Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1904-03-12
His Arrival in This City a Pleas
ant Surprise to the
Hibernians.
Talks Interestingly of the Order
to the Kentucky Irish
American.
MEN AND not NUMBERS WANTED

Wednesday evening the Irishmen of
the city were given pleasant surprise
when the telephones were brought into
play announcing the arrival in Louisville
of Dennis E. Ryan, National Organizer
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians
Since the first of the year Organizer
Ryan has been devoting his attention to
the order in the Southern States, his
great success being mentioned in these
columns from time to time. As soon as
State President Keenan, learned of Mr..
Ryan,s presence he called up this Office,
and afterward ali the State and county
officers whom he could reach, requesting
them to meet the distinguished visitor at
the meeting of Division A. Our repre-
sentative was the first to make known to
President Hennessey the coming of the
national representative, and at once
Division A prepared to give him aud the
accompanying officers real Irish well
come, such as is characteristic of the
Limerick division. Business was hur-
riedly dispatched in anticipation of their
arrival. Walter Henley and Pat Mulloy
we're reported off the sick list, but the
illness of John McElliott, John O'Connor
and Corporal John Reilly still continues,
the latter having been taken to SITS. Mary
and Elizabeth Hospital to undergo an
operation on Thursday. The proposition
of John Holland was received and the
order of business about completed when
State President Keenan,, State Treasurer
Butler and County President Sullivan
entered with Organizer Ryan.
The arrival of the visitor was rather
unexpected, otherwise the hall would
have been thronged. This was explained
by President Hennessey when introduc-
ing the national representative of the
order, who Is a genial gentleman and an
orator of no mean ability. Organizer
Ryan, who comes from Buffalo, declared
the Ancient Order of Hibernians the
largest Catholic organization in existence,
and in brief way reviewed its work
in this country during the last sixty
seven years. Two incidents that will
forever stand forth prominently to the
credit of the order was the quick response
of the Hibefnians of New York City to
the appeal of Archbishop Hughes for pro-
lection during the Know-nothing days,
and later their work in Buffalo, where
they put twenty-six of the twenty-seven
A. P. A. councils out of business. The
speaker deplored the backwardness of
some young Irish-Americans in proclaim
ing their birth of Irish parentage, but
such, he was glad to say, were despised
rather than respected by those whom
they would foist themselves upon. FIRE.
quent applause was given his remarks
and the impression made was altogether
favorable. Short talks were also made
by Messrs. keenan,, Butler, Sullivan,
Coleman, Holley and others, and it was
decided to give Mr.. Ryan public recep-
ton at Hibernian Hall on Sunday after
noon at 2 O'Clock, to which all friends Of
the order, members and non-members,
are cordially invited.
Thursday morning Organizer Ryan
NAoAbCa NhC OAuCC Vi tnC 0CAbuCkJ AAAoh
American, accompanied by State Treas
urer George Butler. After saying few
kind words for this journal, which was
looked for everywhere he had been, he
said: ~ have been working in West
Virginia, Southern Ohio and Northern
Kentucky since the early part of January,
organizing new divisions and visiting
others already in existence. The order
is In very good condition in most of the
cities and towns which have visited up
to this time. We have just organized
two promising divisions in Kentucky. one
at Ashland and the other at Paris. Since
coming to the State have also visited
Cynthiana, Maysville, Lexington, Win
chester and Frankfort, and am in hopes
that we will soon succeed in organizing
divisions In at least two of the above
named towns. In relation to our work
will simply say that we are not looking
for numbers alone. The national organ
ization expects that the right material be
selected, and the National President,
James Dolan, has instructed me person
ally not to attempt to organize division
in any city or town simply to increase
our membership. Get good inen in the
order or don't organize the town at all,
is the way President Dolan expressed
himself. While am not inclined to
make predictions, feel safe in saying
that the prospects for an increase in
membership, not only in Kentucky but
throughout the country, during the eusu-
ing year are excellent. All we are called
upon to do is to explain the objects of
our grand old order, the advantages to be
derived from membership, etc, and then
we will have no trouble getting the right
kind of men to become members"
Mr.. Ryan left Thursday for Evansville,
! but viii return here and remain until