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ilS
Vol. XXXIV. No. 29
In a letter read Sunday, June 1, in
all the churches of the Diocese of De
troit, His Lordship, Right Rev
Michael J. Gallagher denounced the
proposed League of Nations in no un
certain terms. The Bishop's letter fol
lows:
"Rev.-Dear Father:
"A grave crisis has been reached
In the struggle for Irish freedom. The
proposed League of Nations would de
stroy all hope of the liberation of Ire
land from her century-long enslave
ment by guaranteeing all the power
of the League, which includes that of
the United States, to prevent the
Irish from receiving any help in their
efforts to achieve independence. This
condemns Ireland to perpetual servi
tude under the iron heel of the ruth
less Sasenach. As the Irish are the
only white race denied the boon of
liberty, the Peace Conference at
tempts to brand men of Irish blood
with the stigma of inferiority and
world-contempt, as not entitled to or
dinary human rights and liberties ac
corded to every other nationality.
Our Representative at Paris Silent.
"Moreover, notwithstanding the
fact that America fought the war to
free all nations from the yoke of their
oppressors "and repeatedly proclaimed
to the world that this high ideal was
the object to be attained by her sacri
fices, our representatives in the Peace
Conference will not speak out for the
independence of the Irish Republic,
nor do they dare to even suggest to
England that Ireland at least be al
lowed to present her claims. Instead
of acting as the protagonists of lib
Chicago Societies Held Meeting Last
Sunday and Passed Strong Resolu
tions Censuring Peace Conference
for Its Inactivities Regarding
Ireland's Freedom.
The 44th annual convention of the
United Irish Societies of Chicago was
held at Emmet Memorial Hall on Sun
day, June 15, 1919. The convention
was called to order by President
Thomas J. Ahern, who in brief state
ment went over the work of the pres
ent year and outlined the future work
of this organization, dwelling especial
ly on the united action of the Irishmen
of Chicago, in bringing about the union
of all Irishmen in this city, as the large
attendande here today will testify and
the united efforts put forth by all
tactions and organizations in thlB
city.
On motion President Ahern appoint
ed the following committees:
Committee on organization: P. J.
Farley, Thomas O'Neill Jones, W. J.
Kelley, Joseph G. Klrwan and William
J. O'Connor.
Committee on resolution^: Michael
W. Cagney, Wm. Flanagan, Michael D.
Harnett, John A. McGarry, Hugh O'
"Neill and Joseph P. Mahoney.
Committee on Credentials: Frank
Connelly, Thomas J. Casey, Patrick
English, John M. Murphy and James
L. Horan.
While the committees retired the
convention was addressed by the Hon
orable John J. Mahoney, Chairman.
Thomas J. Casey of the Credential
"Committee then addressed the chair
and reported that there were 567 dele
gates present, representing 75 clubs
and societies affiliated with the United
Irish Societies and were entitled to
seats in the convention and then Mr.
Casey moved that t]ie said delegates
be bo seated and be' the delegates of,
this convention. The motion was put.
and unanimously carried. P. J. Far-!
ley, Chairman of the committee on
^organization then addressed the chair
and reported as follows:
Officers: Joseph P. Mahoney, presi
dent Michael W. Cagney, vice presi
dent James J. Reilly, Treasurer
John M. Murphy, corresponding sec
retary Thomas P. Bonfield, recording
secretary, and Rev. F. X. McCabe,
•chaplain.
Directors: John D. Roche, James
jO*D. Storen, William J. McGarry,
Bishop Gallagher
Denouri P*?v2Leagiie
Annual Convention of
Chicago Irish Societies
1
erty and justice, as America expected,
they are groveling in the dust at the
feet of John Bull, and "with bated
breath and whispered humbleness,'
they ask his pardon for ever having
professed American principles. Thus
the ideals symbolized by the Statue
of Liberty enlightening the world are
shattered to pieces, and, Columbia,
once the leader of democracy and the
builder of new republics and the un
daunted champion of freedom, is
gagged and muzzled by the minions of
Imperialism. America will be bound
by the League to remain silent and in
active, while tyranny, enthroned and
guaranteed against interference, throt
tles in blood the heroic Washingtons
and Lafayettes fighting for a Nation's
freedom.
A Blow at American Ideals.
