Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-19
FAIRBANKS VISITS CHICAGO
Vice President is Guest of the ;r'sh Fellow
ship Club,
TRIBUTE TO IRISH RACE IN AMERICA
Guest of Honor Presented with Basket
of ShamrOcks from Tara Hall
Two Speeches Earlier
in Day.

CHICAGO, March 1S.-The banquet held
at the Auditorium tonight under the aus
plces Of the Irish Fellowship club was, ac-
cordlng to it's projectors, the most elaborate
celebration of st. Patrick's day ever held
in this country. Vice President Fairbanks
the guest of honor delivered the chief
address He was greeted in the banquet
hall by fully 500 members of the club and
half as many women were present. The
banquet was preceded by a reception held
in the parlors of the hotel.
The banquet was preceded by the singing
of THE Star Spangled Banner" under the
direction Of Thomas r. Drill the leader
of the Irish Choral society. Rev. Henry
j. Dumbach. president of st. Ignatius col
lege, pronounced the invocation In Gaelic.
Irish in America.
The vice president spoke as follows on
The Irish in America" He said in part:
count myself fortunate in being able
to meet the members of the GOOD FelloW-
ship club. like the name. Ihere Is some =,
and. above all. there Is something essen
TALLY Irish about it. The more good lei
lowship we get into this W0rl Tid th pc D Tskc
good fellowship out of 1t and you take out
of 1t most of that which is good and splen-
did. My friends, your generous hospitality
makes me your grateful debtor.
The theme which you have assigned to
me is very attractive one one whlch rs,
indeed, well worthy Of the occasion. inc
Irish have been among the most potent IN
building up the nation. There are no pet
ter, truer Americans than those VINO were
either born in Ireland or who proudly
trace their ancestry to that little lsland
across the sea. the home Of Emmett ana
Grafton and other orators and statesmen
who, by the force OF their genius, impressed
themselves upon the thought OF the CIVIL
ICED world. we have many hundteds OF
thousands of Irish in America, but upon
St. Patricks day IT would seem as II they
were indeed the whole thing. We saw men
and women wearing the green on yesterday
in whose veins run not a drop OF irish
blood but who instinctively and gladly
pay tribute TO the Irish race. They caught
the infectious enthusiasm of the hour and
did themselves honor in honoring the NOM
DRY OF the great patron saint OF Ireland.
Who can measure the influence OF the irish
American progress are the fruit of the CO.
operation of many nationalities and OF
many mighty influences. 1t is difficult for
us to measure the exact contribution OF
the different bloods which make up our
national citizenship to the development and
growth Of the great republic. II Is difhcult
| to tell the effect of each upon our institu-
! tions and our national life. We can. how
| ever, I'm large way measure the etfect or
| each and all by their contribution 10 the
| intellectual, the moral and the commercial
| welfare of the people. We may say, with
out invidious distinction, that, man for man,
/ the Irish stand for as much in our social,
| commercial and national progress as do
/ any of the sons of America, whether born
| in our land or beyond the seas.
| / like what the Irish have done for Amer
| lea and | like what America has done for
/ the Irish. II was a lucky day for the
| Irish when they first set foot upon the
| Atlantic coast.
| My friends. there is much in the past to
| stimulate our pride. We read the story
| with thrilling interest. There is much in
| the present to awaken In us a sense OF
! profound gratitude There is much In the
| future TO ill US with confident hope. The
| future will be a future Of OppOrtunty-op-
| portunity for the display of the genius
! Of all our people our feet will be guided
I through the future by the lamp OF past eX
perience The problem which shall engage
| our attention Will be solved In the light
! Of the best traditions of the republic. w,
must adhere TO the principles Of justice anC
Righteousness Il we would achieve oul
faith in each other. Let us have con
! fidence in the virtue OF our institu
tions. Let us cooperate. Let us fel
i3wship together and go forward II
our fathers intended II should be-tht
master republic OF all the ages.
shamrOcks from Tara Hall.
At the conclusion OF his address the vic,
president was presented with a pot o
shamrocks Of the royal purple" type tina
were said to have been brought from Tar
Hall In Ireland.
Previous to his speech at the banquet tn
vice president had made three addresses
held several impromptu receptions and at
} tended luncheon at the Press club.
At st. IEnatins College.
, The first reception was held at o'cloc
J in the morning, when a delegation OF tn
Irish Fellowship club called at the hote
TO Escort the vice president to st. Ignatiu