Waterford News
& Star 25/5/1923
Mr. James
Larkin in Dungarvan
Mr. James Larkin
addressed a large Labour meeting on the Square, Dungarvan, on Wednesday. The Labourers marched in a body from the Town
Hall, a piper playing, the men proceeding four deep. Mr. Butler T.D. presided, and introduced the
speakers, among whom were Messrs T. Ryan, Waterford, and Organiser Baird,
Belfast.
Mr. Larkin who was
received with cheers, recounted the early efforts of his to forward the cause
of the labourers in England, Scotland, and Wales, also in Belfast, and then in
Dublin. In speaking of Belfast, he said there were 870 men, 320 women and 139
children shot down by special constables.
Referring to the political situation, he said that Mr. de Valera made
certain proposals and the Premier replied: he said the republicans must swear allegiance
to the English King. But many Kings had
lost their jobs, and King George may lose his, too, before very long. In the Dail there were 36 men, and of these, twenty hold office, and this without getting back to their
constituents. The farmers made millions
by the blood lust during the war, and they want to cut down the men’s wages
now. There were 85 million pounds in the
banks, but the labourers had none of it.
He called on them to have peace, to strengthen the union, and work for a
worker’s republic.