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Show UNITED !f?3SH LEAGUE OF AMERICA 11 Full Text of the Constitution and By-Laws Adopted By the J j Provisional Organizing Committee at the Hoffman i ' house, New York, Thursday, Dec. 19. 1901. j PREAMBLE. Adopted at a general meeting sum-monev sum-monev bv the Irish envoys to America. Messrs. John E. Redmond. M. P.. Water-ford Water-ford Cltv; Patrick A. McHugh. M. P-. North Leitrim. and Thomas O'Donneil. M. P.. West Kerry, and at which these gentlemen were present, held at the Hoffman Hoff-man House. New York. Dec. 4. IRol: "Whereas. The movement In which the people of Ireland are at present engaged, as represented by the United Irish league, is. one which received the hearty and unanimous approval of the Irish race in all lands, ia the decade from 1880 to 1S0O; and. "Whereas, .The methods and objects of the United Irish league are practically the same as those pursued by the land league under the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell; therefore be It "Resolved. That this meeting, interpreting inter-preting what we believe to be practically the unanimous sentiment of the Irish race in. America, heartily Indorses the United Irish league movement as conducted con-ducted by the people of Ireland, and. proclaiming pro-claiming th right of Ireland to national self-government, thoroughly approve the principle that the Irish people on their own soil are the sovereign authority ami best fitted to decide the means by which to fight Ireland's battle of freedom. "Resolved, That in accordance with that principle we urge that steps be immediately immediate-ly taken to spread the organization of the United Irish league in the United States and Canada, as an auxiliary to the movement in Ireland. '"Resolved, That to that end the present meeting be constituted an organizing committee for the purpose of establishing establish-ing braenhes of the United Irish leagues throughout the country, and that, as the first step in that direction, a provisional executive committee of twenty-ona members, mem-bers, with power to add to their number, and including a president, vice president, treasurer and four secretaries, be chosen by the meeting, and that they shall have, full power to act. including the assessment assess-ment of fees and dues. "Resolved. That when, in the opinion of the executive committe. a sufficient number num-ber of branches of th United Irish league for the purpose has been established, the executive committee shall summon a national na-tional convention to place the organization organiza-tion on a permanent basis in America, and that, meantime, the constitution of the league in Ireland be adopted as the constitution in this country." ! ' Ji Constitution Of the United Irish League of America adopted at a meeting of the executive organizing committee, held in the Hoffman House. New York. Dec. 19. 1301. the president. Hon. John F. Finerty of Chictgo presiding: THE CONSTITUTION'. Article I. Tittle Pending "tne holding of a national convention this organization shall be known as the Provisional Organizing Or-ganizing Committee of the United Irish League of America. Art. II. Objects The purposes of this organization is to act as an auxiliary In Amorica to the national organization in Ireland the United Irish league whose primary declaration Is: "That in the words of the constitution of the first club of United Irishnien in 1702. 'This society is constituted for the purpose of forwarding forward-ing a brotherhood of affection, a communion com-munion of rights, and a union of power among Irishmen.' " Briefly stated, the ends to be attained rs: 1 " First Full national self-government for Ireland. - Second The abolition of landlordism in Ireland by means of a universal and compulsory com-pulsory system of land purchase. Third The putting an end to periodical famine In the distressed districts of Ireland: Ire-land: Fourth To Insist upon the appropriation appropria-tion to strictly Irish national uses of the $15,000,000 at present annually exported from Ireland, in excess of the contribution contribu-tion stipulated by the act of union. Fifth To secure the redistribution of the frazing ranches of Connaught. and the reinstatement of the evicted tenants. - Sixth Complete educational equality tot all creeds in Ireland. -. Seventh The compulsory extension throughout Ireland of the law for providing provid-ing agricultural laborers with cottages and one-sere allotments. Eighth The abolition of the right of tha crown to challenge jurors in political cases, except for cause shown. Ninth The preservation of the Gaelirt language as part of the struggle for th recovery of Irish national freedom. And other reforms. . Art. HI. Membership Membership ol the United Irish League shall be open td al! Irish Nationalists, without dlsttnctloa of class or creed, and to all sympathizer! with the national claims of Ireland. BY-LAWS AND RULES. By-laws and rules of the United Irish League adopted at the same meeting: Section 1. The president shall preside a all meetings when present; ln his absence one of the vice presidents; or. in the absence ab-sence of both, a chairman shall be elected for the meeting by the members present. The chairman shall have, for the time being, all the powers and privileges of the president. Sec. Z. The .secretaries shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the executlva committee or the provisional organizing' committee; notify members of meetings., either through the pre3 or otherwise, as may be convenient; keep all reports and! necessary records, with a list of the) members of the executive committee and, the provisional organizing committee, and list of all branches of the United Irish League of America In existence. They shall also keep a record of all moneys "received by them and handed over to the treasurer, with receipts for same; conduct con-duct correspondence under the directlonj of the president, and otherwise assist.him as may be necessary. ' Sec. 3. The treasurer .shall keep a correct cor-rect record of all moneys received by him from the secretaries or other sources, for the purposes of the organization, and he shall give his receipt for the same. He shall also transmit from time to time to the treasurers of