ELECTION IN FREE STATE

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 January 1933, Page 5

ELECTION IN FREE STATE

Triumph for De Valera CLEAR MAJORITY INDICATED Progress Of Vote Counting MILITANT APPEAL SUCCEEDS COSGRAVE /SLOGANS FAIL. (United Press Association--By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) Received 10.50 a.m. to-day. LONDON, Jan. 27. The state of the parties in the Free State elections is:— De Valera Party 57 Ccsgrave Party 35 Centre Party 7 Labour 7 Independent •• • 7 Independent Labour .... Thirty-nine seats have not yet been decided.

The Dublin correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” says the result is a great personal triumph for Mr De Valera and a greater political triumph for Do Valeraism. A decisive factor was Mr Dc Valera’s appeal 'to Ireland’s militant nationalism which proved stronger than arguments to the pocket on which Mr Cosgrave was forced to rely. “Mr Cosgrave’,s cause was damned by the feeling that he recently- had been helping England against Ireland’s campaign.” The “Guardian” in a leader says: “The vote shows that Mr Thomas’ polcv of bluff and a big stick has not brought the promised results. Tne tariff war proved practically fruitless. Britain, must be prepared to reconsider relations with the Free -State, and abandon the idea that Ireland can be held to the letter of old agreements.”

FA INNA FAIL EXULTANT. The dc Valeraite organ, the “Irish Press,” in an exultant editorial says: “The Irish people have given the Fianna Fail a clear majority over ail other parties. This must be a bitter achievement for iMr J. H. Thomas (Dominions Secretary) and Downing Street. England has been ignorant as always of public opinion in a nation struggling to be free, and contemptuous of its idealism.”

The “Daily Maij” is convinced that the Irish people will come to regret that they have deliberately endorsed Mr de Valera’s policy, which means increasing friction with Britain. “ Though it cannot seriously harm Britain, it must be deeply prejudicial -to the true interests of Ireland.”

The Dublin correspondent of the “The Times” says: “Though not entirely surprised, the Constitutionalists feel disappointment and concern at the election results. De Valeraites nearly everywhere headed the poll and increased their first preferences in almost all constituenceis. , Only Mr Cosgrave among his own party headed the first preferences. Results thus far suggest that the farmers are relying on Sir de Valera’s extravagant promises regarding annuities and costly bounties on cattle, wheat, eggs and butter.”

Air 11. R. Morris, speaking in the Holyhead municipality, disclosed that during a recent deputation to Mr Thomas regarding the distress prevailing there owing to the Anglo-Irish dispute, Mr Thomas, thumping .the table, declared: “I fold Mr de Valera that he could have his damn republic, but ■he will have to take the consequences.” Air Thomas, interviewed -thereon, refused to comment.

EIGHT AHNISTER-S RETURNED. Those elected include Air Thomas Herring (Minister of Education) for Carlow. He is the eighth Minister to bo re-elected. All* William Norton (Labour leader) was re-elected for Kildare. The Cosgraveite General Sean •AlcEoin, nicknamed “the Blacksmith of Ballinalee,” w*as elected for Longford and Mr G. Boland (Mr -de Valera’s party secretary) for Roscommon, where Mr Frank AlcDermott (leader of the Centre Party) was not elected on the first prference, but was later announced to be elected. Those not' elected include the Cosgraveite Mrs O’Driscoll (ex-member of the Dail for North Dublin), sister of Alichael Collins. The Due do Stacipoole, a prominent farmer in County* Meath, was defeated. For Wexford Alessrs Osmond, Esmond and Keating (Cosgraveites) were elected. Air Esmond was expelled from Australia in 1921 and revisited the Coniimonwcalth with the Irish delegation in 1927. In Wicklow Mr Everett (Labourite) was elected. Mr de Valera’s Alin Is ters, Mr Patrick R-ut-tledge (Fisheries) and Dr. J. Ryan (Agriculture), were elected, the former heading the first preferencs in North Alayo. The latter was returned for Wexford. Air Wall (Centre Party) was elected for Waterford, as were (Airs Redmond (Cosgraveite), widow of William Redmond, and two de Valeraites. Dr. Thomas O ’Higgins (Cosgravcite) was returned for Leixoffaly. Air .Tames Geoghegan, Minister of Justice, was elected. Two de A7aleraites apiece were elected in -Cavan and Aleatli. Alonahan returned a de Valeraite, and a Cosgraveite, and a de Valeraite was elected in Kildare. The Alinisters Air Scan McEntee and Air Scan Lcmass were returned with largely* increased majorities. Messrs Sean T. O ’Kelly and F. Aiken headed the polls on the first preference. In Monaghan Air Hasltt (Independent) defeated Air Ernest Blythe, a Cosgraveite exAlin ister.