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Show Irish League Convention. Boston, Oct. 21. When the convention conven-tion of the United Irish league was called to order today the report of the officers giving a detailed account ac-count of the organization of the league, was read. From the time of the inauguration inau-guration of the league, Dec. 1. 1901, the report showed the organization had spread with remarkable rapidity. The report also reviewed the work performed per-formed by the various officers. At this point ex-Governor Boutwell of Massachusetts entered the hall and met with a rousing reception. He was presented to the convention. He said it was not the first time he had appeared in that hall before an audience of Irish citizens. He referred to the meeting of Irishmen protesting against the deportation de-portation of Smith and O'Brien, of wnicn ne was cnairman. tie outlined what had been done in '45 and '50; how in those years he had written and tepoken in the cause of Ireland. He had held that the dissolution of the British union did not go far enough, and had advocated that Ireland, Scotland and Wales should have an independent parliament. par-liament. The committee on constitution and by-laws reported. Pending the presentation presenta-tion of the report. Secretary O'Callag-han O'Callag-han read a bulletin announcing the ending of the coal strike. The convention conven-tion voted to send messages of congratulation con-gratulation to President Roosevelt and President Mitchell. The committee on credentials reported 706 delegates present. pres-ent. J. G. O'Connor of Philadelphia, acting chairman of the committee on ways and means, submitted a resolution resolu-tion that $100,000 be raised within the next six months for the cause of Ireland, Ire-land, and that this convention pledge itself for such amount, and that after the sum named has been raised, the league guarantees to give dollar for dollar with the landlords' fund while the struggle continues. The report was adopted. The afternoon session of the convention conven-tion began with speeches by John E. Redmond and Edmund Blake, M. P. Mr. Redmond was first introduced, and after congratulating the delegates upon the success of the convention and particularly complimenting the three officers, he said: "The declaration of this convention has not merely been eloquent and true, but it has been business-like. We know you need assistance from Ireland for organizing purposes, so I have cabled Joseph Devlin to come back to America. Amer-ica. "The Irish land trust has raised a fund of $500,000 to crush the Irish Na- j tional League and drive out of public life Mr. Dillon, Mr. Davitt, Mr. O'Brien and myself. If such a thing was possible, pos-sible, what a terrible calamity it would be for the Irish people. "You have peldged $100,000 in six months to meet the present and urgent necessities of the movement, and you have further pledged ' yourselves to give dollar for dollar for whatever sum is put into the landlord trust. This important im-portant action of yours will . be read with dismay in England and Ireland where there is opposition to our cause." Edmund Blake. M. P.. congratulated those who organized the convention and its officers. At the close of Mr. Blake's address, the committee on permanent organization organiza-tion reported. The report, which was adopted, unanimously named the following fol-lowing officers: President, John F. Finnerty. Chicago; vice presidents, Patrick Egan, New York; Michael J. Redding, Baltimore; secretary, John O'Callaghan, Boston; treasurer, T. B. Kitzpatrick, Boston, and a national committee, among whose membbers are General James O'Brien, Patrick Ford and W. Bourke Cockran, New York; Hugh J. McGow-an, McGow-an, Indianapolis, and United States Senator Smith. New Jersey. The convention' |
