The Washington times., 1922-05-05
D,C,MEMBERS
FIGHT To JOIN
|R|SHC0UNC|LS
Two Groups That Broke Away
Get Hearing Before Con-
vention Hero.

The figh, Of more than 500 Wash
ington members OF the two Original
Irish councils for admission TO the
American Association for the Rec-
ogni,,on q, the Irish Republic Will
hs carr, to the floor OF the sec
ond annual convention Of the as
sociation this afternoon In the
wardman Park Hotel.
The committee on credentials OF
the national organization, after CIV
ing a committee representing the
two councils a long hearing this
afternoon refused to recognize the
delegates. The matter will be intro,
duced by h w. Lyons, natiohai
secretary. and a bitter struggle -
expected.
yention was nearly two hours late
in openinR. the delegates will prob
ably not reach a decision untl late
today.
The two councils seeking admis.
sion are the Padraic Il. Pearse ana
Terence MacSwiney councils. whlch
splIt from the American Assocla-
tion for the Recognition OF the
Irish republic rather than back
Eamon de Valera. The national
organization thereupon organized
the Kevan Barry Council In the
District. This council is represent
cd In .he convention by two accred-
tied delegates. John II. Ffnnerty
and Mitchell O'Connell.
Hearing Was Refused.
The Pearse and MacSwiney coun-
ellis are wasing their fight for ad-
mission 10 the convention floor
through "A Joint committee composed
of John Il. O'Neill. James J. Stat
terry. Rossa +. Downing, and James
T. Mccarthy, of Pearse Council.
and Joseph T Fitsgerald, Of Mac
Swiney Council.
This committee repeatedly sought
for a hearing before the credentials
committee. which was refused until
la te this morning. The hearing took
place behind closed doors and no de-
cision was reached until long after
the convention had opened.
The convention is composed OF 500
delegates, representing 10000 Irish
supporters in this country.
The keynote OF the convention was
sounded late this afternoon by j.
Larkin Hughes, State president OF
New Jersey, following his election as
permanent chairman Of the conven-
tion. who pledged the convention to
the support of Eamon de Valera. He
said:
I'VE meet to renew our vows of
allegiance to the cause OF freedom,
10 rededicate ourselves to the task
OF restoring Ireland to her pristine
and proper position as a self govern
ing nation and to announce to
Erin's patriots and to all the world
that the true men and women OF
America are as staunch as ever, as
fearless as ever. as reliable as ever,
and as determined as evr to support
the fighting men and the glorious
women OF ireland, led by the heroic,
the dauntiess and Incompatible
leader. Eamon de Valera.
1T becomes our duty, therefore,
not only to declare ourselves once
more apostles Of an Ireland great
and independent, but also to take
counsel together In spirit Of
earnestness and due respect for our
neighbors' opinions and to formulate
the policy OF the immediate future
OF the organization. and. having
formulated the policy, devise the
best means OF putting II into prscti-
cal effect with the greatest certainty
OF success"
O'F1anaean to Speak.
The convention opened with the
election OF James Murray, Of Butte.
Mont, national vice president, as
temporary chairman. The opening
prayer was delivered by the Rt.
Rev. James w. Power, Of New
York. and the address OF welcome
by Andrew l. Hickey. OF Wash.
ington.