The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-09-06

it is with true fraternal feelings that
l greet you one and all, for, believe
me, there is not one among you, no
matter how lowly his station may be,
who is not dearer to my heart, and
whom it gives me more pleasure to
greet than the most exalted Of our race
outside OF our own ranks, because
every Hibernian, no matter how hum
bic his position in life may be, is
working for the unification Of our peo-
pie so that they may become better
Catholics, good and true Hibernians,
and, therefore, better and more patri-
otto citizens Of this, the only republic
guaranteeing equal rights to all men.
1t is with the greatest pleasure that
l can congratulate you upon the fact
that the most perfect harmony pre-
walls throughout our entire Order in
this state, and elsewhere, and 80 far
as l know there is no grievance to
be submitted to your consideration.
except an appeal taken from a ruling
of the state officers, relative to which
they stopped the vehicle, under the
the Committee on Grievances.
am happy to state that during the
past term the relations between myself
and brother state officers, and between
the state officers and the various
county and divi ion officers through
out the state have been of the most
fraternal and cordial nature, and ex-
tend to them, one and all, my sincere
thanks for their unvarying courtesy
to me, and for the Jealous manner in
which they labored for our own be-
loved Orders welfare.
Tho growth and progress of our Or
der during the past two years, all
things being considered, have been
very satisfactory, and never before in
the history Of the Order IN this state
have there been so many Hibernians
represented than there are in this BIZ
ennfal meeting. At the time Of our
last state convention we numbered
practically four thousand, while today
we can congratulate ourselves on hay
ing membership in THE state of five
thousand and nine. Our present con-
dition as to numerical strength and
finances will be fully presented to you
in detail by your state secretary, and
state treasurer, therefore it will not
be necessary for me to say anything
further upon the subject
In my report to you at Rochester l
made THE following statements: "rhe
observations have made and the ex-
perience have had since l have held
the Office, with which you so gener-
orsly hOnored me, have forced me to
the conviction that if we would in
crease in membership as we should,
and keep pace with other fraternities
about MS, we must take some steps
radically different from anything we
have done i'll the past; firmly be-
lieve that if the Ancient Order of Hi
bernans had regular organizers in the
field working under tire directions OF
would instead Of having 100000 MEM
bers. have five times that number"
and /, mt that time recommended that
you authorize your state officers to
appoint organizers.
am, however, happy to be able to
say that the national convention at
Denver recognized the necessity Of
putting competent men in the field,
and empowered the National Board
to appoint four national organizers,
and l certainly hope that the results
will show forth the wisdom of such
action.
Brothers, we, your state officers, are
here to render an account Of our
stewardship; it is your duty TO see that
the accounting is full and complete,
and that the scrutiny is searching.
honest Judgment upon our acts, and
say whether the work has been we'll
done
At our last convent on l believe it
was quite generally understood that
future state conventions be held alter
nately in the Twin Cities; if this iden
should become the expressed or un-
written law Of the Order would not
the present system Of holding conven-
tons become too burtlersome to our
brethren in those cities? l believe it
asSuredly would. While know that
they are good loyal Hibernians, who
are ready at all times to make any and
all sacrifices necessary for the Or
der's welfare, l feel that it would be
manifestly unfair to them, and we
should not expect that they or the
brethren of any convention city should
bear the expenses necessary and incl
dent to the holding Of conventions. 1
hold that the legitimate expenses of
all state conventions should be paid
out Of the state treasury, whether they
be held in either Of the cities or else
where. 1, therefore, recommend that
you adopt bylaw providing that con.
vention hall rents, cost of delegate
badges, and music for parades be paid
out Of the state treasury. and in order
to meet such outlay an assessment be