Bismarck daily tribune., 1903-04-17
APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE.
CONVENTION OF lRIsHMEN Al
nusL,N DISCUSSES GOVERN.
MENT LAND BILL.
SOME AMENDMENTS DESIRED

Motion to Reject the Measure az Not
Merltina Support Defeated by an
Overwhelming Majority and the
Parliamentary Party Authorized to
Seek Changes in the Bill During Its
Discussion in House Of Commons.
Dublin. April 1.-THE national con
yention of the United Irish league was
held during the day in the historic
roundroom of the Mansion House.
About 1000 delegates assembled In the
crowded rotunda, which was incapa-
Bile of holding all who had come from
every part of Ireland to discuss the
Irish land bill. On the platform sat
almost every Nationalist member OF
parliament, with scattering OF prel.
ates In the body Of the rotunda was
a gathering seldom eQualed in repre-
sentative capacity. Farmers from
Glare. in top boots; laborers from Dub
lin county; landlords from Cork and
priests from all parts. the latters
sombre clothing and tall hats contrast.
ing pleasantly with the bright home
spun apparel Of the majority. Well
dressed women filled the galleries.
Early in the morning Lord Dun.
raven, who is simultaneously presiding
al private meeting Of the landlords
pttntff IN lob a.
mond, the Irish leader, suggesting that
the land conference recOnvene Satur
day after the opinion of the national
convention on the land bill is known,
So that both landlords and tenants
may then discuss their mutual Objec.
tions.
John Redmond opened the proceed.
lngs with an Impressive speech.
Many amendments to Mr. Wynd
hams bill were proposed by Messrs.
William G'Brien and Michael Davitt
The former, while congratulating Ire.
land on the fact that the British min
istry had introduced a bill accepting
IN principle, after centuries of strug
gle that the land should be restored
10 the people of Ireland, urged the
delegates to press amendments enlarg.
Ing the financial scope of the bill. MI
OBrlen. however, asked the conven.
ton to entrust to the parliamentary
party the power and responsibility OF
eventually dealing in committee stage
With the amendments.
Attacks Landlords and Judges.
While begging the delegates to let
thelr parliamentary representatives
settle the matter Mr.. O'Brien attacked
the landlords. Irish judges and Brit
ish rule with the same virulence as
mas always marked his speeches, to
The intense delight Of the audience,
winch. swayed by his eloQuence. Kissed
ana cheered alternately. He con-
Guided with saying that II properly
amended Mr.. Wyndham's bill would
make the peasants as safe as the
Aihg on his throne In the possession OF
thelr land" They would never again
nave to stand trembling in the rent
once. Mr.. O'Brien added:
II We 60 on 1t Is not too much to
say mat In the next generation it will
We as hard to find man who has wit
uessed an eviction as 1t Is now to find
= man who has not witnessed an evic-
ton"
Reading for friendly spirit in the
discussion MIR. O'Brien remarked:
II all goes well it will be the great
ssl resurrection Of hope, JOY and happi-
ness as has ever visited this country
!n thousand years. 1t Is the biggest
.hlng English statesmanship has ever
Iohe toward restoring the soil Of Ire
land to Irishmen."
A motion to reject the measure as
uot merlting support was defeated by
an overwhelming majority. This in
lures sIr the conference approving the
Oil in principle.
Later the convention unanimously
.copted Mr.. O'Brien's motion to en-
trust the parliamentary party with the
power and responsibility of eventually
aeaiing In committee stage with the
day.