"This is a deadly blow aimed not
only at Ireland but at all America has
held dear in the past, and it behooves
us therefore not only as men of Irish
blood, but as loyal Americans, to exert
every endeavor that American princi
ples be not sacrificed and American
freedom of action be safeguarded and
preserved.
"To further this object a monster
mass-meeting will be held in the
Arena, Detroit, on the evening of June
8th, and every friend of Irish freedom
and American independence of action
is urged to be present.
"Let us make this meeting a memor
able one in the history of Ireland's
fight for freedom.
"Cordially Yours in Xt.,
"MICHAEL JAMES,
"Bishop of Detroit."
Thomas J. Ahern, James L. Horan
and Richard F. Hanrahan.
Trustees: Hugh O'Neill, Bryan Con
nally, T. N. Morrissey, Edward V.
Clement and John J. Ryan.
Mr. Farley then moved the election
of these gentlemen for the ensuing
year. Said motion was regularly
moved and carried unanimously. The
newly elected president, former Sena
tor Joseph P. Mahoney, was then
called on to take the chair. Senator
Mahoney responded by covering the
situation in general and dwelling par
ticularly on the united position of men
of Irish blood in Chicago and he pre
dicted that great things would now be
accomplished.
President Mahoney then called on
the following gentlemen who respond
ed by making brief addresses:
Speakers: John F. Scanlan, Daniel
Donahue, Capt. James O'D Storm, Maj.
Dr. Thomas S. Crowe, Francis E.
Croackin, John J. Poulton, Michael D.
.Harnett, Hugh O'Neill, and -John A.
McGarry.
Michael W. Cagney, Chairman of
the committee on resolutions then ad
dressed the chair and after a brief
address presented the following res
olutions which on motion were unani
mously carried by a rising vote of the
convention:
Whereas, we, the members of the
United Irish Societies of Chicago in.
44th annual convention assembled, at
Robert Emmet Memorial Hall, June
15, 1919, in making our yearly survey
of the condition of our race in Ireland,
are mystified and astounded that in
this age of democracy there should bs
open and brutal tyranny in that unhap
py isle, that prison chains, machine
guns and cannons should be her re
ward after the copiousness with which
her blood flowed not only from Ireland
but from America —poured out freely
in the gigantic war for allied victory,
the victory which should mean relief,
freedom and exultation for all ally
countries, for Ireland spells only more
intense suffering, oppression and dark
ness. Under ordinary circumstances,
we American citizens could confidently
appeal to our fellow citizens for a
sympathetic and fair hearing for op
pressed nations, especially for Ireland,
we are mystified by the organized and
emblazoned hypocracy which is now
instilled on all sides into our Ameri
canism for foreign and domestic vo
S A
f^w-r5^- srssBspsst
taries, and openly advocated by a
corrupt press.
Whereas, We were early informed
that the Sinn Fein movement was
composed of socialists and anarchists
only but later we learned that it was
constituted of the best blood, brains
and patriotism of Ireland.
Whereas, American papers devoted
to advocacy of Irish liberty in the last
few years, after passing the censor,
appeared as naked of truth, as were
their editors when deprived of their
constitutional right of a free press.
Whereas, It is represented that the
Irish question is one of religion, it is
not nor never was so. Some of the
greatest Irish leaders were Protes
tants—such as Robert Emmet, Wolf
Tone, Henry Grattan, Lord Edward
Fitzgerald, John Mitchell and Charles
Stewart Parnell. The Irish are simply
struggling for a National existence.
Whereas, a great proponent of Anglo
Saxonism, Cecil Rhodes, left a will
and millions of dollars to be expended
to reuniting England and America by
giving American youth free education
in English institutions under the pro
visions of that will a secret organiza
tion has been put in operation. Men
in American public life, and the aid
of wealthy private American citizens,
have been enlisted. Money is being
expended to control
N
Whereas, We fear that those diplo
mats that honestly favored the "Four
teen Points" were taken up in the
^mountain by Britannic Majesty and
shown that the "Fourteen Points"
were good enough to animate ally sol
diers and quiet ally citizens during
the war, but now let»them be waived
in the treaty and in lieu thereof, what
'President Wilson intimated to
Messrs. Walsh and Dunne, Irish-Amer
ican representatives now in Paris,
that he -would do what he could to
bring the Irish question to the atten
tion of the Peace Conference. This
announcement was made by Frank P.
