New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-24

and in March a meeting was called IN
the Hotel Aston to form new organ
yation. This meeting was preceded oy
much discussion in the public prints
such eminent Irishmen as Patrick Egan
denouncing the movement as against
the hest interests of the Irish people,
Epan. who had been president OF the
Land League in the days when it was a
worldwide force, publicly challenged
the claims of those manag ing 1t to pre-
tend 10 speak either for the Irish peo-
pie or for Irish freedom.
The meeting, however, was held, the
attendance being strictly limited. AS a
requisite TO attendance one enher mao
to receive a direct invitation from the
engineers in charge or be elected by
organizations, like those directly IN
vited, carefully selected. To these
cards were sent. These cards were eN-
changed for so-called credentials on
tho morning Of the meeting. 10
further guard against the appearance
of any opposed TO the movement tne
holders of these credentials had to pass
five sets of tilers. In varied expert
ence with conventions and secret soci-
cites | never saw meeting so care
fully tiled.
This care In selecting delegates al
the start threatened to result IN two
conventions of Friends of Irish Free
dom. Matthew Cummins, as former
national president of the A. o. H., was,
on general principles if nothing else
entitled to sit in such a convention
When he arrived he found he was
3 barred. Those in charge OF the deal
had nothing against him personally. but
as he had been unfortunate enough to
receive more or less publicity in con
nection with Germany's attempt "a
| bribe the longshoremen il was thought
best to bar him, lest his presence give
| color to the charge of German faint.
Cummins had suspected some such
thing and was prepared. He quietly
/ collected some FIVE hundred OF the So
| called delegates cards and submitted
an ultimatum. If he was not admitted
! he and his five hundred would hold a
| convention OF their own. he said john
/ d. Moore. secretary and general man
scer of the affair, then and there sur
/ rendered.
/ At the same time Cummins, az all
| others admitted, was given circular
/ bearing several score or names OF emu
ncnt Irishmen who were said TO be IN
| favor of the movement. The homes OF
these men were scattered all over the
/ United States. Few OF those from
/ other cities appeared.
In the hall there were perhaps one
thousand men and women. or these
two-thirds were residents OF this city
, Most OF these were court attendants OF
small politicians. There were also
present Justice Goff, who was the chief
speaker, and Justice Daniel F. Cohalan
e. few ciergymen, mainly of the elder
/ tyne, whose education was obtained m
/ Ireland at the time of her greatest pow
erty or Immediately thereafter. There
was likewise a sprinkling of profess
sional men from this and other cities.
Judge O'Neil Ryan, OF ST. Louis
| was chairman. As chairman he was a
( decided success, for not once was any
body not on the programme TO speak
allowed the floor. Even with hand
/ picked delegates no chances were taker
| on any one throwing monkey wrench
| into the machine. Just once was ar
] error made, and that at the afternoon