A New Freedom Shows Itseli In The Press
By the EARL OF WICKLOW
Time was when the rival papers in this country gave little space to matters which might reflect on the political chiefs with which each paper was by editorial policy identified, or, for that matter, to news which was to the credit of opponents. The Irish Press. the organ of the present Government Party, gave a splendid example of a new impartiality, which must be welcome to all when last week it gave as front-page news a fierce attack on two Ministers by Mr. Dillon. Mr. Dillon is now an independent, with no party allegiance. Speaking of the new Minister for Agriculture, he stated:
" Dr. Ryan was a catastrophe. Deputy Smith would be a disaster, and," the speaker continued, " Deputy Smith knows as much about the agriculture of this country as the leg of the table, and he is being asked to take over the Department which controls the very foundations of the economy of the State."
Mr. Dillon has certainly done very valuable work by his fighting qualities as a member of the Opposition, a very necessary element in a democracy. and he has a happy gift for making good phrases, but one hopes that on this occasion his pessimism may prove unfounded: if Mr. Smith makes as good a start in his new office as Dr. Ryan has done in his, the prospect for farmers may be quite hopeful.