Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-07
MANY CONTESTED
SEATS IN COMING
IRISH ELECTIONS

! NoliillatlohS Tor the forthcoming
irish elections indicate contests in q
! group constituencies. With the ex-
ceptlon of canon DeValera, Austin
| Stack and t1nian Lynch, every lead
er for or against the treaty will have
to fight for seat in the Dali Err
eann.
In Mr.. DeValera's constituency of
Clare four independent candidates
Withdrew in the national interest. In
SIX OF the uncontested constituencies
80 Of the present members of the
! Dali have been renamed.
Polling will take place on June 16.
but the counting of the ballots which
is an elaborate process, will not be-
gin until the 18th; announcement of
results is not expected before June
| 10
In - constituencies, where 12S
| members are to be elected, 20 hove
, been returned unopposcd as follows:
In Mayo, north and west, 4; Linn
erick City and East Limerick, T.;
South Mayo and South Roscommon,
4; and Limerick West and Derry. S.
The Sim Fem panel divided into
eight for the treaty and l. against
the treaty, was not contested.
Even the constituencies where
contests will take place there is in
no case any attempt by newcomers
to capture all the seats, nor, exec pit
in a few individual instances is there
any invitation to the electors to vote
' or 10 Of
! treaty.
If all the newcomers succeeded
the composition of the new Dali
would be very similar in character
and personnel to the existing house.
In Galway, for example there are
only eight candidates for seven seats
the eighth being T. j. O'Connell, en-
tered in the labor interest as repre-
senting the national teachers; SINH
larry in Meath and Louth there are
only six candidates for five seats.
Under the proportional system it
is not necessary for candidate to
poll a majority of the votes. If he
gets a quota which in five member
constituency would he one sixth of
the votes polled. he wins. Each cleo
tor has a single transferable vote
and, having given his first vote to the
individual he desires elected, he
marks his preferences for other can
didates.
Under the circumstances the cleo
ton will not afford any certain pro-
nounceme mt of the country's opinion
on the treaty. The nearest approach
to such an issue will be in Dublin.
which between city and county has
is seats, for which there are % can
didates. three of them labor and the
others independentpf the new can
didates seven definitely advocate the
treaty.
There is little general public inter
est in any of the contests, as the De-
Valera Collins agreement bars pub
lie meetings and canvassing for panel
candidates.
The Cork area gave a Zest to the
nominations with contests in every
division, even Michael Collins having
to fight for his seat. 1t is generally
believed that owing to recent devel-
opments including the De Valera
Collins pact, the existing Cork repre-
sentation will be nosideraoly.
changed
The greatest surprise Of the day
was the last minute nomination OF
Frank DAILY, chairman Of the harbor
commissioners. an avowed uphoider
of the fire state His entry and that
Of Councillor Day of the transport
workers, are bound to have an effect
on the otherwise assured reelection
az Mary MacSwiney and Lord Mayor
O'Callaghan.
Darrell Figgis, noteworthy candi-
date for Dublin county. was chair
man of the county which drafted
the free state constitution. He Is
members Of the standing committee
Of the Sim Fein. Sir John O'Con-
nell, bank director, is the only can
didate representing big business.