Walsh and Edw. F. Dunne on^Wed
nesday after a conference with the
President.
The promise was made in reply to
a question from the Irish-Americans
as to what he Intended to do In view
of the resolution adopted by the Sen
ate urging that the American delega
tion take steps to have representa
tives Of Ireland heard by the Peace
Conference.
Messrs. Walsh and Donne said they
went over the situation In Ireland' gen
erally In their talk with the President.
They gave out this statement:
Minneapolis, Minn., Saturday, June 21 1919
the American
press, and many other forms of prop
aganda have been launched on Ameri
ca, so that many are possessed of the
idea that we are.purely an Anglo-Sax
on people. To all which we decidely
protest. American blood and citizen
ship is composed of all people and it
took the revolutionary war to eradi
cate nearly all of the Anglo humbug
from our national system, with the
result that English tories after «the
war left our shores for England or
elsewhere.. Only a small contingent
was left to agitate for Anglo-Saxon
ism. Now their progeny, with their
"Hands across the sea," are seeking
to revive and fasten their monorchia!
ideas upon _us with the consequence
that British propaganda is running
riot in our beloved country. Our form
of government is a standing protest
against the British form and we want
it to so continue, we are satisfied to
remain Americans.
Whereas, British statesmen served
notice upon an unsuspecting world,
in 1914, that she was waging a great
war for democracy and later appealed
to America to save her when she was
being submerged. America did save
her and won the war. Tlie celebrated
"Fourteen Points" formed the founda
tion for the signing of the armistice.
Now peace is about to be declared.
But upon what basis? From the lim
ited information that leaks through a
strict censorship, skeleton and semi
official dispatches, we learn that some
of the fourteen points have been inter
polated diplomatically as follows:
"Freedom of the Seas" to mean Eng
lish Freedom of the seas "Freedom of
Small Nations," No Freedom for
nations under British domination—
Ireland, South Africa,. Egypt and East
India take notice. "Self Determina
tion," Britain help yourself to East
Africa, etc. "No Indemnities" unless
very large. China is not in the small
nation category, and the thirty-five
million Chinese in Shantung are to
yield their republican form of govern
ment and to be forced under an autoc
racy, to satisfy Brittain's ally, Japan.
Pres. Wilson Favors Irish Claim
unlimited glory would be given the
diplomats by a League of Nations.
Whereas, England has with bribery,
corruption and with cannon taken
away the liberty of the peoples of one
fifth of the world and by this league
seeks for ever more to fasten her
chains of slavery on these unfortu
nates and insists upon the aid of the
arms of free America to solidify her
in her outlawry on land, and with
world-wide English Freedom of the
Seas she will be able to protect her
self.
We pay tribute to the memory of
Christopher Columbus that he accom
plished his great mission before the
advent of English Freedom of the
Seas, otherwise, America would likely
have never been discovered. Still Eng
land followed Columbus' Trail ami
sought to fasten her infamous form
of Government upon Free America but
was defeated by "The Spirit of 1770,"
and the heroes that fought l'or the
principle of "GIVE ME LIBERTY OR
GIVE ME DEATH" under the Greai
Sinn Feiiifer, George Washington.
And again in 1812 under the leader
ship of Andrew Jackson and Comnio
dare Perry, of Irish blood,—but we
will not now comment upon the re
sults of that war, though it was fought
and won that America might have its
rights upon the seas.
Sad it is to state that under the new
era about to be launched under "Bri
tannia ruling the waves" Christ would
not now be allowed to walk on the wa
ter, unless first obtaining British per
niission, and if he did venture out nat
urally he would shortly be stopped
aud taken into Halifax or Kirkwall
for search and seizure.
Whereas, We in free America sym
pathize with all the oppressed, and
believe if we are afraid to speak for
the freedom of others we will soon be
afraid to speak for our own liberty.
Therefore, We, the members of the
United Irish Societies, in convention
assembled, do firmly resolve, that our
spuntry paid^ the supreme sacrifice
with 111,000 heroic dead, 200,000
wounded patriots, billions of indebted
ness, many deprivations and unmans
ured anguish for our heroes in the
field of battle, that no peace treaty be
signed which will deny the freedom of
Ireland and other nations.
