In Again

Like famed Mr. Patrick ("Out-Again-In-Again-Gone-Again") Finnegan, Mr. William T. Cosgrave was in again last week, going again as "President" of the Irish Free State. Few were surprised. Having been defeated by two votes in the Dail Eireann fortnight ago, President Cosgrave had resigned (TIME, April 7), but his chief opponent, long-nosed Eamon de Valera thought so little of his own chances of succeeding Mr. Cosgrave that he did not bother to cancel his present U. S. tour.

In Dublin, de Valera lieutenants did their best last week for their absent chieftain. Before packed galleries in the Dail (Chamber of Deputies) grimly facing the complacent government benches, Sean T. O'Kelly, acting leader of the Fianna Fail (Irish Republican party), put Mr. de Valera's name in nomination for President of the Irish Free State.

"Eamon de Valera is the outstanding Irishman of the present generation." he shouted. "He is the only man likely to restore the lost confidence of the people." When the laughter caused by this remark had died down, members of the Dail promptly defeated Absentee de Valera, 93 to 54, as promptly defeated another candidate, Thomas J. O'Connell, Laborite. Then they put shock-headed "Willie" Cosgrave back into power with a vote of 80 to 65.

President "Willie" accepted his re-election with a speech of just one sentence: "I thank the Dail for the great honor they have done me, and I shall discharge my duties to the best of my ability."

Next morning Mr. Cosgrave, whose position as "President" is strikingly similar to that of a "Prime Minister," reported himself to his superior, the representative of King George V, jovial Governor- General of the Irish Free State James McNeill, who had rushed back from the Continent to Dublin to receive him. With the Dail's approval all members of the Irish Cabinet which fell fortnight ago were reinstated in their old ministries under President Cosgrave.

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