The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-22
THE SKTRMTsIfTNG FUND.
What Mr.. Ford snys about It-O'Donovan
Rossn's Pay ns n Lecturer.

Mr.. Patrick Ford, proprietor OF the Tish
World. which is the instrument through which
ODonoynn Rosa has collected over sjO.OOO for
! the Skirmi shing Fund.- was found IN his Office.
Yesterday. by n reporter for THr SuN. He said:
81 will tell YOU all the connection have had
| with this business. O'Donovan Rosa started
| the fund in the spring Of 1876. gave him tho
privilege of acknowledging the rccciptsin my
newspaper. on condition that any subscriber
could. at any time within six months after send
Ing his money. have It back again on demand.
That promise Is still in force, and those who
want their money hack cnn have il without Civ
ing any rcnson for having changed their minds.
have never been connected with the fund in
any capacity. O'Donovan Rosa requested me
in the beginning to act Ms treasurer. but de-
clincd to do SO. He then went 90 the Can-na =
Gael Association and the Fenian Brotherhood.
and asked them to select representatives. from
their number who would act with him in the
matter. To this they agreed Ny brother. Au-
rusine Ford who Is an editor of my paper. and
j. j. clancy, then IN my employ, were madc the
cuStudians ui the iund.'
What was the reason for the change of
cus;udlans. and ~ the title from Skirmishing
Fund to Irish National Fund ="
The change Of name was made last week.
thc trustees deeming 1t adNsnnle; but the
transfer OF funds was not recent Ii was done a
year ago. Neitlcr does any mystery sur
round that net. as iull statement ui the cause
tilut l'N ip II was published az IN" fiinc.
Mr.; Ford showed copy, OF the H1ah World Of
April ~. 1871 containing his brothers. rosignn-
ton as trustee. and u receipt acknowledging
the acerpiancr oi the fund by the now trustees.
John J. lrcslin, Thomas Clarke Luby. John
levoy. William Carroll. Thomas.F. Bourkc. and
james Reynolds. The amount was then s23 800,
including Il note signed by O'DonONan Rossa
=" What docs that note represent 2" the re-
Money borrowed for the Fcninn Brother
hood ana Cian-na-Gael 10y ODonovan Rosa.
These organizations were very poor. aud
proper demonstration that they did make at
O'Nlanopys funeral, 0Donovan Rossa IS not
personally responsible for that obligation"
Has hr never received any part OF the fund
Tor " own 9n aS@
" How about his lectures? 2"
When he IL hired by any persons or asso-
Citations To lecture for the benefit e tho fund, no
is paid his price. Just Hs Henry Ward Bcccher
or any other lecturer might Toe PAID. Whatever
II given To- him as contributions to the fund he
turns over entire. believe he gets 800 night
~" Did not Denis D. Mulcahy sue the trustees
for pay for services in AID OF the fund.-
aiding the rroject. NJ WAS said 6v 'rHR Sun. he
never contributed To- II, never lccturrd n us hr-
hat. never, performed any services To- IL. and
never acted IN any OH 'ial way IN connection
WITH IT, How, then can al ' a man De- said To-
have trcn active IN aiding the PROJECT 2 But
\ CORE spondent ol The SuN this morning
asN.d what u"cam" Of the interest -
The iund Is mainly IN Cnit"d states bonds.
ana the interest II regularly a 'kHowledg"d in
the IriSh " prld as rec ipts. when II accru"~.
WnIyou say anyth lns about the way In which
IN" fund il Ia hc U-ru
Ny personal acquaintance with the trustees
does not give mo tho right 10 plnre IN their
councils: and am. therefore. unable to tell you
when or how the blow Is 10 be struck. or in
what special manner any special sum IL Ia he
devoted. Inc relations winch | have VIII! the
gentlemen simply grow oWt Of the connection
wilrh ] nav" with the paper IN which the re-
c"iitS arr" puuuciy acknowledged. lhoS" most
inter- si"d 80 this iN-lnr~S--tne suis 'ritrr- To-
TIE iuus-ar" the ones vino are perfectly -atis-
He'd. From IA" very start not on" Sulscril or
has cNpr Ssed the least dissatisfaction. Not
one. Ii L. those alone who nave never contrib
utrd a cent 10 this or any other object Of the
Kind that wing tho t.NIl tonsue."