OCR Text |
Show mm IRISH LEAGUE! OF AMERICA t Full Text of the Constitution and By.Laws Adopted By the Provisional Organizing Committee at the Hoffman House, New York, Thursday, Dec. 19, 1901. I'RKAMBI.E. Adopted at a f;pnera.l meeting sum-money sum-money by tho Irish envoys t" Atm-rica. Messrs. John E. Redmond. M. P., V;itr- I ford City: Patrick A. Mc-Hugh. -M. P.. North l.eitrlm. and Thomas O'Donnrll. M. P.. West Kerry". aTid at which thes gentlemen wore present, held ar Hip Hoffman Hoff-man House. Xpw York. Ijp 4. 1101 : 'Whereas. The movement in which Unpeople Un-people of Ireland are at present engaged, as represented by the I'nited Irteh. league, is oYie whieb. rerelved the hearty and unanimous approval et" the Irish race in all lands, in the decade from to 1S:": and. "Whereas. The methods and objects of the I'nited Irish league ;ire practically the same as those pursued by the land l league under the leadership of Charles Stewart Parnell: therefore be it 'Resolved, That this meeting, interpreting inter-preting what we believe to ho practically , the unanimous sentiment of the Irish race in America, heartily indorses the I'nited Irish league movement as con- j ducted by the people of Ireland, and. proclaiming pro-claiming the right of Ireland to national self-government, thoroughly approve the principle that the Irish people on their own soil are the sovereign authority and best fitted to decide t)1P means by Which to fight Ireland's battle of freedom. "Resolved, That in accordance with that frtncijjle we nrge that stfps he immediate-y immediate-y ta'...en to spread the organization of the United Irish league in the I'nited States aril Canada, as an auxiliary to the rno.enient in Ireland. "Resolved, That, to that end the present n,etin be. constituted an organlning committee for the purpose of establishing establish-ing brarnhes of the I'nited Irish leagues throughout the, country, and that, as the first step In that direction, a provisional executive committee of twenty-one members, mem-bers, with power to add to their number, and including a president, vice president, treasurer and four secretaries, lie 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 tho executive committo. a sufficient number num-ber nf branches of the I'nited Irish league lor 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, anil .that, meantime, the constitution of the league in Ireland bp adopted as the I constitution in this country." Constitution of the I'nited Irish League of America adopted at a meeting of the executive organizing committee, held in the Hoffman House. New Tork. Pec. 19. ISfil. the president. Hon. John F. Finerty of L'hictgo presiding: THE COXSTITfTIO.V. Article I. Tittle Pending the holding of a national convention this organization shall be known as the Provisional Organizing Or-ganizing Committee of the I'nited Irish League of America. Art. H. Objects The purposes of thU organization Is to act as an auxiliary in America 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 'f United Irishmen in 17!2. 'This society is constituted for the purpose of forwnrd-ing forwnrd-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 r; First Full national self-government fo.-Ireland. fo.-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 j famine In the distressed districts of Ire- i land. Fourth To insist upon the appropriation appropria-tion to strictly Irish national uses of the 115,000,000 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 frazlng ranches of f.'onnaught. and the. reinstatement .of the evicted tenants. Sixth Complete educational eqnalltv for all creeds in Ireland. . Seventh The compulsory extension throughout Ireland of the law for provld,-ing provld,-ing agricultural laborers with cottages and one-sere allotments. Eighth The abolition of the right of the crown to challenge jurors in political cases, except for cause shown. Ninth The preservation of the Gaellfi language as part of the struggle for thf recovery of Irish national freedom. And other reforms. Art. III. Membership Membership oi the I'nited Irish League shall be open tfl all IristL Nationalists, without distinct lo:; of class or creed, and to all sympathizers with the national claims or Ireland. BY-LAWS AND RULES. By-laws and rules of the United Irist. League adopted at the same meeting: Section 1. The ptesident shall preside a Bll meetings when present ; in his absence one of the vice presidents; or. in the 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 tho president. Sec. 2. The secretaries shall keep the i minutes of all meetings of the executive I committee or the provisional organizing I committee; notify members of meetings. I either through the press 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 A list of all branches of the I'nited Irish League of America In existence. They fehall also keep a record of all moneys Teceivcd by them and handed over to the treasurer, with receipts for same: conduct con-duct correspondence under the direction, 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 alt I 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 presi- i dent. Sec. A. In addition to the holding of stated meetings at regular intervnls. the president, treasurer and secretaries shall have power to call special meetings whenever. when-ever. In their judgment, such action is necessary in the interest of tho organization. organ-ization. . , Sec. 