The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-11-04
VALERAACAIN
STRONG MANN
IRISH STATE
Likely to Remain President
Another Six Years if
Health Holds up
By JOSEPH GRIGG, JR.
Halted Press Staff Correspondent

ident canon de Valera STANDS u"-
challenged today as The strong
man" of Southern Ireland.
He no longer rides as high on
the crest of personal popularity as
he did three or four years ago. II
is apparent. But politically, at any
rate. de Valera is generally agreed
20 be firmer in the saddle than
ever He is considered likely to
remain another six years in Office
if his health holds out. -.
Admittedly, many lrishmen BIT
terly oppose his policies. Iney
condemn what they call "oaiting
the British.
One said:
"If Dew has his way the logical
outcome of it all will be to turn US
into a kind of third-rate republic,
living on cheap beef and potatoes
and talking bad Gaelic. ~.
But even the most caustic OF
his critics agree there is no one TO
challenge de Valera as the out
standing personality in this eouh-
try today.
POWER SEEMS
TO BE RISING :.
De Valera's political power IS
tremendous and still seems to De
ON the rise. He has strapped the
old Senate, which at one time
caused him q lot of irritation by
putting q brake on some OF ms
pet legislative measures" Inc
substitute Senate he is expected
10 create under the constitution
10 be introduced in Parliament
early in November, it is believed
will be an innoculous body shorn
of all delaying powers. In Dan
Eireann he has a comfortable
majority of well-drilled support
ers. who could-and probably
would, if he asked them-hustie
through any legislature measure
in "a hours. 40
In fact, canon de Valera, the
one-time rebel against Great Brit
ain. is often described today as
the British Empires No. L dlcta-
tor" His powers are likely TO De
increased still further under the
new constitution which, it IS ex.
pected, will create a new post OF
ahead of state" combining the
functions of q prime minister
and the President of a republic.
II is already regarded as virtual
ly a foregone conclusion that de
Valera himself will be the hrst
incumbent. In fact, 1t Is dinicuie
10 see who else could be.
POSITION ONCE
PRECARIoUS
A year or so ago few would
have predicted with confidence
how long de Valera would remain
in office. At that time ne was
assailed from one side by the
semi Fascist Blue Short organiza,,
ton of Gen. Eoin O'Dutfy ana
from the other by the rising dls-
content of his own extremist sup
porters back by the militant lrisn
Republican Army. Pollticaiiy' nc
seemed to be a precariousiy pal
anced tight-rope walker.
Then the President sprung one
of those surprises for which ne Is
well known. First, he banned tne
Blue Shirts. Then he flung down
the gauntlet to the Republican
extremists by suppressing the l.
r. A. and arresting its cher Oh
staff. Maurice Twomey, and q
number of prominent Republican
malcontents following series Oh
political murders. ".
AS was to be expected, DE va
lera was branded as a traitor py
the Republican extremists whose
leader he once had been. Still, oy
taking a firm stand on the side OF
law and order, even when IL
meant alternating some OF his own
following, the President Is gener-
ally regarded as having shown po-
Iitical acumen as well as courage.
This was mirrored in the recent
by-elections in Galway and WeX,
ford. where Valera's Fianna Fan
Party scored outstanding victor
les. The Ira. vote was neghg'
ible.
EFFECTIVE
De Valera's strength today he'
in the fact that there IS no reali:
effective opposition. In DAN III
reann, former President William
T. Cosgrave's Fine Gael Party Ia
Sc seats compared with the gov
ernment's 70. But the opposition,
weakness probably is even great
er than the figures indicate.
"The reason we have no etec
tive opposition is that the oppo
stion parties have no policy Wit
which to appeal to the country,
said one Irishman closely in touc
with the Cosgrave party. Inc OF
position fought all de Valera
anti British measures. But ther
is no party in the Free State &c
day that would dare undo any o
them. 1t would be sheer politics
suicide. De Valera has only to as
the people, is it Ireland or Bril
ain you are going to vote Tor
and they'll troop out to supper
him again. Amy! attempt to re
verse the past four years legisia
ton would be condemned at ono
as 'pro-British'.' -,
HAS RURAL SUPPORT
That, in short, obviously is tn
secret of de Valera's presen
strength. When he engaged in
trade war with the commercial
might of Great Britain many pre-
dicted ruin for the Free Stat
farmers and revolt against de Va
lera. The rura districts felt tn