The San Francisco call., 1909-09-19
COLONEL IRISH
SNF[RSAT MEN
OF IRISH RACE
Places Erin's Emigrants on the
Same Plane as Chinese and
Japanese Coolies
Address at Commonwealth Club
Luncheon Received With
ScOrn and Resented

That Chinese and japanese coolies
were on the same plane as Irish inn
migrants and would succeed in this
country as the latter had succeeded
was the astonishing argument in ia
vor Of unrestricted oriental immigra-
tion made by Colonel John F. Irish
before the Commonwealth club at its
regular weekly luncheon and meeting
in the St Francis hotel yesterday.
Among his auditors were many of
Irish stock. sons of Irish pioneers. and
a frowning and indignant silence
greeted the gray haired orator and
guest Of the club as he proceeded TO
draw parallels between the cooly of
the orient and the Irishman and by
offensive comparison and reckless
words cast slurs on the parentage of
le Irish in California
Irish concluded amid silence. II is
customary at the end of the address
for the president, William H Jordan.
10 comment on what has been said
and TO thank the speaker. but in this
instance he diploma tically brought the
meeting TO a close without thanks or
comment. The members OF the club
rising from their tables, stalked away
in silence.
IRIsHMEN LIKENED TO COOLIES
When the exodus of Irish emil
grants began" he said, "the highest
wage earned for a days labor in Ire
land was cents, and that not
very frequently, the average being 6
cents day 1 remember the time
when the Irishman in this country
worked for less than ever q Chinaman
did or would deign TO. We all remem-
Der the condition OF the Irish on those
days, when they claimed together in
z distinct section OF the city, in what
was then known as 'shantytown,' on
account Of the shanties there.
Yet, with their old principles and
ideas Of thrift and economy they sue
ceeded In elevating themselves TO the
position which they now hold in the
community And so il will be with the
japanese and Chinese. Like the Irish
they but want opportunity; like the
Irish they have their principles of
thrift and economy, and from my OBJ
servations OF them they will succeed
as the Irish have DONE"
SCORN FOR COLONEL IRISH
Such was the tenor of his speech.
The leading Irishmen in the city, COM
menting upon it later, treated Irish
and his remarks with the utmost scorn.
Matthew J. Sullivan, the attorney.
refused TO consider either Irish or the
comparison the latter drew.
One must not take Colonel Irish
seriously" said Sullivan. The com
parison is absurd and not worthy of
eminent
Frank ]. Kierce. prominent in The
Young Mems Institute and of Irish
parentage. treated the doughty former
colonel with equal scorn
The comparison is like any that
may be drawn between the white man
and the black-absurd and foolish"
said hlerce 1t is useless and un-
worthy for an Irishman to give way
10 the natural indignation which such
remarks would produce, for the simple
reason that the subject would not ius-
tify IL The achievements of the Irish
race IN this country, from the days of
the revolution 10 the present time,
speak for themselves and in the face
Of these achievements it is not worth
while for the Irish to consider serious
y insulting and offensive comparisons
Of Colonel John p Irish'
DR. r. w. D'EvELTN REPLIES
Dr. Frederick W. D'Evelyn, the ply
sicisn, said.
Ny hrst thought was whether there
was any necessity for the Irish to de-
TEND themselves from the remarks of
John p Irish; but on a little con-
~--N- avn llAAllh Tie DGSl WSV 10
put stop 10 such utterances< in pub
lie is TO show how little they are
worth
1t IS a peculiar trait among a GER
tain class OF men that when they wish
10 speak in a derogatory manner OF
the Irish race to refer to the old term
shanty- This they consider as pc
culiarly offensive Whether Irishmen
worked for less wages than Chinese
or japanese DO not know. However,
low the wage then. let US consider the
condition Of the Irish people now.
Accepting Mr.. Irish's argument thev
have succeeded. History shows them /
among the leaders OF army, navy and
civic life Where is the Chinaman or
japanese who. after entering this coun-
try and becoming a citizen OF it, has
risen to any prominence in the COM
few have become wealthy |
but where is one who has been of |
benefit 10 the community in the light |
OF citizenship?
COLONEL HONORED BY NAME