desiring to avoid a split accepted those parts of the resolution which id not call for a public campaign non-payment, but rejected the others, Professor Hogan left the meeting a high state of indignation and wrote out his resignation and pro~ test, while General O'Dufly was elected president and Mr. Cosgrave vice-president of the party. From that moment there commenced struggle between the leader of the /Blueshirts and Mr. Cosgrave, the former, apparently, endeavouring, to transform the political organiza~ tion into something subordinate to the more militant designs of the /Blueshirts. The latter were active In assisting farmers to resist the Jeompulsory sales of cattle—selzed from farmers who had not paid their annuities, and there _was every possibility of the Free State Government declaring the body an illegal organization and taking. firms steps for {ts ultimate suppression. Tt was clear from the outset that, while it was desirable for the United Ireland Party. to remain allied with the Blueshirts, there was no Intention on the part of Mr. Cosgrave and his followers to allow their section of the opposition to be dominated by General O'Duffy, who though he might able to command the admiration of a certain section of the pubfic, was not by any means to be classed as a politician gifted with Jany degree of ripeness of vision or maturity of thought. That is evl-Jdenced by the assumption of almost dictatorial authority within ithe Party once he had been clectled president, and there is plenty to show that' not only was he sublordinating the policy of the United Hireland Party to that of his own Imachine, but that he was secking to pledge it in ways which could not possibly commend themselves to those bent on more constitution~ fal methods of resisting the activities of the present government. Hence the request by Messrs. ICosgrave and Dillon that they should be allowed to see the Gen= jeral's speeches before they were delivered, a by no means unreasonable request when the latter iwas supposed to be speaking for the coalition of which he was president, Tt_was quite natural that Gen. O'Duffy should refuse, though hardly proper in view of the position and responsibilities he Iwas holding, and the fact that he was not leading his own party, but combination of opposition' to Mr. de Valera, He has now quitted leadership Jof both the Party and the Blue~ shirts: and when all considerations Jare taken into account it is more probable that he has done so for their good. If the Government had declared the Blueshirts to be Jan illegal, organization, it would Ihave been able to proceed to met sures which are denied it so long (Continued on page #53.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.