We do further resolve that no trenf
which deprives other peoples of free
dom can with honor be signed by free
America. What living American, or
those unborn, can hereafter take pridn
that or country is signatory to a treaty
which deprived any country of its lib
erty or erased hope from others!
Be it further resolved, That we call
up the President of the United States
and the Congress of the United States
to give recognition to the Republic
of Ireland on behalf of the United
States at the earliest possible mo
ment.
And be it further resolved, That
,the Secretary be and he is hereby
directed to forward copies of these
resolutions to the President and to
the Congress.
MICHAEL W. CAGNEY,
JOSEPH P. MAHONEY,
JOHN A. McGARRY,
MICHAEL D. HARNETT,
HUGH O'NEILL,
WILLIAM FLANAGAN,
Committee on Resolutions.
Adopted at Chicago, June 15, 1919.
by a unanimous vote.
It was then regularly moved and sec
onded that the National Irish Societies
hold their annual demonstration and
picnic at Brand's Park, on August 15,
16 and 17,1919. The motion was unan
imously carried and there being no
further business to engage the atten
tion of the convention on motion it
was then adjourned.
"We had a conference with the
President today in which he stated
that the American commissioners
officially with the Peace Conference,
but that-he himself and others had
done and would continue to do un
officially, what they could in the in
terest of Ireland that the American
commission had not yet taken up the
Senate resolution requesting them to
use their efforts to secure a hearing
for De Valera, Griffith and Plunkett.
"Of course, we will take no further
steps until the American commission
passed on the Senate resolution. If
a hearing is granted De Valera and
his associates, and international rec
ognition 1b secured for the Irish Re
public, then our work is at an end.
"If the request of the Senate is de
nied, we will proceed with our efforts
to present the case of Ireland to the
whole Peace Conference."
The House of Commons approved
the additional tax on spirits proposed
in the Finance Bill.
T. P. O'Connor opposing, quoted
the findings of the Financial Relations
Commission on the overtaxation of
Ireland. That Commission reported in
favor of a reduction of Irish taxation,
but the Chancellor of the Exchequer
now proposed to add an enormous ad
dition to Irish taxation.
Mr. Devlin, speaking on the resolu
tion imposing excise duties on spirits,
said it seemed a very strange circum
stance that at the moment when Ire
land was practically denuded of rep
resentation in that llouse the Chancel
lor of the Exchequer should put an
additional burden of 10 millions on
Ireland. The Government were in so
many difficulties they had had not the
courage to J'ace the financial difficul
ties that encountered them. The only
genuine tax put upon any article was
on an Irish production. The whiskey
industry was one of the few industries
that England had not destroyed in
Ireland.
Last Irish Industry.
Yet an additional tax is proposed
on a great industry which, in his judg
ment. would kill it altogether, and
England would then have finished the
task it set itself to do—namely, de
stroy practically every industry in
Lliat country. Oil what, ground did
they tax Ireland at all. Me (Mr. Dev
lin) declined to recognize, and no one
who had any belief in the principle of
liberty could sanction I he ri^ht. of anv
British Minister to tax Ireland.
Did they believe, he asked, in tax
alit/u- .v.'it.hout .. representation?. ,_We
have no representation whatever, and
we have nothing whatever to do with
Llio government, of our own country
or the guiding of its common destinies
or the administration of its affairs
The K. of C.
Endowments
If higher education isn't a part o£
national reconstruction then nothing
is. Holding this as an axiom, the
Knights of Columbus are devoting
their time and a great deal of their
own money to the cause of higher edu
cation. Some years ago, long before the
war with Germany was thought of, at
any rate in this country, the Knights
raised $550,000 among their own mem
bership to endow a great university at
Washington, D. C., the Catholic Uni
versity of America.
In this university the Knights found
ed the Chair of American History—
then a decided novelty in even the
most advanced educational institu
tions but no less a necessity for an
American university striving to give
the most plenary education.
By their endowment of this univer
sity the Knights secured the privilege
of sending fifty young men every year
to take post graduate courses in arts,
philosophy, engineering, etc. Already
the number of graduates from this en
dowment goes over the 250 mark, with
the ranks increasing every year, so
that a small army of well-equipped
men is being placed at the nation's
service by the Knights of Columbus.
