The best guarantee to be found is clearly the presence on the Governing Body of men of proved judgment and steadiness." As a last word he renewed his threat of calling on his supporters to organize separate county committees independent of the Dublin centre.
This was carrying matters with a high hand, and the fact that he succeeded proves the greatness of his prestige at the moment.

The Committee in a published manifesto accepted his terms, but accepted them with declared regret, and eight of the original members seceded.

Among them was Patrick Pearse, with whom went three others who suffered death in Easter week two years later.
All this was a disastrous business, and the worst part of it lay in the public avowal of divided councils.

Moreover, a committee so constituted could not, and did not, operate efficiently.

The original members were primarily interested in the Volunteer Force; the added ones primarily in the parliamentary movement.