Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-04-22
Party Empowered to Act.


Dublin, April 1.-THE national con-
vention convened by the United Irish
league met Thursday in the historic
round room of the Mansion house.
About 1000 delegates assembled in the
crowded rotunda, which was incapable
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 parlia-
ment, with a scattering of prelates.
In the body of the rotunda was gath
ering seldom equaled in representative
capacity, farmers from Clare, in top
boots; laborers from Dublin county,
landlords from Cork and priests from
all parts, the latter's somber clothing
and tall hats contrasting pleasantly
with the bright homespun apparel of
the majority. 1t was essentially a con-
vention of the soil, though a lighter
touch was given by the presence of the
well-dressed women who filled the gall
leries.
Lord Mayor Harrington and Michael
Davitt inducte ed John Redmond nto the
chair, and the delegates rose to their
feet, cheered and waved their hats.
Gable messages were read from va
rious Irish organizations in New York,
Baltimore and other cities, wishing the
convention success.
The nota BILE bsentees were John Dill
Lon and Edward Blake, who are both
ill.
Redmond PreafdeA
John Redmond opened the proceed
ings with an impressive speech.
"This convention" he declared, "is
the most solemn, the most momentous
event in the history of living Irishmen,
with the exception of the introduction
of the home rule bill. There are in the
lives of nations, as there are in the
lives of individuals, opportunities which
once lost can never be regained. Such
an occasion I believe the present to
be-"
Mr.. Redmond begged his hearers to
remember their tremendous response
bility. If they rejected the bill, it was
dead forever, and the greatest pros
pect of freedom since the infamous
act of union was passed" would disap-
pear. Continuing he said:
"Whatever defect Mr.. Wyndham's
bill has, and am inclined to minimize
them, its object is the complete and final
abolition of landlordism in all it's es-
sentials.'
Early in the morning Lord Dunraven,
who is simultaneously presiding at a
private meeting Of the landlords COM
mittee, sent word to John Redmond,
the Irish leader, suggesting that the
land conference reconvene Saturday
after the opinion of the national con-
vention on the land bill is known, so
that both landlords and tenants may
then discuss their mutual objections.
Mr.. Redmond will be unable to decide
on the proposition until after
Thursdays proceedings, for which
lengthy agenda had been provided.
These consisted of many proposed
amendments to the details of Secre-
tary Wyndham's proposals. The chief
movers were William O'Brien and Mich
ael Davitt. The former, while congrat-
ulating Ireland on the fact that the
British ministry had introduced bill
accepting in principle, after centuries
of struggle, that the land should be re-
stored to the people of Ireland, urged
sthe delegates to press amendments en-
larging the financial scope of the bill.
Mr.. O'Brien, however, asked the con-
vention to intrust to the parliament
airy party the power and responsibility
of eventually dealing in committee
stage with the amendments.
While begging the delegates to let
their parliamentary Representatives
settle the matter, Mr.. O'Brien attacked
the landlords, Irish judges and British
rule with the same virulence as has al
ways marked his speeches, to the in
tense delight of the audience, which,
swayed by his eloquence, Kissed and
cheered alternately. He concluded
with saying that if properly amended
Mr.. Wyndham's bill would make the
peasants as safe as the king on his
throne in the possession of their land. -
They would never again have to stand
trembling in the rent office.