the fund in Ireland such sums as. after the deduction of all. legitimate expenses, may- be directed by the executive committee of the United Irish league of America. The treasurer shall also report once a month, or more frequently If necessary, the financial condition con-dition of the organization to the president. presi-dent. Sec. A. In addition to the holding of stated meetings at regular intervals, the president, treasurer and secretaries shall have power to call special meetings whenever, when-ever, ln their Judgment, such action is necessary in the interest of the organization. organ-ization. Set. 5. The executive, committee,- with the officers of the organization, may meet at any time for the consideration of matters affecting the welfare of the organization, if -it is not found practicable to call a meeting of the entire membership member-ship of the provisional organizing com- I mittee for that purpose. ! See. Twelve members shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the executive execu-tive committee, and shall be entitled to. transact all necessary, business, but-all such meetings shall be held only with the knowledge .and consent of the president. presi-dent. - Sec. 7. Any appeal from the decision of the chair, to be sustained, must be supported sup-ported by two-thirds of the members present pres-ent and voting. Sec. 8. Matters of general policy, action ac-tion and organization shall be under the guidance of the executive committee and officers." ' Stc. 9. Any twelve or more persons, acting act-ing by authority and under the direction of the executive committee of the provisional pro-visional organizing' committee, shall be entitled to form a branch of the United Irish League of America. Such branches, as a preliminary to affiliation with the national body, shall contribute a sum of J5, and thereafter 50 per cent of their gioss receipts shall be forwarded to the national treasurer for the general purposes pur-poses of the organization. To become entitled en-titled to representation at the national convention of the United Irish League of America each branch must have been at least three months ln existence prior to the date of such convention: and each, branch in, good standing, with a mem- bership- not exceeding 100. shall be entitled enti-tled to one delegatae at such convention, with an alternate in case of the failure of the delegate to act. For every additional hundred members, or fraction of a hundred, hun-dred, exceeding 50 per cent, ln good stand- ing. each branch shall be entitled to one addltionah delegate. - - Sec. 10. - In cities wlah a p6puIation of 100,000 or upwards, central councils may be elected by the branches in existence and recognized by the Provisional Organizing Or-ganizing Committee, or the executive committee acting in Its behalf; provided, hoover, that at east twn weeks' notice Of such Intention- be given the national ffirs as representing the organizics committee: that similar notice he given . it each branch then duly established In the ! I particular city or town; and that each ; branch claiming the right to participate I In the formation of such central council , j shall have paid in its affllatlon fee to tha National Provisional Organizing Comrat- f tee. Not more than one such central body j may exist in any city or own. In th 1 formation of a central council, eacll . I branch shall be entitled to three dele- ; I gates. (In order that proper t!m may b ; L afforded for th? formation of such cen- ! tral councils. March 17. 1W2. Is get as thd J earliest date at which they may be estab- 1 lished. due notice in the form heretofore provided being In the meantime given.) Sec. 11. Wherever, in any city or town under 100,000 population, three or more. branches, properly constituted, of th . United Irish League of America exist, it if is competent for them to elect a central j: council, the governing body to consist ot . j a president, vice president, one or mors r secretaries, and an executive committe I not exceeding sevn members. At least I one week's notice of the intention to elect ; l such a central council must be given the j national executive committee. Sec. 12. The annual subscription for j membership ln the United Irish League . ( of American ahall be 11.00. the levying of t further dues or assessments to be at the ; f discretion of each local branch. f Sec. IS. As a temporary arrangement. j and pending the action of a national eon- j vention. a sum not exceeding 10 per cent f of the receipts from local branches shall j be placed at the disposal of the national I executive committee for the furtherance 5 of th work of organization and the ex- J penses incident thereto, any surplus re- 1 maining therefrom to be returned to the j national treasurer for the general pur- i poses of the organization. j j Sec. 14. Whenever, in the Judgment f ! ( the executive committee of the provisional provision-al organizing committee, such action im deemed necessary, the committee mar provide a card of membership of suitable j design to be presented member of the United Iriah League on pavment of their ; annual subscriptions. l 3c. 15. Any details not fully covered in the foregoing sections shall' be decided de-cided by the executive committee when that is feasible: otherwise by the Pro- : visional Organizing Committee of th j United Irish League of America. j BRANCHES. j First In accordance with the platform of the United Irish Leagu. it Is the de- . sire of the executive committee that tha broadest exercise of local self-government be permitted to each branch, sub- ' Ject only to the provisions of the constitu- ) tion. and the rules of the organizing com- ; mittee. j Second Any Information desired by persons per-sons Intending to establish branches of i the United Irish League of America. ' either as to the method of establishing ' ; them, or In relation to their working, will ; be gladly supplied by the officers of tha ! f national body, on application being made J i to them. if ADDRESSES OF CHIEF OFFICERS. JOHN F. FINERTY. I President T. I. I., of A. , I S3 Dearborn Street. Chicago. Ills. f JOHN OTALLAGHAN. National Secretary. ; l 93 Globe Building. Boston. Mass. , f I T. B. FITZPATRIC.v. 5. National Treasurer. ' IM "Kingston Street. Boston. Mass. ; f |