The Siftings Herald

Irish Falstaff
Saves Free State

DUBLIN, Irish Free State, Sept. 7
(AP)—Only a few days ago John Jinks
was only mayor of Sligo, a man of
great girth and greater laughter.
Today is Ireland's man of the
hour, the Falstaff of the Emerald
Isle. Songs are sung to commemo-
rate his existence. His name
has
given birth to the word "jinking."
And all not because of what he
did, but because of what he didn't
do.

The present Free-State Govern-
ment of Ireland, with President
Cosgrave at its head, stood on the
threshold of defeat. Business hesi-
tated
and grew afraid. Perhaps
Ireland would be swept into an-
other cataclysm.

The combined opposition moved
a vote of no confidence in the gov-
ermnent. If the vote passed, the
government would resign. At 2
o'clock in the afternoon Mr. Jinks
had voted with the opposition to
submit the vote of censure. The
opposition counted on Mr. Jinks.

But when the great moment
came Mr. Jinks had gone. After
listening
to
the preliminary
speeches preceding the vote, he
quietly took his hat and left the
Dail. Seventy-two votes were cast
for the government and only 72
votes were cast for the opposition.
The speaker cast the deciding vote
in favor of the government. The
Free State was saved.

At once the search for Mr. Jinks
began. The opposition said he
government had kidnapped him.
A squadron of reporters raced to
Mr. Jinks's hotel, and there they
found him, placid, serene and
amused that his action had been
the deciding factor in the vote.

"I
was
of convinced that a
change of government on the lines
proposed would be for the good of
the country," he said, "and there-
fore I left the house just before
the division was taken. I did not
know what my vote would have de-
cided the issue, but if I had I
should have acted exactly
as I
did."