Morris tribune., 1921-02-25
Mangan Declines Presidency

Mangan Declines Presidency
McAllen, Texas, Feb. 18th, 1921,
Editor of Morris Tribune,
Morris, Minnesota.
My Dear Mr.. Morrison:
In the January 18th issue of your
paper which was recently forwarded
! to me, I noticed an article marked
contributed" which stated there was
established and was elected presi-
dent of an Organization for Irish
Recognition known as Andrew Jack
son Council of Stevens, Pope and
Douglas Counties
AS the name of the contributor did
not appear I take this method of in
forming those who may be interest
ed, that if 1 have been so honored,
/ must respectfully decline to serve
and request that you publish this
communication.
My sympathies are pronouncedly in
favor of Ireland in her struggle for
international recognized independ-
ence and also with canon De Valera,
her president, who it has been my
good fortune to meet and whom I
think is a very able, conscientious,
educated and gentlemanly leader,
forceful and logical in his arguments.
However, while I have read con-
siderable of both Irish and English
histories and in a measure followed
the evolution of the present contest,
/ do not feel sufficiently familiar with
all it's various phases to serve in the
capacity to which the article stated
I was elected, and not knowing any
thing, whatever, of the manner in
which said organization was formed,
nor of it's program may not be able
to endorse same, and besides I am
too busy to serve.
Thanking you in advance for pub
fishing this communication in the
next issue of your paper, am,
Very truly yours,
T. J. Mangan.
P. S. The weather down here is
fine, just like summer, and in my
opinion this Rio Grande Valley has
great possibilities for the future as
a citrus fruit country but at present
is passing through rather expert
mental stages and hasn't proper mar
keting conditions due to lack of rail-
road facilities to distributing cent
ers. There are also several wells
being drilled here for oil and most
people here think there is oil here
in paying quantities. Times down
here are far worse than in Minnesota
primarily due to the slump in prices
of crops such as vegetables, broom
corn and fruit and especially cotton
which has declined so much that a
large percentage was unpicked, as the
price would not even pay for the har-
vesting.
When not busy attempting to dis
pose of some holdings I have here I
have visited Mexico in company with
others, where some of the boys re-
newed their acquaintance with old
friends we'll known throughout the
United States but who are now liv-
ing in exile south of the Rio Grande
since their political difference with
Congressman Volstead. Amongst
them we're Mr.. John Walker and
Dewar Bros. of Scotland, Mr.. Hen
nessey of Ireland and some of the
Bourbons of France.
From what little have learned of
the Mexican people, especially the
better class usually called and are
Spaniards, they are extraordinarily
polite Last Sunday a banker here
and myself went across the river and
was fortunate while there to become
associated in the company of the
Mexican Consul of this port of Rey-
nosa and Colonel Francisco Aguirre
Leon of the Mexican army and their
secretaries. Through their influence
a rooster fight was put on for our
entertainment and when it was over
the port was closed for the day but
as we we're with the Mexican Con-
sui there was no difficulty in return
ing. When parting we were invited
by the Colonel to accompany them
next Saturday and Sunday on a deer
hunt about 80 miles into the inter-