PRESIDENT OF IRISH REPUBLIC
Sinn Fein Leader Who Was Born in New York Has
Natural Ability and Gift of Leadership That
Recognized by Erin’s Revolutionaries
It is stated on the authority of a
leading American newspaper that no
body who has visited the United
States since the beginning of the
var, not even President Wilson, has
received such a tremendous recep
tion as Eamonn De Valera, the so
called president of the so-called “Irish
republic.” Tremendous crowds gather
to hear him, wait for hours to catch
a glimpse of him, and the cheers
that greet his appearance are almost
hysterical in their enthusiasm. It is
not the personality of De Valera that
commands this tribute, but the fact
that he represents an Ireland free
from the English yoke, the Ireland
of the dreams of the Irish-Americans.
Millions of Americans can see no
difference in the condition of Ireland
today, and the condition of Poland
before the present war. With their
intelligence we are not now con
cerned. The fact that is important
and is indeed amazing, is that this
sentiment exists, and it may not be
an exaggeration to say that more
Americans are keenly interested in
the fate of Ireland than in any
other foreign question today, except,
of course, the fate of Germany. This
explains the delight with which vast
American audiences welcome De
Valera.
There may be American as well as
Irish patriotism involve,d for the
Sinn Fein leader was born in New
York city. What his nationality is
it would take an international expert
to say. His father was a native of
some South American country; his
% mother was Irish. She is living now
in Rochester, New York, having mar
ried again after De Valera’s father
died. The bov was at that time sent
* to his mother’s family in Limerick.
It was there that he imbibed his
hatred of England, and dreamed his
first dream of an Irish republic. He
was educated at Biuro, Charleville,
and the French college, Black Rock.
County Dublin^ and later attended
lectures at Tirnity College, Dublin.
As a student he was brilliant and
prize after prize and scholarship after
scholarship fell to him in arts,
science and pedagogy. In mathemati
cal science he taught the special
honors courses in Dublin university,
the late Royal university, at Black
Rock, St. Stephen’s .Green, Eccles
street, Loretto, and later was lecturer
in these courses at Maynooth Col
lege. For ten years he was professor
at the Royal Training College for pri
mary teachers and was mathematical
A examiner in Irish for the Royal Col
lege of Surgeons. Tt is interesting to
note that, like Casement, De Valera
ha sdrawn considerable state money
in his comparatively brief career.
De Valera first came into promi
nence in the Easter rebellion of 1916,
when the Sinn Feiners made their
attempt to seize Dublin. He 'was in
command of 100 men, and it is said
that this little group put up an un
usually stiff tight. When the relfels
surrendered De Valera was among
those to be court-martialed. He was
sentenced to life imprisonment, and
was thus luckier than any of his
chief associates, for the rest of
them suffered the death penalty. He
was sent to Dartmoor with sixty-four
other Irish prisoners, and for some
time endured the rigors of penal ser
vitude. When Professor Eoin Mc
Neil of the National University of
Dublin arrived as a prisoner one
day, De Valera called out, “Irish
^ Volunteers! Attention! Eyes left!”
A few days later he committed an
other breach of prison rules and was
sent to puck oakum. He refused to
work, and wyhen charged with this
additional offense went on a hunger
strike until the charge against him
wyas withdrawn. Next he wyas re
moved to Maidstone prison, where
he associated with English convicts
who had no interest in Ireland. He
was not there long before the British
government released about 2,000 Irish
prisoners and modified the conditions
for the others, among whom was De
Valera.
He wyas taken to Lewes, but had
not been there long before he or
ganized a rebellion among the 125
Irishmen who were also prisoners.
As spokesman for them De Valera
demanded that they be treated as
prisoners of war and not as felons,
and w'hen this was refused the pris
oners returned to their cells, wrecked
what furniture there was and
smashed the windows. This led to
the men being split up again. They
wyere put in the chain gangs and
their former concessions w^ere can
celled. But again the British govern
ment weakened in response to pres
sure from some quarter, and the
rebels wyere released. As De Valera
left Pentonville he received a tele
gram urging him to run as Republi
can candidate for East Clare. He
accepted and wyas elected with a
great majority. He then gave his
attention to organizing the Sinn Fein
party. It appears that among the
Sinn Feiners wyere those wrho, believ
ing in Irish independence, did not
recommend rebellion, but adhered
rather to peaceful propaganda. The
others, the real Fenians, wanted
bloody action in large and immedi
ate doses. De Valera wyas the only
man in sight who had the respect of
iacuoiis.
