The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-09
FREE STATE MAY
FREE ALL IRISH
REPUBLICANS
Frontier Dispute Brings
Acute Crisis


DUBLIN, ireland, May s-The
eight hundred Republican political
prisoners still in Free State jails may
be released shortly, according to re-
ports emanating from government
quarters. The Farmers Party had a
bill ready for introduction, demand
ing the release Of all political prison
ers, but withdrew it on learning that
a general jail delivery was planned by
the government. 1t is not known
whether cannon DeValera and Austin
Stack will be released with the 9th
ers, tho nobody here sees any reason
why a moderate with genius for
compromise like DeValera should be
kept in confinement.
The prestige of the Free State gov
eminent has been considerably
strengthened among the nationalistic
elements by the sanction of Free
State diplomatic representative in
Washington by the British govern
u6ul. Ills LdhGo lAC W4AN O0S ~
the sails of the bourgeois Republic
ans whose criticism of the treaty was,
not because it did not tend to allevi-
ate the conditions under which the
workers labor, but for the reason that
Ireland was not given greater de-
gree of independence. Those Irish
Republicans who are serious about a
republic must now turn to the labor
movement for a realization of their
aims.
The intransigeancy of Premier
James Craig of Ulster on the boun-
dairy dispute may have the effect OF
bringing that emasculated province
into the Free State, is the opinion in
some quarters here. The treaty pro-
vides for a commission to delimit the
boundaries of Ulster in the event of
Ulster taking advantage of its right
to vote itself out of the Free State
and remain part of the United King
dom. Ulster decided to drop out OF
the Free State, but it is held that 1t
has not complied with the other pro-
visions to appoint a member to the
boundary commission of three.
The reactionaries of Belfast, who
own the linen mills, distilleries and
shipyards are not in favor OF their
slaves joining in with the rest Of Ire
land, SO they fan the flames Of relig-
ious bigotry and keep the workers di-
vided.
The Loyalists of Ulster have been
the pampered pets of the British Tory
Party. Now that the latter are on the
decline, IT is thought that the Mac
Donald government may side in with
the Free State and secure the allegi-
ance of the big Irish vote in Eng
land. Scotland and Wales, but the
Orangemen have an army Of $4,000
men. while the Free State has only
10000 soldiers. Britain usually is on
the side Of the heaviest artillery in
cases like this.
Labor has made gains in Belfast re-
Gently. Unemployment is prevalent
turnout the country, and the employ
ers are carrying on a vicious wage
cutting campaign. The powerful
Irish Transport and General Workers
Union, with over 100000 members, is
prepared to contest every inch OF the
way with the employers. Not alone
does this union fight for higher
wages and better working conditions,
but it organizes the workers political
" and tells them that only when the
wages system is abolished and the
workers republic established can la
Dor begin to find real and lasting so
luton Of the pressing questions now
confronting It, the most important Of
which is the means wherewith to live.
How many Of your shop-mates read