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 I organization, if it Is not found practicable to call a meeting of the entire membership member-ship of the provisional organizing committee com-mittee for that purpose. Sec. 6. 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 votinc. See. 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 hodv. shall contribute a sum of J5. and thereafter 50 per cent of their gross 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 o America eacn nrancn musi nave irecu u least three months in existence prior to the date of such convention: and each branch in good standing, with, a mem-; bershlp 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, in good standing, stand-ing, each branch shall be entitled to one additional delegate. ' ' ' " Sec 10. In cities wlah a population of 100 000 or upwards, central councils may be' elected bv 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 least two weeks' notice of such Intention be given th nattnnal Ifi...rs representing the organizing I committee: thm similar notice be given each branch then duly established in the , particular city or town: and that a,-;i I branch claiming the right to participnte I in. the formation of such central council ! shall have paid in its affilation fee to th. ' National Provisional Organizing Cornrnt-I Cornrnt-I tee. Not more than one such centra hodv may exist in any city or town. In the j formation of a central council, each I branch shall be ertitld to three rtele-; rtele-; gates, iln order that proper tiiti" may ha afforded for the formation of such central cen-tral councils. Marrh 17. ir2. is set as thfl earliest date at which they may he estah- ! lished. clue notice in the form heretofore provided being in the meantime given. I Sec. 11. Wherever, in any city or town under PiO.'W population, three or morn branches, properly constituted, of tha United Irish League of Anvrica exist. It j Is competent for them to elect a '-ential council, the governing body to consist of a president, vice president, one or more secretaries, and an executive committer not exceeding sevu members At least i one week's notice of the intention to ele.-t such a central council must iie given the i national executive committee. Sec. 12. The annual subscription '"or . membership In th I'nited Irish League j of American 9hall be $.0U. the levying o.' further dues or assessments to be at the j discretion of each local branch. Sec. IS. As a temporary arrangement. I and pending the action of a national eon- rentlon. a sum not exceeding 10 per cent I j of the receipts from local branches shrll be plaepd at the disposal of th national executive Pommittee for the furtherance of the work of organization and the expenses ex-penses Incident thereto, any surplus remaining re-maining therefrom to be returned to the ! national treasurer for the general purposes pur-poses of the organization. Sec. 14. Whenever, in the judgment of the executive committee of the provisional provision-al organizing committee, such action ! deemed necessary, the committee mar provide a card of membership of su'tabl design to be presented memhers of the I'nited Irish League on p-iyment of their annual subscriptions. Sec. 15. Any details not f:i'!v rovred In the foregoing sections shall be decided de-cided by the executive c.ommt'tee when that is feasible: otherwise bv the Provisional Pro-visional Organizing Committee of the I'nited Irish League of America. "BRANCH!-:?. First In accordance with the platform of the I'nited Irish League, it is 'he desire de-sire of the executive committee that the broadest exercise of local self-government be permitted to each branch, subject sub-ject only to the provisions of the constitu tion, and tne rules of the organizing committee. com-mittee. Second Any information desired by persons per-sons intending to establish branches of 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 the national body, on application being made to them. ADDRESSES OF CHIEF OFFICERS. JOHN F. FINERTT. President U. I. L. of A. 63 Dearborn Street. Chicago. Ills. JOHN O'CALLAGHAN. National Secretary. M Qlohc Buildlne. Boston. Mass. T. B. FITZPATRIC. National Treasurer. P4 Kingston Street. Boston, Mass. |