FACING THE FACTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13170, 2 September 1913, Page 3

FACING THE FACTS.

'"■''•in." k • BELFAiJT, July 25. ■ ihe business men of Ulster met Sir S^l o3^" at *& h^dq«arters of..the Ulster Unionist Council, to: discuss the arrangements for eitablishiriff the provisional Government m the event of the Home Rule Bill being .passed. The -proceedings were , regarded as strictly private, and no names of those attend--mgh-«ere made public, but it can be authoritatively stated (remarks the Express correspondent) that they comprised, many, if not most, of the leadin~ .captains of industry m the province" Shopkeepers, ,linen merchants, owners of mills and factories, and at least one representative of the sliipbuilding industry were there. These are men with everything to lose and nothing to gain from civil war, yet they were unapimous today m pledging their whole-hearted support to the policy of Sir Edward parson and the Ulster Unionist party. The question of insurance against loss m the event of disturbances was discussed, but one and' all declared that, So far as they were concerned, they had taken put only the ordinary policies which they had taken out years ago. There was some speculation as to the people who had taken out special policies against civil war, but it was, clear that no such per- . son was actively identified with the Unionist policy. The possibilities of civil war were debated at some length, and the business men present revealed the characteristic Ulster aptitude for facing, the facts. . They are living under no delusions as to what resistance to- Home Rule means, and' m, their cool, hard-headed northern, way they, discussed all eventualities, • seeking, as *. isNfcheir habit, to reduce the probable loss ho a minimum, yet fully prepared to let (every stick and stone go and to sink to poverty rather than surrender their principles. To-day's ..meeting was the' ntosi. significant incident m Sir Edward Carson's present visit to Ulster. , The I enthu-fasm of youth, the flame of fanaticism j or the spell of an impassioned orator may rouse the" multitude, but here were unemotional men of business calmly debating, the profit and loss account of civil 'war.; : They sat like any shareJiolders' meeting, and coolly and fearlessly weighed the pros and. cons of the case, and they roee from their' seats with the same-! .unflinching resolve "to see this thing through." The meeting was also admitted to some extent into the confidence of the provisional Government, but on 'this point it:is impossible io get any detailed 1 information. The fact remains that this meeting proved, conclusively that the anti-Home Role movement m Ulster is not confined to the rank and file, but enibraeed all sections of the community, tieVatid poor* laborer and merchant prince. When Sir Eclward Carson left the old town hall to" drive back to Craigayon, . even his usually impassive face revealed iAjsna of satisfaction. He had just received another proof of the solidarity oi Unionist. Ulster. ; '