Bisbee daily review., 1909-04-22
4 HOMECOMING
 F0R THE IRISH
 IN YEAR l9I0
Richard Croker Tells of Plan For Interesting Wealthy IriShmen of America in the Emerald Isle
fBY Tav.l

tBy Tav.)
 WASHINGTON, April 2I.-"Every rich Irishman in America should in vest little of his money in some en- terprise in Ireland The money will not only be good investment. but will help to put the Emerald Isle on it's feet"
 Richard Croker. former chieftain of New York's great Tammany Hall. was giving me long interview on Ireland. Time and again he repeated the quoted expression.
 Incidentally the veteran political ruler, settling back in an easy chair in the lobby of the New Willard ho- tel, described a plan that is already well under way among the Irish of America for the delivery of his native land from the condition of industrial stagnation in which it has so long existed
 The scheme which Mir. Croker dis cussed so fondly amounts to an in spiration, and instead of being in its infancy Is so well under way as to insure success. In its entirety the idea embraces but one object the enlistment of American-made money in Irish industry on the native soil. It sounds merely businesslike and commonplace. but back of it is the romantic love of the Irishman for the old bcgs of his native sod.
 The Irish of America are to be asked 10 a homecoming. in the land land of their birth in the summer of 1910. The invitation is to be extend ed, Mr. Croker says. particularly to those Irishmen who have. accumulated wealth in this country. Mir. Croker, who in the future will spend six months of the year at his castle in Ireland and six months in the United States, will make it a point to be home when the first "homecom- | ing" expedition arrives. These rich | Irishmen will be urged to return 10 the Emerald isle for the pleasure of it | in the first place. but in the second | place with an eye out for business ! opportunities. If, after investigation they are convinced an investment would be profitable for themselves as we'll as Ireland, they will be asked tC leave some of their wealth with their native country.
 "A new era will result for Ire i land" sad Mir. Croker. "an era such as it has never known in its fight foi | centuries for prosperity under condi tons that have been anything but ia
 yorabie.
 Tn America there are hundreds o | thousands of Irishmen who have be | come men of means. leaders in many lines of activity The breadth of ea ! terprise in which these sons of EriI thave engaged is limited merely by | the opportunities of the broad land o their adoption. Their cumulative knowledge and understanding of af fairs in the broadest sense cannoi be s1rpassed by any race of peopl' in the world today, sor there is n, race so versatile.
 There has lain dormant in Irelant through the centuries all manner o latent opportunity. A focund soil |
 poorly tiled for lack of tools; grea mining wealth has remained un
 touched for the reason that there i little railroad transportation; unlin tied labor of the highest grade re mains unemployed because spindle
 Lave never been set to work in Ire
 land at which they might worf
 From end to end of the island ther
 are opportunities that have gone [
 waste and are still going to waste.
 ~The object of the homecoming . to. bring the experience of the Iris in America and the capital he ha amassed to the virgin opportunity C the motheriand and cause that el ! | perience and capital to enlist itself i, the possible and profitable indusuie s there offered
 Mir. Croker does not take credit fc \ having received the ''come back ! Erin idea. For full credit is due l Francis J. Kilkenny. a young Iris | 1 American patriot who is secretary { the comptroller Of the treasury heI in Washington. He first launched tf Irish Homecoming" plan at locs meeting of Irish-nen and then se about the task of interesting his men in other cities. The idea scene contagious. for in short tim MI l Kilkenny began receiving letters fro ] wealthy Irishmen in all parts of Il ! United States.
 1 Kilkenny has organized a heai quaters for the homecoming p 1 grimage in Washington, and a numb ] of prominent Irishmen are taking ] the idea in other cities.
 Mir. Croker is cooperating with K 1 kenny and is one of the most enth
 siastic workers in support of u 1 idea.