The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-20
TO Be GIVEN AN OVATION.
National President 0'COnnOT Of the
A. @. Il. Returns.

peoeived by a Committee and Es-
,,rted to His Home-The Hibernians
VIII Celebrate His Election Tuesday
n1igbt-Mr. o'Connor Talks About
+bs Conventional Sharp Contest
For the ONCE of President-He Will
Work For the Increase of the Order.
Nh. P. J. O'Connor, the newly elected
rational president of the Ancient Order
- 4ibernians, and MIR. M. A. Buttimer
and Mr.. T. J. O'Brien, who were dele
-.+es with MIR. O'Connor to the national
invention of the order held in Omaha re-
emily. arrived in Savannah last night,
ofter an absence of over two weeks.
The national president was received by
.sommittee from the local divisions in
a.,riages and escorted to his residence on
Sacond street, where some time was spent
u receiving congratulations and discuss
;r., the results of the recent convention.
More elaborate arrangements had been
-oo5e for Mr. O'Connor's reception,
,rbich we're disarranged somewhat by the
fact that his return was earlier than had
haan expected. The general reception
nv, the members of the order will be held
On Tuesday night, when the Hibernians
of the city will express their apprecia-
tion of the honor conferred upon them in
the selection of their recognized leader as
the national president.
MR.. o'coNNoR's ELECTION.
To a reporter of the MORNING News
Mr. O'Connor talked very pleasantly of
tberonveution and matters appertaining
N the Ancient Order of Hibernians Mr.
0,Counor became a candidate for the
nosition of national president at the
ra9rest of Judge F. NJ. Wilhere,
of pennsylvania, the retiring pres
ident. AS chairman of the national
hoard of directors, Mr.. O'Connor
had been virtually vice president of the
order for the last six years, and it was
ypry natural that he should succeed to
thpofhce of president. Judge Wilhere,
however. reconsidered his determination
and became a candidate for reelection.
II was too late for Mr.. O'Conner to with
draw. however, as many of his friends
throughout the country had already
pledged themselves to him and were
AT work in his behalf. Feeling
that his election was practi-
auv assured, Mr.. O'Connor felt
that he could not with justice to himself
withdraw from the race, and the result
showed that his conclusions were iusti-
fld This precipitated very lively
fight in the convention, resulting in MIR.
O.Counors election by majority of
twenty-three votes His majority would
have been larger, but as the election was
held upon the last day of the conven ton
many of his friends had already left for
home The election was made unani-
nous ----
THE YOUNGEST OFFICER.
Mr.. O'Connor is the youngest of the
national board of officers and the fact
that he is from the south where the order
is comparatively weak made his election
somewhat of a surprise to the delegates
from the northern states. The delegates
from the western states. however, were
almost unanimously for him. The Ne
braska delegation voted solidly for him.
The convention was the largest we
have ever held" said Mr.. O'Connor.
There were $50 delegates in attendance,
representing nearly every state, territory
and province in the United States and
Canada. The report showed a total
membership of about 100000 The
Order has grown very rapidly
in the last year or two, and
special efforts viii be made under my ad
ministration to increase its strength.
After leaving Omaha we visited Joliet,
ILL.,. where we were surprised with
respond with an address without having
been previously notified. From Joliet
we went to Chicago, and thence to Gin
clnnati, where we were cordially re-
ceived by the local divisions.
TO VISIT THE DIVISIONS.
1t will be necessary for me to visit the
large cities of the country in the interest
OF the order during my term of Office,
which is two years, said Mr. O'Connor.
On our way out we stopped at St. Louis
and Kansas City, where we were cor
daily received. At Kansas City we met
Chief Fireman Hale who is to be in Sa-
Tannahthis week. He expected to accom-
pany us on our return, but we took a diff
1ereHt roete from what we then expected
10 take. MIR. Hale is highly esteemed in
Kansas City, and he is certainly one of
the best hremen to be found anywhere.
Lest some should think to the contrary, l
VIII state that he is not a mem Der of the
Ancient Order, being neither an Irish
man nor Catholic"
THE ANCIENT ORDERS OFFICERS.
Some changes were made in the consti-
luton of the order on the Recommended
ton OF the board of directors of which
Ar. q Conner was chairman. The office
OF national vice president was created,
Ihe wee president being ex-officio chair
man OF the board of directors. The nat
lonai officers are as follows:
Presldent-P. j. O'Connor, of Georgia.
ace President-Hon. John G. Weadock
Of Michigan.
seeretary-M. ]. Siattery, of New
Ireasurer-T. J. Dundon, of Ohio
Directors-M. +. Wilhere, of Pennsyl-
yania j. NJ. Clarke, of Wisconsin; Ed
ward SweenN of Ohio, and James Jack
son, Of Pennsylvania. -,
Inc next convention will be held in
Detroit in July, 1896.