Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-08-31
FOR THE CAUSE
OF ER|Ks ISLE
Irish in America to be Put on
New Footing Through Me-
dunn Of Organization.
THE UNITED
IRISH LEAGUE
Many Reforms Iii the Home
Land Urged by Patriotic
Sons in America.

8gEEa HaG
NEW YORK, Aug. sl.After more
than d quarter Of q century 81 parlla
mentary agitation the Irish cause in
America is 70 BIO put on q new foo1
Ing. The United Irish League Of
America, which began its convention
in the Lexington opera house in this
city today. intends 70 direct Us efforts
In the future toward securing com
plete autonomy for ireland.
The United Irish League VI Ameri,
ca was organized three years ago.
and has grown very rapidly since thai
time. Iii the last two years there
has been an increase OF more than
forty per cent In the number Of
branches located throughout the
country. Ita purpose IL 10 act as aux.
Hilary In America 10 the National Or
ganization In ireland, whose primary
declaration III: "This society IL con,
stituted for the purpose Of forwarding
= brotherhood Of affection, a com.
munion of rights, and d union Of pow.
or among Irishmen."
The ends which the League strives
70 attain are: Full national self
government for ireland; the abolition
Of ~landlordism In Ireland BY means
OF d universal and compulsory system.
Of land purchase. putting an end TO
periodical famine in tho distressed
districts Of Ireland; to insist upon
the appropriation 10 strictly Irish nat.
ional uses Of the $4,000, 900 al pres.
ent annually exported from Ireland
for the benefit or England III excess
OF the contribution stipulated by the
act OF union; to secure the redIstri
button of the grazing ranches of Con.
naught, and the reinstatement of tho
eyicted tenants, 10 secure complete
educational equality for ali creeds III
Ireland; 10 secure the compulsory ex
tension throughout Ireland OF the law
for providing agricultural laborers
with cottages and one-aere allot.
ments: 10 secure the abolition OF tho
right OF the crown 10 challenge jnr-
ors III political except for cause
shown, and 10 work for the preser.
walton Of the Gaelic language as part
OF the struggle for Irish national free
dom,
The problems to be discussed by
the present convention ara thus
tersely set forth In this declaration
OF principles, but delegates are chary
Of expressing In advance their views
~ TO the probable action Of the con
vention. II Is generally conceded.
however. that the situation today IL
very similar TO that which confront
cd the Irish party in America some
thirty years or more ago, when Mes
srs. Parnell and Biggar were only
beginning 10 be heard from as dis.
scntients in the party under the lead.
ership OF lsaac Butt. when Lord Bea
consfield WA still Mr.. Disraeli when
the Irish church was not yet dis
established. when Lord Randolph
Churchill had not yet been ven heard
OF and when the Irish agitation In
England was marked BY the traRic
incidents 81 Manchester and Clerk
enweli. Such u the starting point
from which The present convention
Will base lis line Of action. but JUST
what direction that action Will take.
none 81 the prominent participants
care % say.
The delegates % the convention
number nearly 1000 and represent
every large center oI population from
Maine ~ California Az the formal
opening today 1 rousing welcome was
accorded 70 lhc Irish parliamentary
delegation consistlng 81 John III Red.
mond. Patrick otBrien. A. J. c. Don.
elson and Conor o'Kelly. Among
the prominent Irish Americans of New
York who were seated on the stage
were Congressman Boutke Cochran.
Archbishop Farley. Recorder John
w. Golf, Gen, James X. o'Bierno and
Police Commissioner William McAdoo.