His organizing ability was respon
| sible for the results of the last elec
j tion when his followers elected sev
! enty-three members of the house of
j commons, although each Sinn Fein
! candidate was pledged not to attend
I the accursed chamber. Then was held
that famous Irish parliament in Dub
lin, whose proceedings were conduct
j ed haltingly in the Erse tongue, and
1 which declared the independence of
Ireland, and hailed De Valera as
: president of the new' republic. In
May, 1918, the British government
j arrested and deported from Ireland
■ 100 male Sinn Feiners, and three
i women and until the following March
| held them prisoners. Of course, De
i Valera was among them. He wras
j confined in Lincoln prison, which
appears fo have points of resemb
lance to the Toronro jail, for De
: Valera escaped therefrom to Ireland.
He lay hidden, but whether the
| British police were really sincere in
’ their efforts to recapture him is a
question. At any rate he w-as at
large for some months, and then ap
! peared dramatically in the United
: States to float a loan of $5,000,000 for
his republic. It is likly that he will
do this if verybody who is willing
to give him a cheer is willing to
lend him a dollar.
- - -*--——
A SNAP
The Hewitt block, corner of Second
and C streets, and the Northern Laun
dry building, opposite the Windsor,
can be bought on terms. Four thou
sand dollars will handle both proper
ties, and the income will pay for them.
See Doc Caswell or Kelly. 23-30
No one should be without an elec
tric plate, especially the kind with 3
different heats. Northwestern Hard
v,rare company.
| CORDOVA JAZZ ORCHESTRA |
Will Give a
i DANCE |
X* X;
AT £
EAGLE HALL
SATURDAY NIGHT
•X v.
v. %;•
1 James Beattie, late of Wagner’s |
| , Orchestra, Seattle, Leader |
AT THE LOCAL!
CHURCHES
Episcopal.
St. George’s Church.—Feast of St.
Bartholomew the Apostle and tenth
Sunday after Trinity; holy com
munion at 8 a. m.; church school at
12 m.
Presbyterian.
Preaching services, 11 a. m.; “A
New Strength”; Sunday school, 12 m.,
“Social Responsibility”; Preaching
services, 8 p. m„ “Our Reconstruc
tion Problems.” We cordially invite
strangers and friends and you to our
services. Welcome to all.
A. G. SHRIVER, Pastor.
_
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LOST
on Prince William Sound, a House
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marked A. S. F. Co. No. 2.
REGISTRY NO. 166,675.
Finder please deliver to, or commu
nicate with, the undersigned and se
cure liberal reward.
ALASKA SEA FOODS CO.,
Cordova.
SPECIAL SALE
TABLE LINEN
from $1.50 to $2.50
The prettiest Round Table
Linen ever shown in Alaska.
Children’s Dresses from $2 to $3.50
Just Received on this boat,
FALL COATS
Up-to-date and cheap.
THE REGENT
(MRS. JOHN NELSON)
Across St. from Modern Laundry
SMOKERS!
Do you know the Horseshoe
Billiard Hall carries one of the
most complete stocks of Tobacco
and Cigars handled by any store
in Alaska?
We have special facilities for
storing tobacco to preserve its
strength and insure it reaching
you in perfect condition. You
will find your favorite brand
here, moist and fragrant.
—♦—
Standard Brands of
Cigars
including large sizes in the
Mozart, Lovera, Optimo, Up
mann, Roi-Tan and La Prefer
j entia.
2 for 25c
$6.00 per box of 50
Popular brands of Smoking To
baccos in tins, such as Velvet,
Prince Albert, Tuxedo.
3 for 50c
$2.00 per dozen
We carry a full line of Pipes,
Tobacco Pouches and other
Smokers’ Accessories.
THE HORSESHOE
BILLIARD HALL
E. L. HARWOOD, Prop.
YOUR FURS MADE TO ORDER
Best work guaranteed. Low
est prices. Over 2,000 Alaska
customers.
R. W. Drew
Tacoma’s Expert Furreir
, 11th and B’dw’y, Tacoma, Wash.
Removal Notice
1 he latter part of next week we will move into our new store room
in the Lathrop building, and will have a new and up-to-date stock ['
of goods. The public is invited to call and see us in our new place
of business.
PAUL BLOEDHORN
Watchmaker and Jeweler
j PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW F OR
ECONOMY AND MASON
JARS
QUARTS, PINTS AND HALF PINTS, AS THEY ARE SELLING FAST
CEDAR OIL AND MOPS
THE BARGAIN STORE
JOHN RAWSON
ii i . r——11 • --~ «
I _________
ogart & Rubin i in
DEALERS IN UP-TO-THE-MINUTE
Wall Paper
AND DECORATIONS
We also Do Painting, Decorating and Paper-Hanging. Estimates
cheerfully furnished for the best of work by experienced workmen.
'
-.. .|
“Bevo” Is Here
t ? i j
It’s a drink that surely fills the bill.
Delivered to the trade or families in
large or small quantities
i n~ * w-v•*
j FRED HAEF, Distributor