The San Francisco call., 1898-02-21
Resolutions of Sympathy for for the Victims of the
 Maine Disaster.
The Call Finds Warm Friends Araonq the Hibernians, Who
 Praise It's Public Spirit.


 plan a fitting celebration for their pa tron saint on March II.
 Beside the regular delegates, there were also present fourteen eX-orators and poets who. for their services in the past, were entitled to a seat in the convention. President Frank Conklin presided, and J. J. Moran acted as sec retary.
 The first business of the convention was of private nature and was trans acted behind closed doors, after which the regular business was taken up.
 Besides the regular plan of an after noon and evening literary entertain ment, various ideas were suggested by different members, and were referred to the executive committee for con- sideration. P. J. Healy was admitted, and on behalf of the Miners Fair of fered the Pavilion to the convention for an Irish night, to be held on March or 4. MT. Healy offered to turn the fair over to the Celts for one night for $100 and on condition that they would take 4000 tickets to sell. In addition, he offered to the convention 500 tickets free, the proceeds of the sale of which would go to the fund now being raised in San Francisco for a monument to the Irish heroes who fell in the rising of '98. MT. Healy's offer was taken under advisement by the executive commit tee.
 Colonel Thomas F. Barry was then introduced to the delegates, and made a rousing speech, urging all to work to- gether and make the coming Irish hol- iday one long to be remembered.
 After Colonel Barry had finished motion was made to have the pro- ceeds of St. Patricks day celebration go to the monument fund. This motion brought on a rather lively discussion, as many were in favor of having it go to the erection of Celtic hall. A vote was finally taken, and the supporters Of the monument won by small ma jority-
 The next piece of business before the house was an election of a financial secretary and sergeant-at-arms, to hold office during the convention. Flu gene Hannon was chosen for the for mer place and M. O'Mahoney for the latter, both elections being unanimous.
 AS soon. as the applause following the installation of the new officers had subsided, President Frank Conklin called for order, and, announcing that there was another matter which, though not in the regular order of bus mess, could not be passed over, launched into a neat little speech, in which he called attention to the terrible affliction which had befallen the nation in the loss of the splendid battle-ship Maine and after paying a glowing tri- bute made a motion that resolutions Iaro iy1cr fIae yNat hrr af the Irish societies for the loss of so many brave lives and the entire readi- ness of every 1rish-American citizen to do all he could to preserve the honor of the flag in any emergency that may arise. The idea met with instant favor, and the following five gentlemen were appointed a committee to draft set of resolutions which will be presented to the convention for indorsement next Sunday: J. P. Degnan, Judge M. Coo ney, J. J. Donovan, John Mulhern and Colonel Thomas F. Barry.
 Following on the appointment of this committee, Judge Cooney took the floor and said he understood a movement was on foot that should have the hear ty iudorsement of every man in the convention as we'll as every citizen of California. He said he referred to the semi i-centennial celebration which 1t Is proposed to hold here in 1900 to com memorate California's fiftieth year of Statehood.
 ''The Irish societies." said Judge Coo- ney, should get right in the van of this movement, he represented on the executive committee, and do all in their power to help along so excellent a movement, which has for it's object the presentation to the world of the re- narkable progress and wonderful re- sources of the fairest spot in America.
 Judge Cooney had hardly finished when an obscure individual by the name of Conniffe arose from a dark corner of the hall and said he had not read the papers and did not know of what the Judge was speaking, but that he objected to the convention indorsing any such scheme
 Several men were on their feet at once. E. I. Sheehan, State Secretary of the Hibernians, finally obtained the recognition of the chair, and in a scathing speech told who had started the idea and who had given 1t their in- dorsement Said MT. Sheehan:
 John D. Spreckels and MT. Leake of The Call originated the idea and it has not only been indorsed by our own Governor and Mayor and the Gov ernor of every Western State but by every progressive citizen and business man of any prominence in the city, The only opposition 1t has encountered has come from a certain yellow jour- nal that supports nothing that does not tend to its own agrandizement The Call has worked unceasingly in the interest of the people without fear or favor It has protected the weak, curbed the strong, exposed dishonesty and castigated villainy, and whatever 1t proposes we need have no fear of indorsing."
 When MT. Sheehan had finished Con- niffe, the obscure one who never reads the news, after allowing the applause to die away, again arose, apologized and withdrew his objection, substi- tuting in it's stead a motion calling for a. resolution condemning arbitration or any other measure tending toward peace with England. This motion was turned over to the same commit tee having charge of the Maine" reso- lution.
 The convention then adjourned with the exception of the executive commit tee, which remained and informally discussed plans for St Patrick's day, adjourning, without doing anything. to meet again on Wednesday evening at l20 Ninth street, when they will be prepared to commence work in earn est.
 In England and Wales one person in te- 1s,.I