
that the British levied, but never
could get. The Irish will pass an
income tax but the rate will not be
more than half of the nglish levy.
Although these and other questions
are being considered by the pro-
visional cabinet. no decisions will
be reached until after the election.
Copyright. issa, sy n. z. Tribune, Ine.)