The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-01
IRISH ARE WARM
 IN ALLEGIANCE United League of America Pledges Support to Cause WILL SEEK INDEPENDENCE Stormy Scene ls Caused In Convention By Accusation That New York Is
 Not Doing Her Share
 of the Work.
WILL SEEK INDEPENDENCE

New York, August S1.-At the conven- ton of the United Irish League of Amer lea today there was no official programme but the morning session was taken up by the various committees which were ap- pointed yesterday and tho secretary's re- port John Ocalaghan read resolution passed at a meeting of Irish citizens in the city last night expressing support and sympathy for the Irish people in their struggle for self government and wishing their efforts may be crowned with suc- cess in the near future.
 Secretary o'calaghan said while tho league had agreed to strengthen material ly Its influence and numbers during the past year, he believed still greater pro- gress could be made in the future To ac- complish this he believed that in the se- lection of the new national committee only persons should be chosen as declare their willingness to work energetically in the cause. One-slxth of the membership of the national committee elected at the Boston convention two years ago, he said, have never once responded to an official communication addressed to them. He recommended that the new national com- mitttee be clothed with the power to re- place members of the committee who show themselves to be indifferent to the success of the cause.
 The report of Treasurer T. Fitzpatrick showed that nearly all the states in the union contributed to the general fund The money collected since October, 1902, amounted to $6l665.
 New York Is Short.
 There was a warm debate over the question of increasing the national com mittee from fifty to one hundred mem- bers John r. Ryan of Philadelphia speaking for the Pennsylvania delegation argued that New York should not have any more representation on the national committee than any other state. He said the New York branch of the league had not contributed as much to the common fund as it ought to have done, consider ing its size, there being more Irishmen in New York than in the city of Dublin Delegate O'Connor of Elmira strenu- ously resented MT Ryan's attack on the Irishmen of New York state, declaring il to be unjust
 Colonel Sullivan of Louisiana made plea for increasing the national commit tee to one hundred insisting that the south had no proper representation in the executive committee of the league.
 During the discussion the convention was in an uproar, and 1t was some time before Chairman Finerty was able to re- store order.
 The amendment that the executive com mittee be increased from fifty to one hundred was defeated by four votes. Those voting against 1t numbered 134 and those for 1t 130 This closed the stormy scene.
 Pledges Allegiance to Cause.
 The platform adopted by the convention after renewing the pledge of the leagues allegiance to the cause of Irish national independence, the right of Ireland to have a parliament of her own says:
 We assert the right of the Irish people to procure their independence by any honorable method, by work or by word, by voice or sword, as circumstances may dictate or opportunities may offer, but we fully admit the right to choose their weapons in the battle for liberty un- trammelled by dictation from any out side sourse, realizing that the people on the firing line of the fight for nationhood are the best judges of the policy to be adopted in their struggle with the wealth and power of England"
 The convention recognizes "the incalcu- lable services rendered by John E. Red 
 T P o'Connor, Edward Lake and their able colleagues services, which no ma terial value can represent or recompense, and earnestly appeal to Irishmen in America to sustain them in their strug- gle with a generosity worthy of the glorious renown of the Irish race, and of the cause to which they are unalterably devoted
 Want to Raise $5o,ooo.
 member of the committee on ways and means read a report from the com mittee in which 1t was stated that it is the intention of this committee to raise $50,000 before the first of next year for the general election fund to be used in England and Ireland.
 Michael J. Curry, the New York mem- Der of the committee, tod the convention that New York will contribute S10.000 toward the fund.
 Chairman Finerty announced that Charles F. Murphy, the Tammany leader. had promised to give 5000 to the fund.
 Letters Fro,. Candidates.
 The letters from Secretary Loeb writ ing for the President and from Judge Alton B. Parker were as follows:
 White House,
 washington, D. C., August A. My Dear Sir: Your letter of the 2Srd instant with enclosure has been received, and the President very much appreciates the kind invitation extended to him by the United Irish League of America. He regrets, however, that 1t will be out of the question for him to be present on the occasion to which you refer He has been compelled to decline all invi- tations for the present and to make aD exception in a particular case would cause dissatisfaction and embarrassment. Thanking you in the Presidents behalf for your courtesy, I am
 "Very truly yours,
 CIVILIAN LOEB,
 Secretary to the President" Judge Parkers letter was as follows:
 'Esopus, N T., August 24 1904 My Dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for the invitation of the United Irish League of America to be present at their annual convention to be held In New York city August 30 and 3l. I regret that l will be unable to attend. Please con vey to the association assurances of my appreciation. Very truly yours,
 ALTON B. PARKER" The convention at the afternoon ses- sion unanimously elected the following officers for two years:
 President-John Flnety, Chicago.
 First Vice President-Patrick Egan of New York, former minister to Chill
 Second Vice President-Edward Devery, St. Louis.
 Third Vice President-Michael J. Red ding Baltimore.
 Fourth Vice President-John Fltzpat- rick. New Orleans.
 National Secretary-John OCallahan. National Treasurer-T. B. Fitzpatrick,