Throughout the country State Coun
cils of the K.-of C. maintain scholar
ships at different colleges. The New
York State Council maintains scholar
ships in seven institutions. In Illi
nois, Ohio, Oklahoma and numerous
other States the same praiseworthy
work is dOne. In' addition to this
subordinate councils of the K. of C.
maintain scholarships at junior acade
mies and parochial schools, and, as a
rule, provide medals and other prizes
every year to school students who
excell in American history.
The regular annual routine of a K.
of C. council includes a curriculum of
wide range upon useful subjects. Ex
perts of all kinds are invited to lecture
before the members of a council. In
this way the Knights acquaint them
selves with full Information on all man
ner of topics and provide for the
rounding out of the education of the
younger members. It is estimated that
over five million men hear lectures
in K. of C. council halls every year.
Ireland's Burden Of
Taxation) Protested
MINNESOTA
HISTORICAL l%£
:S0C4
^|J ^.,
5c the Copy
The only thing you offer us for this
tremendous burden is an army of oc
cupation of 40,000 soldiers. The rep
resentatives of the people have no
more to say to the affairs of their own
country than they have in the affairs
of China. Much as you despise Ire
land and assail her at home, and mis
represent her abroad you have the
brazenness to come to this House and
add ten millions to the burdens she
has already to pay for her connection
with this country.
What Ireland Gets.
Continuing Mr. Devlin asked what
had Ireland received for all this. Hous
ing Bills had been introduced for Eng
land and Scotland. Money is lavished
on education for England and Scotland,
but not one of these has been men
tioned for Ireland. Ireland did not
want the English Parliament to deal
with these questions. Ireland
could deal with them herself, but she
is not allowed. "The only thing you
do," he added, "is to impose an al
most impossible fiscal burden of taxa
tion, an army of occupation, courts
martial, the disappearance of constitu
tional forms of government, oppres
sion, suppression of public liberty.
That is what Ireland gets. You get
your taxes, and your treatment of Ire
land is a stigma to the British name,
and you are held up to the scorn and
ridicule of the whole world."
These and other transactions, said
Mr. Devlin, are driving every moder
ate man with any constitutional in
stincts into the camp of the extreme
party in Ireland. "I want to say," ho
continued, "that it seems to me that
the only thing we should do in Ire
land is to go to the hillside. If that
is your policy you ought to declare it
could not take up the case of Ireland
plainly and frankly to the country."
The Knights make a specialty of
public lectures on current events—
particularly in explanation of the
errors of extreme radicalism. In this
way they have helped to combat the
progress of syndicalistic ideas. With
the lessening of war activities the
Knights are devoting larger attention
to this substantial reconstruction
work.
KNIGHTS WITHDRAWING FROM
TRANSPORT WAR RELIEF
WORK.
New York, June 17.—In pursuance
of an order from the War Department,
the Knights of Columbus secretaries
are being withdrawn from the tratfs
port branch of war relief service. All
other welfare organizations have re
ceived the same instructions, the War
Department having decided to dis
pense with all civilians In this work
and entrust it to a force of "morale
officers" in military service.
Knights of Columbus will, however,
continue to furnish "creature com
forts" for distribution aboard troop
ships, so the only thing the soldiers
will miss will be "Casey" in person—
and many soldiers predict that "Casey"
will be severely missed too— the men
having grown so accustomed to get
ting whatever they needed or wanted
from him. However, "Casey" will be
as usual on the job at ail landing
piers in this country ready to greet
the doughboys and distribute K. of
C. supplies free.
One hundred and eight Knights of
Columbus secretaries have been en
gaged in transport service and hun
dreds of thousands of our soldiers
haTB testified to the splendid service
they rendered. Commanders of trans
ports, in many Instances, have for
warded to the Knights an official ex
pression of commendation.
Almost twenty-three per cent (22.4
is the official figure), of the supplies
distributed aboard thansports will be
furnished by the Knights, other war
organizations supplying their quotas." '-V?
General Pershing's son told his
ous daddy about the many good things,
in the line of chocolates, candy and
fruit, the K. of C. secretaries supplied
the soldiers and he could speak truth
fully too, because he sampled many of
the "goodies" while en route to France
to meet his' father.
Catholic chaplains will, of course,
continue in the transport service,
I
3L'