The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-03
IRISH LEADER is
IN BIRMINGHAM
Joseph DevIin Talks About the
Land Bill Question
OBJECT OF HIS VISIT
VIII Lecture at Knights of Columbus
Hall Tonisht.-He Sees the Blr-
mineham Districts Enter
tained-Tal<s of Ireland.

the Irish land bill, arrived In Birmlns-
ham yesterday afternoon at 1 O'Clock
from New Orleans He said last night
that he thought the bill would pass par
lament within the next twelve months.
Mr.. Devlin is one of the leaders OF the
Irish party. He came to this country In
the interest of his party and states that
his object and mission is ITO arouse a
feeling of sympathy and to organize moral
and material support for these who are
fighting for the principles of freedom in
Ireland"
Met BY Committee.
Mr.. Devlin was met at the depot by a
large committee of citizens. He was es-
was served After lunch he was shown
over the city and part of the Birming-
ham district, including Ensley, Bessemer
and Pratt City. At Pratt he made an
extemporaneous address to about 100 peo-
pie Last night he dined at the Morris
with f. I. Monks and M. Clifford. He
retired to his room at 9 o'clock.
The programme today for the Irish lead
er is as follows:
Morning-At high mass at st. Paul's
church at 1920 o'clock.
Afternoon-Attend the ceremonies of the
laying Of the corner stone of the Church
of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Night-Address at the Knights Of CO.
Iumbus hall Mr. Devlin will speak at 1896
o'clock. There will be an address of well
come by Mayor Drennen, and A. o. Lane
will then introduce Mr.. Deyln.
At this meeting Mr.. Devlin will speak
particularly of the Irish land bill.
At the Morris last night the gifted son
of Ireland talked freely Of his country,
of the conditions and of the two great
things Ireland was enueavor1ng TO ac-
complsh, the passage of the land bill
and the home rule bill.
The British Parliament.
Mr. Devlin said:
1.-THE British parliament begins its ses-
sions the last of January or the first OF
February of every year. The sessions
generally continue to about the middle OF
kAugust. Sometimes we are called into ex-
ira session by the prime minister.
'There are 675 members of parliament
OF this number 1903 are from Ireland anc
of the 1903 Irish members, SO belong tc
what is known as the Irish party. Mem
bers of parliament are elected for seven
years.
1.-THE members serve their full time ex-
cept where death removes them or resig-
nations are sent in. In such instances
elections are held and the successful
candidates serve out the unexplred terms.
Every seven years there is new parlia-
ment.
EVERY lord in England, Scotland and
Ireland is a member of the house of lords.
AS a usual thing few of them attend
the sessions of this body.
"rhe members of our parliament do not
receive salaries and no effort has been
made for years to have them paid. l
think that any effort of that kind would
be defeated In cases where members
are elected by the activity of the trades
unions they are supported by the unions
while serving. In all do not think there
are more than five or six members Of this
kind. The members of parliament have
to pay their own expenses, railroad fare
and hotel bills. Some of the Irish men,
bers are given a grant supposed to cover
their expenses. This money comes out
of fund called the Irish-party-fund,
and it is subscribed by Irish people"
Home Rule.
When asked particularly about the
home rule measure Mr.. Devlin said:
ultimately Ireland will have the home
rule bill passed and 1 think this will be
accomplished within five years. This is a
bill to secure a parliament for ireland at
Dublin to correspond with your state leg
isatures In this country. 1 cannot tell
when the bill will come up"
1t is the Irish land bill in which Mr..
Devlln is especially interested at this
time. In regard to this he said:
1.-THE object of our movement, started
by the Irish party, is to secure the land
held by the landlords for the people of
Ireland and the Irish national self-gov-
eminent. The first Of these reforms has
been practically granted. as the Irish
party has been able to secure this meas
ure from the British parliament. 1t is a
bill for the transfer of lands in Ireland
from the landlords to the tenants. and
1t is now before the house of commons
This is regarded as one of the most re-
markable triumphs that was ever
achieved by the universal consent of all
parties, and at a meeting Sunday night
] hope to explain fully how this conces-
sion has been secured and what has
brought about this marvellous change.
1--WE intend, as soon as the land ques-
ton is settled, to put forth renewed eff
forts to win the other great reform Of
national self-government.
His Work in America.
''As a result of my work in America
during the past ten months over 800
branches of the United Irish league have
been established in this country and
everywhere throughout the states there
has been manifested the greatest friend
ship for the new movement and the warm
est encouragement to those engaged in
1t, not only by our own countrymen but
by Americans not of irish blood or birth
Governors of states, mayors of cities and
ecclesiastics of various religions, besides
the leaders of two great political parties,
have united in generous support of our
cause We are hopeful of arousing a
feeling of friendly interest here in Biz
mingham and that is the purpose of my
visit"
Mr., Devlin further said that when the